Creative Connectors

Josh Keys is one of the Directors of Hopkins Creek, a multi-day music festival set in a huge crater in country Victoria, Australia. In the first in-person episode of Creative Connectors we come live from Josh's living room and discuss the birth of Hopkins along with its concept of an intimate gathering in an infinite space.

Max Stettner is one of the Directors and Event Manager of Dragon Dreaming & R.E.G.E.N Festival which is held in NSW, Australia. In this episode, Max provides insight into his journey from punk bands to electronic music and how tree planting has formed such an integral part of his life and the festivals he's been a part of. We delve into the individuals and influences that led Max to create conscious spaces to party, the misconception of what it costs to put on a sustainable festival, the process for finding a festival site and the importance of engaging the community.

Learn more about what to expect from the 2022 edition of Dragon Dreaming & Regen festival, the music production that's had Max in a flow state during lockdown and the elements of his job that he truly loves.

In this episode join Lydia Booth as she shares her journey and passion for festivals through dance, costume design and performance curation. Lydia touches on her early influences including pagan festivals and her love to wiggle, along with her valuable experience living and teaching in Japan. We discuss dance as a form of meditation, the lists that got her through lockdowns and how COVID-19 enabled Lydia to birth a new video streaming business (DDR.Live) in response to events and music moving online. Expect to chat around how innovation and technology can combine with the arts, the importance of creating something with elasticity and finding empowerment in our hidden gifts whilst understanding the journey Lydia has been on with Tonic Tribe.

Kicking off season 2 with a bang is Matt Bonner, Creative Director of Festival 23. Matt takes us on a wild journey from growing up in South Africa to the hectic UK rave scene that cemented his love for music and community. Hear about the path he paved as Australia became home, working in film/TV on likes of The Matrix whilst also being involved in forest blockade fundraisers and festivals including Let Them Eat Cake, Pitch and Festival 23. Expect travel, tales, tips and learnings along with topics including the synchronicities of life, the power of intention, balancing the ego and how Festival 23 aims to harness the hedonism of the rave with a healing component.

Festival 23 Facebook

Arula Chelsea Kirby is a Musician, movement teacher and sound healer from the US. Arula takes us on the journey of how societal norms took her away from the arts, and a breakdown threw her back into reviewing her joy for expression. In this episode, Arula talks to festivals as an expression of freedom and places of experimentation as well as healing. We cover topics that include imposter syndrome, shadow work, patience, perseverance whilst also discussing festivals are mirrors and the experience of being a woman in the music industry.

Arula not only talks about her personal journey within music production and the genre of dark sensual music, but her response to what's happening in the world with music, whilst also delving into her gifts and offerings within sound healing and talking to the power of music for humans.

Sit back and enjoy the musical chat.

https://soundcloud.com/arulamusic

https://www.instagram.com/arula_artistry

https://spoti.fi/37R1shv

Mihai Baba of Biangle Studio is an international Light Artist who created the Ghost Ship, a high-tech art installation consisting of a life sized sailing ship reproduced as an immaterial image on water screens. In this episode Mihai takes us on his journey from studying architecture, self learning projection mapping and how the platform of Amsterdam Light Art Festival changed the course of his career and life. We discus the process of applying and executing art on a large scale, the danger of vanity metrics, nuances of the light art community, art competition submission tips and lessons he's learnt throughout his journey. The Ghost Ship has been showcased at festivals including Amsterdam Light Festival, Spotlight Bucharest, Berlin Leuchtet and more. so sit back and enjoy the chat.

Suseri is a Techno and Progressive DJ from Japan now residing in Melbourne who has played Australia's biggest festivals and toured Japan. In this episode Suseri shares how one night changed the course of her life, the importance on goals, making music for you and going after your passion. We chat about the scene and DJs she took inspiration from in Japan, her experience moving to Australia as a non-English speaking individual and how a CD took her from garlic picking to playing main stage at earthcore.

We discuss the highs and richness of life, along with what caused her to remove music from her life and leave the scene for two years, plus what brought her back. Suseri has a spirit and energy like no other, so tune in to hear her fearless journey through music. Sit back and enjoy the chat🙏

Marie Poliak is a Creative Director and Art Fabricator. Marie along with her crew created The Prodigal Swan, Heavy Meta Dragon and now the Meta Phoenix which are art cars you can find at Burning Man and events across the US. In this episode, Marie provides insight into the process behind creating these large mythical moving beasts, how these pieces have created communities of 150+ people and inspired other art cars to be created. Marie also shares the empowerment she and other women have felt learning how to weld and use power tools and how this helps you to see the world through a new lens. We discuss what festivals and their communities mean in culture, how we can positively move forward from COVID-19, the challenges that come with making art cars and the importance of creating the world we want to live in.

Mark Swartz is the Founder of Feather Edge a team who design and install sculptures, festival experiences and activations across Australia. In this episode, Mark chats about how turning paddocks into a wonderland became his passion, and subsequently led him and 3 others to create Loco Festival. We discuss the excitement of challenges and collaboration, the highs and lows of running your own festival along with the importance of community engagement, and how festivals should be considered a high-risk activity similar to skiing. Mark shares his perspective on festivals as a reset/ refresh button, and Feather Edges's vision to use public sculpture as a way to bring the creativity and the innovation you experience in festivals to our cities and communities on a more permanent basis. Sit back and enjoy the chat!

Matthew Rosadoni is the Founder of WTFluff a plush festival installation space, and Viral Happiness which is a free Melbourne event encouraging individuals to explore and express their creativity. In this episode, we delve into his journey building these unique offerings inspired by festivals, his love for plush, dreams for the future, and how COVID-19 offered a pivot into commercial project management. Expect heart-warming stories, wild ideas, enthusiastic energy, and lessons in communication and transferable skills. Sit back and enjoy the plush chat.