Drunk in charge of a PC
Just done my second Twisted drive show. Drank lots of beers. Currently surfing under the affluance of incohol. Must not to buy anything. Chelfyn has hidden credit card.

Listen to an interview with Chris Liberator


As I blogged in the gathering of the UK techno clans we were down in Wellington earlier this month, as Chelfyn was supporting UK Techno Legend Chris Liberator. I spoke to Chris about Techno, Stay up for Ever records and where the name Liberator comes from.

Hear an interview with Chris Liberator. [6.3 MB]

Word of the week: Sheeple
(SHEE.pul) n. People who are meek, easily persuaded, and tend to follow the crowd (sheep + people). The Word Spy - sheeple

New Whereland?

Put New Zealand on the Map!: Join the campaign to get Universal Studios to add NZ to their famous globe. After all those Oscars I think we deserve it.

Update 10/5/04:
Email protest puts NZ on Universal's map. Yay!

Die Puny Humans!

I've come across a blog by Warren Ellis writer of the Transmetropolitan comic series and creator of my journalist hero Spider Jerusalem. TMet Recordings was originally known as Trancemetropolitan as an homage to Transmet, when we were putting on parties back in the UK. Over time we became known as TMet as 18 letters is just too much to say or type.

Patrick Stewart is a big fan, the obvious choice to play Spider if they ever make a film, and I would just love to be a filthy assistant!

Thirsty work

Congratulation to A-Spark the Breaks producer who we met last week. His track 'Footlocker' is a finalist in the Heineken Found@Thirst competition.

The final is tonight and then the winner gets to play alongside Tiesto, Pete Tong and Daniel Divoli tomorrow night. Will be keeping my toes crossed for him!

Bad Boy Banksy

It's really strange seeing people you know in the international news: 'Police search for graffiti artist who damaged railway bridge' Banksy has done some amazing pieces of work around Bristol, notably a tribute to Free Party Abbi, and his piece of teddy bears being arrested by the police on Gloucester Road with the tag line 'The Mild Mild West'.

You can buy Banksy's work (unless you're Charles Saatchi) at Pictures on Walls. This piece is titled 'Turf War'.

When in Rome...
While we were in Wellington last weekend Kells was celebrating her 21st birthday party with a bunch of drag queens and the boys. I wonder how she's going to celebrate her 30th?

Bush the Eco-Warrior?

Bush hails his environmental record on Earth Day - after donning a navy windbreaker and hiking boots to trudge through a coastal salt marsh, the Republican president claimed credit for what he called some of the most important anti-pollution policies in a decade. "Since 2001, the condition of America's land, air and water has improved," he told an audience of about 200 people.

I can hear the howls of laughter from New Zealand.

Major wankers

The major labels are looking at increasing the price of iTunes Music Store downloads to as much as $2.49 – with experts predicting the move could kill the service: Macworld UK - iTunes 'could cost $2.49 per song'

Are they utterly mad? Or just desperate to hang onto their coke habits and expense accounts. It's obvious that record execs just don't get the net. It will just make it easier for digital indies like TMet.

Update: Apple Denies Report of Online Music Price Boost

Twisted Radio. Bo Selecta!

My friends have emailed and called to say they heard my first Twisted Radio show on the net. It was great to be choosing tracks as well as bleating as Chelfyn normally mixes on our UPfm show. I am now a Twisted Selecta!

I opened with Chiller [Sci-Fi:NZ], followed by Sweet Sweet Candy & Stomping Angel [Mr Sketchy:UK], For the Love of Ike [Nub:UK], Sharper [Filterbrats:NZ] , and my currently top track Unhealthy Activity [andy qroniq & The WBC:NZ] all available on TMet Recordings from the 3rd May. It was such a buzz playing Kiwi music off our own label for almost half of the show!

MsBehaviour's Friday Drive

I start my very own radio show tomorrow - the Twisted Friday Drive, every Friday from 5.00 on Auckland 107.7 fm or via a live stream. I'll be easing into the weekend with laid back grooves & giggle bits, the NZ Gig Guide @ half five, interviews, vinyl reviews, and hot Kiwi dance tracks from TMet's A&R pile.

Dodgy Sam will be hosting a Twisted talkback show for anyone who wants a friendly ear or some help on Sunday nights from 9pm: "It's F**kin Radio. We talk, you listen. Dodgy Sam & dirtbag, do talkback with BALLS. You can tell us your problems, if we think you're just being a dumb fuck, we'll tell you! If you want the truth and all it's morning breath glory, don't talk to the Goat, call us." So just email Dodgy Sam with your problems. That's a truly terrifying thought :)

It's been all change in Auckland's Radioland. UPfm has been bought by Jarra and Terry Wizz (nice one boys) and is relocating to a new frequency (TBA) and studios on Symonds Street, and Twisted Radio has just been launched out of the Twisted NZ dance community. They've joined a consortium called The Noise Network which includes Julia fm on Auckland 107.5 fm and Kfm on Auckland 106.9 fm who are all sharing studio space in a historic building on K'Rd called St Kevin's Arcade. Yet another Kiwi collective working together for the good of the group which is really great to see. So tune in to Twisted Radio for some top tunes and to hear me have a damn good bleat each week.

And 'they' say the music industry is dead...
What do you think? If you are in London why not head along to this seminar: Music Retail: Dying Or Diversifying?

Why don't you just switch off your TV sets and go and do something less boring instead...

	Why not see what happens when you turn off your TV set for this week and join the ADBUSTERS: TV TURNOFF: "What happens during a seven-day experiment in life without TV? A whole new space to think emerges.
You find yourself passing time in ways you never expected. And you start to wonder: when I reach for the remote, who is really in control? "

When I look back on what I have seen by the tender age of 30, I wonder how I managed to cram it all in. But then I remember - I hardly ever watch TV. People are constantly moaning that they never have time to do anything, and yet I read in Glued to the screen that in 2003: Based on eight hours of sleep the average viewer spends almost a quarter of their waking hours in front of the Soma box!

The gathering of the UK techno clans

We touched down in Wellington early on Friday, to be greeted by a giant Gollum straddling the airport. A high drama ensued when I left my bag in the taxi and had to sprint 400m through two sets of lights. I must have looked a sight – a chick with purple hair running along the centre of Wellington flapping my arms and desperately hoping that the driver would see me and stop. After 400m of superhuman running with lungs of fire and legs of lead, I managed to bang on the window just as he was pulling away at a second set of lights. And all before 9 a.m.

A very pleasant day was spent wandering round Wellington with one of the youngest members of Twisted.co.nz DJ Barnzy Boy [so wise for one so young]. You can easily ‘do’ Wellington on foot in a day. After grabbing a few hours sleep we headed back into town, and bumped into Helix, Chris Liberator, and Mr Oz on Courtney Place. The three of them decided to do a reverse bungy before we headed into Phoenix to catch up with LAB4.

It was like a gathering of the UK techno clans in there. I’ve not seen Chris Liberator in over 6 years, Adam and Lez definitely weren’t expecting to see Mr Oz in Wellington, and it was great to meet Adam’s lovely wife Kym after many emails. LAB4’s set went off [along with a nubile young lady’s top] and as always the Wellington crowd rocked.

Saturday was Chelfyn’s birthday so we went out to dinner with Chris, his lovely wife Carmel, and their 4 ½ month bump, before heading onto Studio Nine. I grabbed an interview with Chris before his set, and then Chelfyn followed finishing up the night with One Ring.

After about 20 goodbye hugs we said bye to Chris before heading back to Hamish and Pip’s balcony and watching the sun come up over the distant mountains. Wellington is an exceptionally beautiful place. We lay there all morning in the balmy sun doing looloons and listening to the sounds of the city waking up. After a big feed we watched Liquid Crystal Vision before heading to bed.

With an 8.35 Origon Pacific flight we were back in West Auckland by 10.00 am, with the warm cosy glow of a perfect weekend.

Kiwi Breakbeat

We met a new producer called A-Spark yesterday, another one making cool Kiwi Breaks. After years of not really getting it, I'm finally getting into Breaks & some Drum & Bass. The first time I heard what Bristol called 'Jungle' was at St Paul's Carnival in 1991.

It was dark twisted music and the D&B clubs always seemed to have an aggressive vibe. The D&B I was familiar with was from the mean streets of Bristol, but Kiwi D&B is more sunny & upbeat. I'm especially stoked about signing Recline Dub a second Breakbeat remix by andy qroniq & Kiwi Ska band The WBC.

Quarterlife Crisis
The New Zealand Herald ran a feature this weekend on the quarterlife crisis. The concept of a quarterlife crises in your twenties has already spawned a book, a play and a band. I blame the dotcom years and all those stories about multimillionaire teens. My advice is chill out and accept that you won't get your perfect life overnight, but you will if you work hard and keep focussed on your dreams.

I can honestly say that I'd rather have cellulite and a few wrinkles rather than have to go through my twenties again. All that indecision, angst and the burning desire to prove myself. I'm also glad I didn't go for a degree, and I climbed to the top of my last career without having gone to university. I feel so sorry for Kiwi kids coming out of college with $30K+ debts. No wonder they all head off overseas.

Plarbing my pussy

I've been spending a lovely day in bed surfing and plarbing my pussy. Plarbing is a term I found on a blog called the Pussy Ranch [not work safe]. "*Plarb, verb: The act of gently squishing or kneading the excess fat of an overweight pet. A very satisfying activitity." It is indeed.

Sam in Denver has emailed me to ask where the name MsBehaviour come from. It's a moniker I picked up working behind the bar at UK fetish nights. They were certainly eye opening, a lot of fun and I could get away with wearing very little when I was 18. Some of the most intersting people I have ever met have been from the fetish scene.

Bing Bear Bling

Dodgy Sam and Kells have given Scare bear and P-freak a bling bling makeover. They've now got t-shirts, beanies, bone carvings, chains, eyebrow peircings, and jewellery, kiwi bling bling stylee.

Unless you live in Remuera, gold chains and diamonds don't really work over here.

0800 Angelcare

N20/Nitro Productions are putting on a fundraiser for 0800 ANGELCARE in association with Tangent Productions, TMet Recordings and UpFM on May 7th 2004 at Cube (5 High Street, Auckland). Angelcare is a charitable trust that provides trained 'Angels' to deal discreetly with overheating, dehydration & other alcohol / drug related issues at dance parties within New Zealand.

Angelcare also provides 24 hour access to expert drug advice from qualified psychologists and personnel with their telephone support lines. If you or anyone you know is having problems with drugs, then call 0800 ANGELCARE (0800 2643522) / 0800 PHELPLINE (0800 743 575) for free support and advice.

New Zealand is a damn sensible place. As well as having Angels in clubs they have been debating the issue of dancepills, that offer kids a safe, legal, way to stay up all night and party. Instead of banning them outright they are thinking of creating a new 'Category D' which is R18.

New Zealand Idol

A Kiwi songbird currently back in the country after winning many hearts in in the Northern Hemipshere is Bic Runga. Half Maori and half Chinese, she's one of the most mesmerising singers I have ever seen. Bic has been based in Paris for the past 6 months and has made a few fans on her European OE.

More New Zealand music news - we're getting our very own NZ Top of the Pops. Once I might have groaned at the idea, but I'm hearing so much good Kiwi music at the moment I'll have to wait and see. We even have our very own New Zealand Idol, but I only know what's going on from reading the NZ Idol Blog.

I wish I could make this gig tomorrow night: Fat Freddy's Drop Horse Around In Auckland. Trifecta! is one of the last Auckland appearances that Fat Freddy's Drop will make before tripping overseas for the first of two Northern Hemisphere summer tours. Catch them if you can.

The MIUAYGA recipe
This a recipe for life that I've learned from my Mum. It's called the Miuayga recipe, it's no great secret and anyone can do it. The Miuayga recipe applies to every facet of life from dinner to setting up your own business. You just Make It Up As You Go Along!

Getting to the Nub of it

I've just heard the grooviest track that we're signing from Nub, a Bristol based live electronica trio consisting of Martin Meizaus, Dave Lewis and Tim Hetherington. Tim's an ex-boyfriend of mine who I've now adopted as my bro, and I know Martin (and his lovely girlfriend Candi) from the Bristol Free party scene. We're also signing some psytrance from Mr Sketchy from Bristol Rave.

Congratulations to Craig from Bristol Rave on the birth of little Lydon. That has to be the perfect name for an old skool punk's baby!

The perfect club tan...
I had an adventure yesterday - I caught a train to the Britomart. The Britomart is a shiny new train station in downtown Auckland. The name sounds like it was dreamed up by comittee, but the building is fantastic. All silver meshed curves, colour bathed white walls and a huge mirror with water cascasding down that makes you instantly feel chilled. The train was 3 whole minutes late and I had to stand for one stop! It was a most pleasurable one day commute. I discovered the groovy Manic shop in a funky mall called Little High Street, a stones throw away from the Chancery and the NZ designer shops on High Street. It was like finding a Carnaby Street just off Saville Row.

There's some great photos by Bob on Biggie, from the UpFM 2nd birthday party on Saturday night. There's one of me, Chelfyn, Dodgy Sam & Sean [front/back], Justin Sane & poor Pingu, Kells with Chris, P-freak & Scare Bear, and Kyle who was teased mercilessly for looking like he'd been 'Queer-Eyed' for the night.

The Tangent guys did a really great job with the decor, and the main room at Cube looked lush. I'm used to the amazing full UV environments from Tribe of Frog and Mutant Dance back in Bristol, but most Kiwi clubs go for lasers, lights and a logo behind the DJ. I love going to a club where some effort has been made, and in the fluoro dimension everyone has shiny hair, white teeth and great skin.

UPfm 2nd Birthday Photo Galleries:
Biggie, Hardhouse [Set 1, Set 2, Videos], Twisted, NZ Rave.