A chat with Foxx On Fire's Jimmy Hawk

Sporting some of the tightest jeans and pointiest shoes Melbourne has seen, is the quiet, gently spoken and always smiling, Jimmy Hawk. He walks with a strut well-earned by years in Melbourne’s indie crowd; playing solo shows, as well as gigs as bassist with Foxx On Fire who are about to release a new E.P....
But just what lies behind that unmistakable strut? I chat with him in an attempt to find out.

Do you prefer Jimmy or James? James if we're being serious and Jimmy if we're partying.

When did you first decide you would be a musician?
I've always enjoyed listening and playing music, but when I was 22 I realised that I wouldn't be able to live with myself if music wasn't a serious focus.
Do you think of it as your destiny? Not so much destiny because I am interested in so many forms of expression, and I think in life you make your own 'destiny'. I think of it rather a passion that I'm compelled to follow through with.

Describe your perfect Melbourne night out in 3 words: Mmmm, a nice dinner with friends, followed by a gig or show, more drinks with friends, some dancing...I'll let you imagine the rest. (smiles a cheeky smile)

I am constantly bumping into you out on the town,
what do you do when your not on a big night out or gigging? I'm usually in my studio working on paintings.

What is the best gig you’ve ever played?
And why? Mmmm, probably playing with Cold War Kids in L.A 2005, it was very spiritual.

Who do you look up to personally? My mum.
And professionally?
Lucien Freud.

Who are you listening to right now? Brian Eno – Another Green World.

Finish this sentence:
If I could:
I can’t, but if I could I would fix all the problems in the world.
Describe your last crush in 3 words: Sexy crooked teeth.

How and when did your band Foxx On Fire start? Early, 2007 I used to party a lot with Paul Housden Foxx's lead singer and guitarist. He invited me to have a jam and the rest kind of snowballed from there.

Foxx On Fire were finalists in the UncharTED competition this year, what was that experience like? Pretty fun, the people that ran the comp Peer Group Media had a great energy, and good taste in karaoke Bars. We got on MTV and played a fun gig.
Are you a competitive soul in everyday life? I used to be, but now I'm happy enough with my own work — I don't like the idea of comparing myself to others, everyone should be happy with their own vibe.

What’s on the horizon for you guys? We have an E.P out on Oct 23, its called ‘White Sands’, its a pretty wild record. My solo E.P, ‘Born On A Mountain’ comes out the week after on Oct 31, and its a more mellow record.

Next gig? Supporting Arian Deustch for his album launch on Oct 31 at The Evelyn. The next Foxx gig is our E.P Launch on Nov 2 at the Birmingham. My E.P launch is on Nov 7 at the Grace Darling Hotel.

Your pick of the summer festivals? Meredith.



You can check out more about Jimmy’s band at http://www.myspace.com/foxxonfire
and his solo work at
http://www.myspace.com/jhawkmusic

Interview by Annie Mullen.

Now

Right now I am loving:

All the Melbourne Summer music festivals approaching especially Falls!

Leopard print stuff, eg. cardigans, dresses, bows (but I always have)!


The Melbourne Fringe Festival (til the 11th of October) http://www.melbournefringe.com.au/



Possiblity of fab side-shows from the Summer festivals, especially YeahYeahYeahs, Animal Collective and Sia!


Pixies 'Doolittle' tour announced for March 2010!


Frills! on anything really! adds a cute, sweet feminine style, especially on bikinis and knickers!;0

News of the World. By Annie Mullen

News of the World.

You say create a telos of your own,
because there is thrill to be found
in what is yet to be made.
I say I want some cheese on toast,
preferably on rye bread.

An advertisement for the CES,
is yelling at me, “Pull on some overalls!”
There is a tanned man.
Once, when I was 10, he used to surf,
now he just yells.

“I could go a shag right now”
I whisper in your poisoned ear,
as a diseased hog attacks a vegetarian.
You don’t hear me though.

You’re Highness By Annie Mullen

You’re Highness

1.
I, silent, watch you and ‘the boys’
and my nostrils burn.
I forget you are my turtle.
I despise your amazing God.

My skin launches off,
I’m crumbling crusts again.
So I am left. I sit, certain,
jealous I don’t know
how to spell ‘success’.


2.
My nostrils burn, He is taking up
too much of my beloved’s bed.
I am called ‘your’ girl
And I have to wonder
if you wish- do you wish?-
that my waist was more baby suited?

I am not the dirt of your past.
Your mouth let me in, but now
I want out. Your shell is cracked.
I’m surrounded by only your pink,
that horrid pink that is praised.
I want a coffee and a conversation,
but you’re out of both.


(this is copyrighted as property of me and jacket magazine by the way...)
this and others are at www.jacketmagazine.com

rumours...

French band Phoenix are said to be returning to our shores again in November or December! They were here just a few weeks ago and rocked my socks off at their Melbourne show, which included an amazing acoustic version of Air's 'Playground Love'.... oh I hope this rumour is true...

20 questions with...THE GOOD CHINA

I play 20 questions with Melbourne band, The Good China to find out who they are and what they love…

1. Start with something basic; Who are The Good China?
Jag: Take 8 strangers and introduce them so they become the best of friends. Add an ever growing number of instruments (currently around 15). Then add a healthy dose of handclaps and a t-shirt that says "Pants". Set your oven to "Indie fun" and bake for 45 mins. Allow to cool and there you have it. The Good China. (Or a delicious cake shaped liked a hamburger. Depends how closely you followed the instructions... )

2. Where did the name come from?
Jag: We all brainstormed and collectively came up with about 200 or so potential names. "The Good China" is the only one that didn't suck so we went with it.

3. If you weren’t called The Good China, what do you think you would be called?
Jag: We were close to being called "Tiger Bite" for a while there until we realised it sounds like the name of a Japanese girl punk band...

4.What is the best gig you have ever played?
Ryan: It's hard to pick a favourite! Playing to 500 people at St Kilda Festival's New Music stage earlier this year was a rush, but having most of the Evelyn Hotel filled with dancing fans on the last night of our July residency was fantastic too.

5. Why was it the best?
Ryan: We had fun, the audience saw us enjoying ourselves and started to have fun too, and then we saw that and enjoyed it even more. The energy was terrific. We try to get that into every Good China show.

6. Finish this sentence:
When I was a child...
Mit: I wasn't allowed colouring books. My parents were insistent that I make my own. This probably explains my penchant for turning instruments into sparkly colourful spectacles!

7. Which Summer music festivals are you getting excited about?
Ryan: Meredith! But also Falls, not so much for the festival itself but for the sideshows of some great acts in early January next year. And St Kilda Festival 2010 - it'll be a real highlight to play on the main stage... if only because we'll all finally have enough room to perform scissor kicks and commando rolls while playing. Yes, we have discussed this before.

8. What are your favourite bands?
Broken Social Scene, Los Campesinos!, Radiohead, Modest Mouse, Phoenix, The National.

9. Describe them in 3 words:
Fun, euphoric, layered.

10. Describe The Good China in 3 words:
Ryan: Woo hey clap!

12. Who is the most organised in the band?
Ryan: Mit. For our St Kilda Festival performance earlier in the year she made us all individual zip-lock packs with relevant passes, parking details, set-lists and instructions. It was equal parts cute and obsessive-compulsive, I suspect.

Mit: Hey! I was just excited... Next time we play a festival and you get lost or not let in because you don't have a pass- don't blame me!

16. God is....
Ryan: Seven. But only if the devil is six. Thanks, Frank Black.

17. Life is....
Mit: Fun. Glorious. Wonderful. Most of the time!

18. Music is....
Mit: Fun. Glorious. Wonderful. All of the time!

19. We love....
Mit: With eight of us in the band, we cover a lot of things when it comes to love. Although we all love a good crowd to play to!

20. The Good China's next gig is....
Our debut EP Launch on September 17th at the Toff with the extraordinary Georgia Fields and indie popsters Swiss. We're very excited about this show! We're also playing some regional and NSW gigs - keep your eyes peeled for tour dates!

Check out their website for more information, www.myspace.com/thegoodchinaband
This interview is also up on

http://polaroidsofandroids.com/articles/interview-the-good-china/3965.html

visit the famous John Tranter's online publication:

http://www.jacketmagazine.com/

for some Australian new poetry, including some of mine in issue 37!

"I dislike a great deal of contemporary poetry -- all of the past you read is usually quite great -- but it is a useful thorn to have in one's side." (Frank O'Hara)