In April 2018 I was named as the winner of the Scarlett Award for critical writing about sculpture. The competition is organised by Lorne Sculpture Biennale and the winning entry can be read here: http://www.lornesculpture.com/winner.php
Review: St Peter by Emma Tricca for The Quietus
A ‘Lead Review’ for The Quietus of Emma Tricca’s album St Peter: http://thequietus.com/articles/24418-emma-tricca-st-peter-lead-album-review
Feature & Interview: Next Wave Festival 2018
A preview of Next Wave Festival 2018, including an interview with Artistic Director Georgie Meagher, for Art Guide Australia: https://artguide.com.au/next-wave-festival-2018
Review: How To Get Your Record Played in Shops by Mike Donovan for The Quietus
Review of Mike Donovan’s new album How To Get Your Record Played in Shops for The Quietus: http://thequietus.com/articles/24454-mike-donovan-how-to-get-your-record-played-in-shops
From The Vault #1: Neil Finn on Crowded House’s Together Alone
From 2012-16 I was a feature writer for ABC Arts Online. This archive has now been wiped from the internet, so some of the more interesting pieces from this period will be rehashed and republished here, starting with an interview with Neil Finn on the 20th anniversary of the Crowded House album, Together Alone. Originally published October 2013
It is the pronounced darkness of Kare Kare at night that sticks in Neil Finn’s memory when recalling the thousand sensory impressions as Crowded House recorded Together Alone across the summer of 1992/3. Finn and his bandmates had moved into a large house owned by producer Nigel Horrocks, perched above Kare Kare Beach itself, a disconcertingly sublime setting for an album that has not only gone on to be the band’s critical highpoint, but one of the finest Antipodean albums ever made.
“On a moonlit night it would be like you were in a starscape,” says Finn, marking 20 years since the album’s October 1993 release, “and on a moonless night the sport was to get back from dinner without a torch.”
Continue reading “From The Vault #1: Neil Finn on Crowded House’s Together Alone“
Interview with ceramicist Vipoo Srivilasa for Art Guide Australia
An interview with Melbourne-based Thai ceramicist Vipoo Srivilasa for Art Guide Australia, about his exhibition Everyday Shrines: http://artguide.com.au/vipoo-srivilasa-everyday-shrines
Review: Freedom by Amen Dunes for The Quietus
Review of Freedom by Amen Dunes for The Quietus: http://thequietus.com/articles/24305-amen-dunes-freedom-album-review
Review: Mr Dynamite by Creep Show for The Quietus
Review of Mr Dynamite by Creep Show (John Grant et al) for The Quietus: http://thequietus.com/articles/24225-creep-show-mr-dynamite-album-review
Review of Human Flow for Australian Book Review
Review of Ai Weiwei’s documentary film on the global refugee crisis, Human Flow, for Australian Book Review‘s Arts Update section: https://www.australianbookreview.com.au/abr-arts/4683-human-flow
‘Where is the free in freelance?’ for Southerly
A meditation on the lows and very lows of a freelance writing life in Australia, for Southerly‘s special issue, The Long Apprenticeship: http://southerlyjournal.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/SMITH_Barnaby_LP_LongApprenticeship_BS.pdf