The alternative music scene in Ōtepoti is a passionate one, marked by a resurgence of punk and grunge and a growing all-ages scene. Third-year Polytech Communication Design student Ash McFarlane wanted his final project to be a love letter to the community that welcomed him. Stapled Noise is an introductory handbook into the alternative music scene in Ōtepoti. The not-for-profit zine entails interviews with prominent bands like IVY, The Beatniks, and Pearly*, alongside art and stories from the community that keeps the scene running.
Apart from being the creator, designer, and editor of Stapled Noise, Ash is a full-time groupie. He even laughed with Critic Te Ārohi about the time he went on a nationwide tour with a band he wasn’t even in. Through this project, Ash wants to show musicians in the alt music scene “justice through the means of a physical publication”. With so much mahi going on behind the scenes and bands coming and going with the cycle of their three year degree, Ash chose to capture a “snapshot” of what the music scene is like at this very moment. The aim is for it to be directed both as a thank you to bands and a resource for new punters in town.
Ash moved to Ōtepoti without knowing many people. But like all freshers, he was dragged out to town by his flatmates. "It didn't take long to realise that it wasn't really my thing," Ash shrugged. While Ōtepoti’s alt music scene is prominent, Ash was unaware of its existence until he was reeled in by one of his mates, Caleb, who plays for Vagina Dry. Things snowballed from there. He jokes that the idea of Stapled Noise is to give newcomers their very own Caleb. “If you don't have the opportunity to meet Caleb Tulloch, you can have this book,” he laughs.
Just like that one Shakira song in Zootopia, Ash encourages newcomers to Ōtepoti to try and experience everything – whether it's Pint Night, Castle St flat parties, Suburbia, or a gig at The Crown. There's a place for everyone to let loose. Ash believes that the alternative music scene is a great substitute for student party life. “[It’s a] culture where you're more there for the music rather than getting drunk,” he says. It is also a part of Ōtepoti’s culture that needs to be preserved.
In an apparent poster crackdown, the Auckland Council has been telling independent promoters to stop putting up gig posters up in the CBD without approval. Ash fears that this crackdown could extend to Ōtepoti. In protest, Ash has dedicated a section in the zine to a step by step guide of how to poster up, including a "recipe book” of how to make wheatpaste – a natural glue-like substance used to paste up posters. Ash believes poster walls are proof of a city's life and an important “form of art and communication.”
If a credit scene were to roll on the zine, Ash’s name would dominate the key roles, but he made sure to clarify it wouldn’t be the only voice represented in this zine. Stapled Noise has received contributions from many members across the community, including illustrators, writers, editors, and interviewers. He also thanks the bands and venue owners who took the time out of their day to be interviewed.
While the magazine is finished, it has not been printed yet. Ash aims to supply the zine around campus, cafes, and venues for punters to pick up, free of charge. But printing a magazine does not come cheap. To raise funds for the project Ash is running an all-ages fundraiser gig at Yours Cafe on Friday the 26th of September, featuring bands U-o Juno, Vagina Dry, and Moth Eaten – all bands highlighted in the zine. Ash has also teamed up with Boosted, Aotearoa’s only crowdfunding platform dedicated to the arts, to fund the printing process. To up the stakes, if the page doesn't reach its target of $4000, all the donors will get their money back. At the time of writing, the project has already received $2,185 doubloons.
Visit the Boosted page here.