“Streets of Colour” is a captivating film that leaves a lasting impact, resonating deeply within the hearts of its viewers. It tells the ultimate story of friendship, hope, and life’s triumph over adversity, moving audiences with each viewing.
In times of despair, “Streets of Colour” becomes a beacon of hope, uplifting spirits in ways that contemporary movies rarely achieve. It touches the soul, evoking a sense of spiritual awakening for many. The film affirms the enduring power of friendships that endure even the direst circumstances, often bringing grown women like myself to tears.
Some may initially question how a movie titled “Streets of Colour,” centered around a 25-year-old drug dealer battling addiction, manages to strike a chord with such a broad audience. Yet, every aspect of the film seamlessly comes together. The acting is impeccable, from the lead roles to the most minor parts. The musical score, editing, photography, and storytelling were executed quite well, from the opening credits to the final scene. Even the portrayal of Mt Druitt adds authenticity to the film.
This movie is far from ordinary; it carries a profound message. Its foundation rests upon hope, which serves as the guiding force throughout the narrative. While underlying religious subtexts emphasize themes of faith and hope, the movie speaks to anyone searching for a glimmer of optimism. It delivers a compelling and deeply moving story, expertly written, acted, and shot. It is a cinematic gem that sets the bar high.
One cannot overlook the phenomenal performances in “Streets of Colour.” Rahel Romahn delivers an epic portrayal, evoking darkness, sorrow, and an overwhelming passion that leaves a lasting impression. Romahn portrays Tez, the film’s protagonist, whose life spirals downward following the racially charged street fight that tragically claims his friend’s life. Alongside him, Kyle Madden, played by an equally impressive actor, experiences his own tumultuous journey.
Ronnie S. Riskalla’s direction ensures a steady pace throughout the film, perfectly complementing the compelling writing and exquisite cinematography. Riskalla presents the life of a drug addict in a harrowing manner, focusing not only on physical pain but also the immense mental strain and torment experienced by addicts.
For those who have yet to experience its power, “Streets of Colour” demands immediate attention. It is a film that offers more than meets the eye. This film sets a new standard with its profound message and exceptional performances. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Yolandi Franken, the executive producer of Streets of Colour, for graciously inviting us to witness this extraordinary cinematic experience.
You can experience Streets of Colour at multiple locations nationwide. The screening sessions are listed below:
SYDNEY
Casula Powerhouse | Saturday, July 22, 2023
Actors Centre, Leichhardt | Monday, July 31, 2023
Parramatta Riverside | Thursday, August 24, Friday, August 25, and Saturday, September 2, 2023
Inflation can cause concern for many people, often leading to rising prices, lower purchasing power, and economic instability. However, some strategies can be employed to make inflation work in your favor and turn it into an accessory to success.
Invest in assets
One such strategy is investing in assets that appreciate with inflation. This can include real estate, commodities, and stocks of companies that have pricing power. Real estate, for instance, tends to appreciate with inflation, as the value of the property increases in tandem with rising prices. Commodities such as gold, oil, and other natural resources can also appreciate with inflation, as their values are tied to supply and demand dynamics. Investing in stocks of companies with pricing power can also be a way to benefit from inflation, as they can raise prices to match rising costs without hurting demand for their products or services.
Increase your own earnings potential
Another strategy is taking advantage of inflation to increase your earnings potential. Inflation often leads to higher wages and salaries as businesses try to keep up with rising costs. This can be an opportunity to negotiate for higher pay or seek better-paying job opportunities. Additionally, starting a business can be a way to take advantage of inflation, as rising prices can lead to increased demand for certain goods and services.
Consider inflation when making financial decisions
When making financial choices, take inflation into account, such as taking out loans or saving for retirement. Inflation can lessen the value of your savings over time, so it is vital to invest in assets that can keep up with or outpace inflation. For example, investing in stocks or bonds can provide a higher rate of return than a savings account, which typically offers lower interest rates that may not keep up with inflation.
Use inflation when negotiating loans
Another strategy is to use inflation to your advantage when negotiating loans. Inflation can decrease the actual value of debt over time, making it easier to pay off in the future. This can be a helpful tactic when negotiating loan terms, as lenders may be more willing to offer favorable terms in a higher inflation environment.
Learn to adjust your financial strategy
Lastly, it is essential to keep an eye on inflation and adjust your financial strategy accordingly. Inflation rates can fluctuate over time, so it is essential to monitor changes and adjust your investment and spending strategies accordingly. This can include diversifying your portfolio, taking advantage of tax-advantaged retirement accounts, and seeking professional financial advice.
In conclusion, while inflation can be a cause for concern, some strategies can be employed to make it work in your favor and turn it into an accessory to success. Investing in assets that appreciate with inflation, taking advantage of increased earnings potential, considering inflation in financial decisions, negotiating loans, and adjusting financial strategies over time can all be effective ways to benefit from inflation and achieve financial success.
Creating engaging content for social media is essential for building a loyal following and growing your brand online. Below are some tips on how to create engaging content for social media:
Know your audience
The first step in creating engaging content for social media is to know your audience. Who are they, what are their interests, and what kind of content do they respond to? You can produce content that connects with your audience once you grasp them well.
Use visuals
Visuals are an essential part of social media content. Use high-quality images, graphics, and videos to capture your audience’s attention and make your content more visually appealing.
Tell a story
People love stories, so incorporate storytelling into your social media content. This can be a personal story about your brand or a story that connects with your audience’s interests and experiences.
Be authentic
Authenticity is critical to creating engaging social media content. Be true to your brand and values, and don’t be afraid to show your personality and quirks. Your audience will value your genuineness and sincerity.
Use humour
A fantastic technique to engage your audience and make them smile is through humour. Incorporate humour into your social media content, but ensure it aligns with your brand and is appropriate for your audience.
Ask questions
Asking questions is a great way to encourage engagement on social media. Ask your audience for their opinions, thoughts, and experiences, and respond to their comments to keep the conversation going.
Use hashtags
Incorporating hashtags in your social media strategy is an effective strategy for expanding the reach of your social media content. Use relevant hashtags that align with your content and your audience’s interests to reach new followers and expand your brand’s reach.
Post consistently
To develop a devoted audience, you must be consistent on social media. Post regularly and consistently, but ensure you’re not sacrificing quality for quantity.
Use call-to-actions
Include a call-to-action in your social media content to encourage your audience to take action, such as liking, commenting, or sharing your post. This can increase engagement and help your content reach a wider audience.
Measure your results
Finally, it’s critical to evaluate the outcomes of your social media content. Analyze your engagement, reach, and other metrics to see what’s working and what’s not, and adjust your content strategy accordingly.
Creating engaging content for social media takes time, effort, and creativity. By following these simple yet effective tips, you’ll be able to produce content that connects with your audience and strengthens your brand, thereby helping you achieve your social media goals.
Portrait of the Queen, an event-documentary that looks at the moving, enthralling and controversial 70-year reign of late Queen Elizabeth II through the eyes of the world’s best photographers, will release to select Australian cinemas for a limited time on March 18.
The film, an original and intimate portrait that goes far beyond the dictates of standard conventional biographies, interweaves the story of the Queen’s life with the equally fascinating lives of the extraordinary photographers who accompanied – and often created – the image of British monarchy itself. Those who, through their work, established, conveyed, and spread the image of Her Majesty.
A special, careful look of the thousands upon thousands of images that have portrayed her, means that we can perhaps find a new way to approach a Queen we feel we have always known, but who has always seemed equally out-of-reach. Each portrait presented in this film, each conversation with the photographers involved in the project, all the accounts of experiences shared by actresses, designers, and British subjects, fit carefully and intricately into the screenplay like pieces of a mosaic that capture some of the multifaceted aspects of the Queen’s image, all different but connected, all equally powerful and significant.
Directed byaward-winning photographer Fabrizio Ferri, Portrait of the Queen is based on the book, Elisabetta II: Ritratto di Regina by Paola Calvett. The documentary features legendary British actor Charles Dance (The Crown, Game of Thrones), with contributions from Emma Blau, Pierpaolo Piccioli, Isabella Rossellini, Susan Sarandon and the Queen’s photographers Brian Aris, Jason Bell, Julian Calder, Chris Levine, David Montgomery, John Swannell.
I was walking to work when I saw this businesswoman walking towards me. She was impeccably dressed in a knee-length pencil skirt paired with a lovely, flowy, short-sleeve blouse for the early summer weather. She took confident strides in her envy-inducing mid-heel pumps, and slung over one forearm was the successful, modern woman’s perfect accessory, the drool-worthy leather tote. But, in a practice that I see more often than not, her head was buried in the cell phone she held in her hands. Whatever was on the screen had her rapt attention that she didn’t notice the streetlamp in her path. That is until she ran right into it.
While that experience had me trying to hide my laughter, I had another encounter on the other end of the spectrum. I found myself having to grab a teenager’s backpack to stop him from walking right into the middle of a busy intersection! He was too busy staring at his phone to realise the danger that he was in. From the look of horror on his face, it was clear that he was completely oblivious until he felt me yank on his bag.
So how connected is too connected? Is the text, tweet, post, or whatever that held their attention worth her embarrassment, in the case of the businesswoman, or his life, in the case of the teenager? Our easy answer is no. But then, how many times have we been guilty of this ourselves? Let me give you this answer. Too many. So many that laws had to be created to make it illegal to be on your phone while driving. So many that automotive engineers had to design cars that can stop on their own when it detects danger before the driver does – a direct consequence of distracted driving. And how many times have you yourself given the bashful “I’m sorry” when you’ve run into someone because you were looking at your phone?
Don’t get me wrong. I’m actually a firm believer that the internet and social media can be a powerful force for good. More than at any other time in history, we have unprecedented access to information. Information that would have taken hours of research in the past is now available in a few keystrokes. Social media first emerged as a powerful tool of change during a period in the early 2010’s called the ‘Arab Spring’ where demonstrators used it to organize their protests (through the hashtag ‘#ArabSpring) throughout the Arab world, which included Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen and more. The uprising saw whole governments overthrown, leaders ousted, and constitutional reforms enacted. In the Western world, the internet and social media have given us more exposure to controversial issues such as police brutality, given us more chances to engage in public debate, and allowed us the opportunity to participate in causes and campaigns such as the very popular ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ a while back that raised over a hundred million dollars for the motor neuron disease, ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). And on a more personal level, it has enabled friends and families separated by great distances to now easily keep in touch with each other.
But again, how connected is too connected? Like everything else in life, keeping things in moderation is the key. But having such easy access to the internet makes tuning out a lot more difficult. The rapid growth of the internet and social media also means that the rules of etiquette and guidelines for its use are still catching up, especially for the younger generation. I heard some sage advice about that recently: “If you don’t want your boss, or future boss, to see it or read about it, don’t put it on Facebook.” But what do teenagers think of that when they’re having fun at a party? It is becoming increasingly the norm to ‘share’ whatever it is you’re doing, eating, etc., on social media. But where do you draw the line? Three young women from Philadelphia tragically found out the hard way when the car they were traveling in slammed into a parked tractor-trailer and burst into flames. Because of the fire, bystanders could not come to their aid, and all three were burned to death. Relatives of one of the girls said that they received a Snapchat video showing them going at about 73 mph (117 km/h) minutes before they crashed.
The line has definitely been crossed when there are deaths involved and when there are words like ‘cyberbullying’ are added to the dictionary. But this world of instant information and instant connections is our new reality, so when do you recognize that it’s too much? It’s when your online acquaintances take second place to the people within your life. It’s when you choose to learn about the world via the internet rather than actually going out there and experiencing it. And it’s when you do finally turn off that computer and put down that phone, and you can’t answer this question: “Who am I without it?” That’s when you know you’re too connected.
The red carpet was recently rolled out in Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion as the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Awards held its official ceremony for 2022. The cream of the crop in the Australian music industry attended Australia’s night of nights as the who’s who of the music industry gathered to celebrate the best in Australia.
If you want to see all the glitz and glam at the 2022 ARIA Awards, then scroll down below. Photos courtesy of Dave Choo.
Silky Lane Boutique is an exciting way to drape everyone and anyone individually. It was launched in response to the fashion needs of today.
Silky Lane’s effortless and feminine silhouettes, enhanced with intricate embroideries, are apt for any up-and-coming occasions or celebrations.
The label is devoted to bringing a selection of unique, wearable, and affordable clothing and accessories by contemporary designers and independent brands from local creators and beyond.
To see Silky Lane Boutique’s latest collection, please join us on Saturday, 22nd of October, 2022, at the Stamford Plaza Grand Ballroom for an unforgettable evening of fashion!
To purchase your tickets for this incredible event, please contact Sue Turner.
Set in the backdrop of Hyatt Regency, various fashionistas, models, and photographers flocked together to witness an event featuring the 2022 Miss Earth Australia finalists. The event is the brainchild of Miss Earth Australia National Director Julieta De Leon and Managing Director Marc Baylon.
Amongst flashing lights, media coverage, and music was Stargazer Production and the Miss Earth Australia Organization right in the middle of it all. It was a great night filled with world-class fashion and entertainment as they celebrated their love and commitment to Mother Earth.
The 2022 Miss Earth Australia 2022 Grand Launch and Fashion Show featured some of the most incredibly talented Sydney designers, such as Tommy Ge of Leatheron, Faten Lawn, Lily African Wares, Alies Bol, and Armando Crisostomo.
Check out some of the photos below from the fashion show courtesy of George Azmy:
With the quieter summer holiday upon us now might be a good time to make some super simple changes that could make a lifetime of difference in retirement.
Many Australians are concerned that they won’t have enough money in their super accounts to fund their retirement.
But there are five easy steps workers can take now to boost their savings:
First, check with your fund to make sure you are getting paid all your legal super entitlements. Unpaid superannuation impacts 3 million workers a year – costing them a total of $5 billion and while most bosses do the right thing there are still some employers out there who deliberately rip workers off. And with the super guarantee rate rising to 12% it is more important to check that the full amount is being paid.
Second, consolidate your super funds into one account, finding lost or unpaid super is simple now using the Australian Tax Office tools.
Third, compare your existing super fund with others in the market to make sure it is meeting your needs. New government ‘stapling’ laws mean that workers are likely to stick with funds for longer. Alarmingly only 7% of people switched after they were told their fund failed a government performance test. Being stapled to one of those dud funds can cost a worker $230,000 at retirement.
Fourth, make sure the type of fund and level of insurance is right for you. Make sure the investment strategy matches your needs and appetite for risk – which your fund can help you with. Also be sure to check the insurance coverage is the right fit for you and your family.
Fifth, if you find some loose change or get some type of windfall consider putting it in your super fund. It is a tax-effective way to make savings and with the power of compounding interest a little invested in super now, makes a big difference in retirement. A 30-year-old on average wages that salary sacrifices $20 a week into super has $67,000 more at retirement and gets a tax saving now.
Further tips on boosting your retirement nest egg can be found on Industry Super Australia’s website
Comments attributable to Industry Super Australia chief executive Bernie Dean:
“There are five easy tips to getting your super right and most can be done from the comfort of your deck chair, beach towel or at home.”
“Check you are being properly paid super, consolidate accounts, compare funds, select the right investment mix and make small extra contributions if you can.”
“With the Super Guarantee set to rise to 12 percent it is even more important to make sure you are getting paid your full legal entitlement and that the fund is working for you.”
This article was sourced from a media release sent by Medianet
By Allison Kugel Gwen Stefani spent her childhood and adolescence in Anaheim, California, a suburban girl living just a stone’s throw from Disneyland. It was her older brother, Eric, who founded No Doubt, the hybrid ska/punk/rock band that would help Stefani make her way into the musical limelight with their 1995 breakout album, Tragic Kingdom. The band’s unique sound coupled with Stefani’s platinum blonde hair, red lips, and punk rock fashion sensibility, brought the singer to Rockstar status in the 1990s.
With lyrics torn from the pages of Gwen’s personal diary about falling in love, breakups, makeups, and mending a broken heart, her music has always drawn in listeners with its raw vulnerability. Her down-to-earth nature and self-deprecating sense of humor helped to seal the deal with fans, making her one of the most successful female recording artists of the past twenty-three years.
Her first solo album, 2004’s Love. Angel. Music. Baby. and L.A.M.B. fashion label catapulted her into the music and style icon stratosphere in the early 2000s. Follow-up albums like 2006’s The Sweet Escape and No Doubt’s 2012 reunion album, Push and Shove capped off two decades of non-stop recording and touring for the Grammy-winning artist, as she focused on raising her three sons with then-husband, Bush lead singer, Gavin Rossdale.
In the summer of 2015, the California girl experienced a seismic 8.5 earthquake in her personal life when her marriage to Rossdale imploded amidst a cheating scandal. An unexpected romance came in the form of country crooner, and Gwen’s The Voice costar, Blake Shelton, whom the Hollaback girl began dating later that same year. Gwen then did what she does best, pouring her emotions into her most personal music to date, with 2016’s This Is What the Truth Feels Like album and a subsequent tour.
From October 22 – November 6, the hitmaking mom of Kingston, 11, Zuma, 9, and Apollo, 4, is preparing to embark on her Las Vegas Residency at Zappos Theatre at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. It’s called, what else? Gwen Stefani: Just A Girl – an homage to her first single to make the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and her own personal anthem that she says still holds true today. I sat down with Gwen to discuss this new chapter in her life and career. Allison Kugel: Was this Las Vegas Residency a family decision? Did you sit down with your three boys and say, “Mom’s going to perform in Las Vegas instead of touring. What do you think about that?” Gwen Stefani: Honestly, my kids don’t really have too much of a say on what the schedule’s going to be. But as a mom, if you look at my touring for the last ten years, I haven’t really toured. In the past, I did tours for seven years. It’s hard with the kids, because they’re in school and I’m not homeschooling, and you can’t pull them out. It’s not fair on them. I did my last tour because I had this unexpected life crisis and then the music came pouring out of me from that. I didn’t even plan on making any music. It was such a lifesaver and a beautiful moment for me to be able to write again. I put that tour on at the last minute (referring to her “This Is What The Truth Feels Like” tour) and went on a summer tour with the kids. It was so much fun for them. They love touring, but it isn’t realistic. So, I’ve been thinking about doing the Vegas show for a while now. The Las Vegas Residency will really work for me as a mom, because it’s these little chunks of time where you can fly in and out, and it’s workable. Allison Kugel: It’s a shifting of priorities. Gwen Stefani: Yes. After that last tour, I felt like, “God I’ve toured a lot in my life!” I love it, but it takes so much out of me as far as being able to focus on the rest of my life with the kids. I have three kids and it’s a big deal! Any parent would probably go, “How does she do it?” It’s almost impossible to do and it’s a lot of balancing. The Las Vegas Residency is just perfect for where I’m at right now. Allison Kugel: What does performing live give you, personally and energetically? Gwen Stefani: Being on stage for me, I always forget how much it’s a part of who I am. I’ve done it for my whole life, pretty much. I always think I don’t want to do it. I always think it’s fine if I never do it again. Then when I get on stage, even when I’m sound checking, I’m like, “Oh My God, I love this!” I love my music, I love being up there, I love the attention and I love being able to share that love with people and get that exchange. I don’t understand why I like it so much. Allison Kugel: It feeds your soul. You’re connecting with the source and you’re in a zone. Gwen Stefani: It’s my gift. It’s what I’m here for. I’m obviously at the end of my journey of being a musician… Allison Kugel: Why would you say that? Gwen Stefani: Well because of my age, and I’ve been doing it for thirty-something years. It’s perfect for me to be able to do a Las Vegas show, because not only does it work for me as a mom, but it also works creatively. It’s a new challenge. It’s going to be a way to express myself and do my whole catalog of music that defines every single period in my life; all the crises and all the joys. Creatively, I couldn’t have done it any sooner. I had to have all these songs. It just feels like the perfect next chapter for me.
Gwen Stefani, April 12 2018, Photos By Denise Truscello
Allison Kugel: You’re taking the audience on a journey of your life, and to do that you have to have lived.
Gwen Stefani: Exactly! And I also think people who are going out for that weekend in Las Vegas, it’s so different from, for example, if I’m performing in Philly and it’s about Philly culture, and the audience is just coming out for that one night and getting a babysitter. You know what I mean? This Vegas show is a bigger commitment for people. They’re going for the weekend and they’re making a memory. You’re competing with the Las Vegas nightlife, you’re competing with the gambling, the partying, and with the hotels and all the expenses. It’s a big commitment for people, and they’re coming to me from all over the world. Allison Kugel: And they’re going to get a more intimate experience with you than they would in a stadium setting. Gwen Stefani: It is a much smaller audience than I’m used to, under five thousand people. It’s going to be so different and that’s something I need. When you’ve toured for however many years I have, it’s super awesome, but let’s do something new! That’s why even doing The Voice for the last couple of years was so inspiring for me. I think everybody wants something challenging and new to look forward to. Allison Kugel: You went to see Jennifer Lopez’s Las Vegas show, All I Have. I’m assuming the two of you discussed her Las Vegas Residency. Did she give you any advice? Gwen Stefani: Me and Jennifer, I’ve always looked up to her in the sense that we’re exactly the same age, and I remember when No Doubt was coming out and she hadn’t done Jenny from The Block yet, but she had that song out, Waiting for Tonight. At the time I was working with Prince and he started comparing me and Jennifer, and at that time I didn’t even see how I was in the same category as her. She was Jennifer Lopez and I was in a band called No Doubt (laughs). But nowhere we both are doing these residencies all these years later, and we’ve known each other through the years. She’s always invited me to her kids’ birthday parties and things like that. She is a crazy worker. I cannot believe how much she works! I know I do, but I look at her and I’m like, “Wow!” Allison Kugel: It doesn’t seem human, right? Multiple television shows, Las Vegas Residency, albums… Gwen Stefani: I know. I don’t understand it. Going to see her, and I’d never seen her do a performance live, I was studying the production of her show. The show was incredible, and she works so hard on stage. I admire her a lot and it was so inspiring to see… and scary! When I came backstage to talk to her afterward, she comes out of the dressing room looking like a Barbie Doll. She was breathtaking on stage, but when you see her up close, it’s like, “What?! It’s not possible. You are so gorgeous!” She was just so glamorous. We talked for a while and she was like, “Yeah, I’ve just done 100 shows…” And I’m like, “Whoa, that’s a lot of shows!” (Laughs) And she still has forty more to go. She’s really enjoyed it, but she said it is challenging. Allison Kugel: I think you’ll find it challenging, but one of the best experiences of your life. Gwen Stefani: It is challenging, and as performers, we have a completely different perspective on doing a concert than the audience. The challenge isn’t about us. We’re going to be us every time we get up there. We may have that one night where we’re off because of whatever might be going on. A lot of times, you just never know what you’re going to be like on stage. But at the same time, we’re pretty much consistent. It’s really about the audience. What are they going to be like and are they into it or not?
Allison Kugel: What are you presenting to the audience, artistically, with your Just A Girl Las Vegas Residency? You’re also a fashion designer and you have a strong aesthetic vision. Between the sets and the costumes, how will everything tie together on stage? Gwen Stefani: I’ve really tried to put together a show that has a nostalgic feel. The show is full of hit songs that are recognizable and take you back to that time period in your life. And of course, the real reason for doing Vegas is the costumes. I’m working with Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn who I’ve been working with now for, I don’t know how many years. They are just incredible. They did Jennifer [Lopez’s] show, and they’ve also worked with Jennifer for years. They really get me. I think there’s going to be about five costume changes, which is a lot for me considering that with No Doubt I never did any.
Gwen Stefani, April 12 2018, Photos By Denise Truscello
Allison Kugel: I remember. With No Doubt, it was just you out there with your cut-off t-shirts (laughs). Gwen Stefani: (Laughs) Yeah. But now I’m working with designers to see what they come up with. There are different chapters as far as what I want to look like, and I basically have it all worked out. Now it’s just putting it all together. Allison Kugel: The title of your Las Vegas show, Just A Girl, is the title of one of your biggest hits, but it has a double meaning for you. You’re always saying, “I’m just a girl from Orange County…” Is that your way of keeping yourself grounded? Gwen Stefani: Honestly, I think if you really knew me or saw my family and how I grew up, I am 100% the same person I have always been. When I wrote that song, Just A Girl, I was twenty-five years old, going to college, still living at my parent’s house, and I was very naïve. I had a boyfriend at the time that lived at his parent’s house. I was driving one day and I’m thinking, “Wow! I really have a different position in this world, being that I’m a female.” Allison Kugel: Did something happen that made you stop and think, “I’m going to be treated a certain way because I’m a girl.”? Gwen Stefani: It was just more of a realization that I had. I think we all do as females. I’m walking down the street and some guy just whistled at me? What does that even mean? Suddenly, you’re aware of your sexuality and that you’re ascribed a certain value because of it. It was when that hit me, that I wrote the song, Just A Girl. Nobody was paying attention at the time. Nobody was ever going to hear the song. I didn’t even know how to write a song. It was just so naïve. I guess I wanted to figure out a way to say, “This is my DNA.” And really, my DNA is I am just a girl from Anaheim [California]. I’m just me, and I’ve never been anything else. I know that’s what got me to this point, by being honest, real, and sharing my story with people. That’s all we can do in this life, and I’m nothing more than that. But at the same time, by using my gift, being aware of it, trying to respect it, and being confident in it, I’ve gotten this far. Music is so powerful, and for a song like that to still be relevant twenty years later? In a way, it’s even more relevant now. We have so much going on with female empowerment and what’s our place? When I read the lyrics of that song I think, “My gosh, that must have been a Godsend,” because I know I didn’t think that up on my own. I always thought it would go out of fashion, or I’d be too old to say “just a girl” but it still works. Allison Kugel: Has Blake had any creative input with this Las Vegas show? Gwen Stefani: Obviously he’s my best friend, so I’m bouncing stuff off him all the time. He’s one of those people in my life that’s super supportive and gets me motivated. There’s a whole bunch of songs about him in the show, so that’s fun. Like anybody with their best friend, we share everything together. I’ll tell him, “I picked my dancers. There were 500 girls that tried out!” And I’ll send him videos. Just things like that.
Allison Kugel: Did you choose Planet Hollywood as the venue? Gwen Stefani: I feel like they chose me, and what’s really cool about it is that Planet Hollywood is also the Zappos Theatre now, and the Zappos team is just incredible. They’re taking over the theatre with their creativity and it has a very futuristic feel. I also give $1 of every single ticket sold to the children’s charity, Cure 4 The Kids Foundation. It’s going to add up to be a crapload of money! It’s something I’m going to be really proud of. You get very motivated about giving and helping, and making a difference, but you really don’t think as one person you’re ever going to in your life. I feel that to be able to get up there and share my story, and then make that kind of money to give away is amazing. I feel so proud of that. Allison Kugel: What’s your routine before you step out on stage? Do you pray? Do you meditate? How do you gear up to give your best performance? Gwen Stefani: I don’t meditate. I’m a prayer. I pray, but first I do my makeup (laughs). My makeup is huge for me. I have this song called War Paint. Putting on my makeup and getting ready, there is a kind of meditation in the preparation. Makeup is art, and it’s like getting into character when I put it on. I’ve always done my own makeup for shows. And praying for me is really important. We do a group prayer circle. In the last few years, and when I toured for the last show, the payer is not just before, but also during [the show]. When I think about how ordinary I’ve always been, and to think that I’ve created all these songs, I don’t know where they come from. I always think that it’s got to be a channeling and it just comes through me. It’s a spiritual thing that has been given to me to share. When I’m in the music, the music takes me right back to those moments in my life. And some of those moments are sickening, you know what I mean? Certain memories are upsetting. That’s why I say this is not just a show for me, it’s my life. It’s real for me and I think that’s why I’m very anxious about it. Allison Kugel: It’s going to be a tremendous spiritual, emotional and physical undertaking. Gwen Stefani: And I’m very lazy (laughs). I like to not have to work out and not have to be committed to something. And I love to be with my children, of course. But it is such an amazing opportunity and they don’t just hand them out to everybody. I feel really honored to be able to do it. I’m thrilled to see who’s going to show up and it’s going to be a lot of fun. I’m going to look back on this and say, “I can’t believe I did that!” Allison Kugel is a syndicated entertainment and pop culture journalist, and author of the book, Journaling Fame: A memoir of a life unhinged and on the record. Follow her on Instagram @theallisonkugel. Photo Credits: Yu Tsai, Denise Truscello
