Peti Waretini 7/27/19 Peti Waretini 7/27/19

Vibe Camp

Foreground: DJ Spell / Background: Milan Ring, Mango

On the 11th July 2019, 4 mentors, 12 mentees and a handful of film, photography and cooking crew came together to support the development of young artists.  Singers, rappers, producers, spoken word artists. Wordsmiths, lyricists, composers. Creators, crafters, innovators, visionaries.

The space - Commongrounds, The Wedge. A social change movement whose cooperative built a commune-like abode, set amongst Taungarong Country, 1hr north of the Boonwurrung.

This sustainably designed space is a lodge, an accommodation house and a home. Home to the families whose very hands prepared the land, collected the resources and built the residence. You are reminded of this by the children’s single beds with ornate, white metal frames, the family photos on the walls throughout and the finger painting mural in the Great Room. 

Left to Right: Aisha, Mwanje, Pookie, Baasto, Spell, Mango

Different parts of the space have been allocated for recording, discussion, creating and taking portraits. Syrene is intentional about where she places each mentor, for their creative needs. She’s purposeful about where and who she assigns the mentees to. A spiritual intention. Creativity is a spiritual practise after all. 

Day One requires focus from the crew. Preparing the spaces, clearing the energies of the previous stayers and aligning ourselves to our purpose. To work and most importantly to hold space. I take a moment to scan the activities of each room. Five feminine energies setting the foundations for each space, including all technological requirements. 

But there’s an underlining disparity running through the space. It’s a mix of impostor syndrome, the face of dreams being realised and complete and utter vulnerability. We don’t speak much on it. There’s too much work to be done and a much needed nap to be had.

But the latter is forgotten as the mentees begin to arrive. 

Foreground: Bella Background: Aisha & Ree — Foreground: Bella
Background: Aisha & Ree

It’s an introduction and a reunion all at the same time. Some mentees come in strong, jumping straight on the looping machine. Others sit closer to the fire place, wide eyed taking in all that’s unfolding. They look overwhelmed. Ree is one of them. I ask her if she wants to jump up on the mike. She says she’s waiting for her girl, Lasi . She’ll be more confident when they’re here. I learn she’s African/Croation and radiates the beauty and heartiness of a Polynesian Princess. The hairs on my arms stand to attention as she speaks. Her voice is husky, deep and strong - Echoing the rich tones of Syrenes voice.
‘A powerhouse’, I think to myself.

Titan and Mango’s energy is high as the first ones to get on the mike. It’s vibrant, it’s confident, it’s brotherly. Titan spits with ease. His bars hold wisdom beyond his years. He’s powerful but how powerful he can be, only his humility knows. His smile welcomes, uplifts and eases. And he’s hella playful. No wonder my 6 year old is instantly drawn to him. 

Mango has a nostalgic flow. Mos Def comes to mind. He is melodic and fluid and his confidence and charm commands the mike and the attention of the room. Yet he shy’s away when he realises all eyes are on him. He checks his own ego and he can’t be any older than 21. But its the fluidity with which he moves through these contrasts that is most noticeable.

I quietly ask myself, where the fuck did these kids come from?

Much of the rest of the night is of everyone settling into the space and their rooms,  informal introductions and taking in all of the equipment set up for their creative refuge. As I scan the rooms, camera in hand ready to capture moments, I’m surprised to glimpse at eyes of wonderment but also overwhelm. Perhaps I’m not the only one who is thrown aback by the creative prowess we all feel bubbling under the surface. When Bella arrives with my sage stick, we cleanse ourselves and then move slowly through every room, every hall way, every bathroom, kitchen and dining room, sealing the internal walls with karakia and smoke. Whatever would unfold during our time here would be protected and sacred. 

As the day continues into night and the night into morning, one by one, mentor and mentee, the creative fires are unleashed. Not one of us realising how important each of us were to the space and to each other. Except perhaps Syrene and her eagle eye sight. There’s a peace I’ve not seen in her before. ‘Peace of mind’ I think to myself. Her vision for her community and the years of accumulated work she’s put in to make it happen, is right here...

Mentors from Left to Right: Spell, Milan, Syrene, N’fa

I wake to the remnants of creative carnage. A circle of chairs surrounding one mike. I can only imagine what eventuated from the night before. The mentors showcase that turned into a collaborative jam, that turned into what I can only describe as an unveiling. 

Unveiling of the ego. Any ego that had you think your voice was unique, or your personality or your looks were your edge. When everyone was as unique as each other and their voices were as much fire as the next, it forced each of them to lift their own veils to reveal, well, who am I? And for most that meant going deep. Reconnecting to the strength of your ancestors, deep. Reaching for spirit-level vocals, deep. 

So Bella went deep. Bella always does, when called to. It’s the first time I’ve seen my flatmate sing in public and surprisingly, I feel their nerves. I see their nerves and then I watch as they call into their bodies, the spirit of their ancestors to help ground them. Bellas instinctual improv has them switch up the flow from repetitive oohs and aahs to a bible of story. Retrograde insights of the here and now. 

There you are boo and gone are those nerves too.

Seasoned performers like Pookie flex with ease. She draws admiration from her mentors and they look to her to control the flow. So she does, like this and like that and with a groove that has us all waiting to see, to hear and to anticipate what’s next? 

Baastos melodic rhymes are Floetry smooth. Her voice reminds us of a time when Ms Hills (mis)education gave us the tools to heal ourselves, in a world that doesn’t acknowledge our existence.

Mwanje is motion. Constant motion and pure joy. Her energy reminds us we are Light. A true soprano. 

Ree shows full force where her strength lies - her family. Her instant tribe of Lao and Lasi sparks a ferocity that makes her roar on the mike. No resemblance of meekness left as seen earlier that day. She calls to them in karanga-like fashions. Calling forward the very power that nurtures and supports her.

Lao upholds the voices of all his ancestors before him in one vocal run.  He exudes South Auckland: Family, Music and Church. He calls Lasi to the mike as if announcing royalty. She responds with a giggle and hesitation. 

The energy of the room has lifted to monk like vibrations. It’s meditative and our heartbeats ring aloud. Making Lasi’s voice a revelation. Like that moment when the sun breaks through a rain cloud and suddenly a rainbow appears.

My daughter runs around the Great room bringing me to the present moment, the day after. She runs her fingers over each piece of equipment. She sits in each chair for just a second as if thanking every moment that was experienced last night, on behalf of those who sat there and to them.

“Thank you Spell”, she is saying when she lightly runs her fingers over the keys of the keyboard.

“Thankyou N’Fa, Milan. Thankyou Pookie, Aisha & Mwanje. Thankyou Baasto, Lao, Ree, Lasi. Bella & Bianca, Thankyou. Thankyou Jackie, Titan, Mango, Kyah, Mama Syrene....” 

And off she skips to get dressed. 

When they begin to arise to the new day and we gather to indulge in the crux of creativity, in spite of the previous night of journeying together, I sense the feeling of... nakedness.  I see the result of ego death on the face of every single person and they looked shook.  I see the space that has been made through this release too. A shedding that allowed room for growth and possibility.   I watch with eagerness.

Day Two is the first day of mentoring. After a hearty breakfast and vocal warmups with Syrene we gather to discuss the first theme...Fear.

Front to Back: Pookie, Bella, Mwanje, Baasto, Aisha, Lao, Kyah

Left to Right: Ree, Titan, N’Fa, Syrene, Bianca