Cityscape Christmas 2019
Bring on the party, Cityscapers! Addington Cup Week kicks off the season we love to love, and we are sooo ready. We bring you all the deets on the biggest week in Christchurch’s social calendar. Important information like what the judges are looking for in The Crossing Fashion Starts Here Best Dressed Competition and stuff about the racing as well, like pointers on how to pick a winner. And thanks to Callam Mitchell and his team at Team Event, Addington Cup Week is just the start of party season. We talk to the promoter putting the icing on Christchurch’s cake this summer. Ladi6 is just one of the fantastic artists he is bringing to town, and we check in with her as well (that’s her gorgeous self on the cover). The days are counting down to Christmas and with that comes the fun and the challenge of finding the perfect gift for all those on your ‘Nice’ list. We live to serve here at Cityscape, and so we have served up a curated Christmas gift guide brimming with ideas fresh and failsafe. Nailing that pressy list is the best reason possible for heading to the central city and exploring its retail hotspots, followed by a drink and some nibbles, of course. We shine our spotlight on what’s new in the inner city, from retail meccas to the hottest hospo hangouts. And if 2020 is looking like the year to put a ring on it, check out our feature on the amazingly creative community of jewellers we have in this city. As always, we also bring you what’s hot in cuisine, events, home and couture.
Bring on the party, Cityscapers! Addington Cup Week kicks off the season we love to love, and we are sooo ready. We bring you all the deets on the biggest week in Christchurch’s social calendar. Important information like what the judges are looking for in The Crossing Fashion Starts Here Best Dressed Competition and stuff about the racing as well, like pointers on how to pick a winner. And thanks to Callam Mitchell and his team at Team Event, Addington Cup Week is just the start of party season. We talk to the promoter putting the icing on Christchurch’s cake this summer. Ladi6 is just one of the fantastic artists he is bringing to town, and we check in with her as well (that’s her gorgeous self on the cover). The days are counting down to Christmas and with that comes the fun and the challenge of finding the perfect gift for all those on your ‘Nice’ list. We live to serve here at Cityscape, and so we have served up a curated Christmas gift guide brimming with ideas fresh and failsafe. Nailing that pressy list is the best reason possible for heading to the central city and exploring its retail hotspots, followed by a drink and some nibbles, of course. We shine our spotlight on what’s new in the inner city, from retail meccas to the hottest hospo hangouts. And if 2020 is looking like the year to put a ring on it, check out our feature on the amazingly creative community of jewellers we have in this city. As always, we also bring you what’s hot in cuisine, events, home and couture.
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RISING STAR
Louis Baker is living the dream after his rapid ascent to the heights of Kiwi
music. Ahead of his appearance at December’s South Island Wine & Food
Festival, he tells Cityscape how he got started, and who his heroes are.
our career has come a long
Y way in a short time – your
head must be in a spin? It’s
been a joy to have my passion
become a full-time career. I’m very
grateful to be able to make music
and tour – it’s what I’ve always
wanted to do, so it feels a bit like
living the dream. When did you
start to feel you had a future in
music? I fell in love with music at
an early age but started to feel I
had a future in it from age 17 when
I was a top-five finalist in the
secondary schools Play It Strange
songwriting competition. How
important was that to giving
you the confidence to push on?
It really did give me that boost of
confidence I was looking for. It
affirmed there was something
there, so I started to spend more
time being creative, songwriting
and releasing music. Do you
remember picking up your first
guitar? Yes, I can. The first song
I learnt on the guitar was
Cornershop’s ‘Brimful of Asha’.
I vividly remember strumming
the guitar on my lap (lapsteel
style), because Mum would
often play in open D tuning, so
the sound was rewarding relatively
quickly. It was a bit unconventional
but I started playing the chords
with my thumb because it was the
only way I could hold down the
chord with my small hands on the
old Yamaha FG-180. What was
your other career choice? Have
you ever had a day job? I wanted
to play cricket for New Zealand.
Things were going pretty well
until music took over. I haven’t
really had a day job; I do a
lot of music teaching
and mentoring in
schools. Tell us
about your
first gig?
I remember it well. There were
about two people there and our
metal band played at Wellington’s
Indigo, 171 Cuba Street. We were
badly dressed and we all had very
long hair. All good experience.
How have your personal musical
tastes changed over the years? I
have evolved and my tastes have
changed over the years, but I feel
like I’m still searching for the same
things in music – something that
moves you and makes you feel
something. Do you have a go-to
spot in Christchurch or the South
Island? To be honest I haven’t
120 CITYSCAPE.CO.NZ Christmas 19
seen a lot of Christchurch but I
would love to explore it more. I do
love Blue Smoke, it’s a wicked
venue. The South Island is glorious
and beautiful! I think Lake Te Anau
is spectacular! Certainly many
great places to experience. Do you
have a pre- and/or post-show
ritual? I don’t eat a lot because it’s
harder to sing on a full tummy!
Not really. I just make sure I’m
prepared, my voice is warmed up
and the vibes are positive. Food
always calls my name after the
show though. Who are your
musical heroes? Too many to
name – Hendrix, Jeff Buckley,
Joni Mitchell, D’Angelo, Prince,
Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield,
James Brown, J Dilla, Pete
Rock, Miles, Coltrane,
Cannonball, Pino
Palladino, Steve
Jordan… Any new Kiwi
artists that have caught
your attention? I think
Bene is amazing – great
writing and great
sound. Lots of different
stuff coming out!
Always love Fat
Freddy’s Drop.
South Island
Wine & Food Festival,
Hagley Park, December 7
winefestival.co.nz
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