Volume Magazine Blog

ILLUSTRATOR OF THE WEEK

2012-02-10T10:45:00.000Z

SOPHIE RAE

VOLUME TALKS TO

2012-02-09T14:42:00.002Z

IVO GORMLEY
The tiny community of Kalash people who reside in Chitral, northern Pakistan, are the subjects of filmmaker Ivo Gormley's next documentary. Their culture is changing but old traditions still remain, such as the game Chikik Gal which involves long-term feuds and animal sacrifice. Volume talks to Ivo about his time in Krakal Village where he made the film.
Words: Ruby Ocean

What lead you to making a film about The Kalash?

My friend Tom told me about this place in Pakistan that he'd been to - he said it was up in the mountains between Pakistan and Afghanistan and that the people who lived there laughed, joked, danced and ate dried mulberries all day. He also said they only ate boiled goat and that there were only 3000 of them. It sounded like a completely unique place and I wanted to go immediately.
What specifically is the film about?

It is about a game called Chikik Gal that is played between villages in the Kalash valleys in the winter. The captain of the winning team becomes king for a day and the losers must sacrifice their goats. You have about 100 people on each team and the pitch is five kilometres long - its mad. The game brings the Kalash together and proves that they are alive and kicking but it also cases fights. The ball gets lost in the snow all the time; you can hit it about 300 metres and its really hard to keep track of. People have spare balls in the pockets so cheating happens all the time. This causes arguments and fights and sometimes feuds that last for years. So the film is about whether the game brings them together or splits them up. This is really important at a time in which the local Imams are slowly trying to wipe out their culture.

What was important for you to highlight?

I think the film is about identity and how groups of people define themselves against or within the rest of the world. The Kalash are at a crazy time in their history when they've realised who they are in relation to the outside world. They see value in their history and are now trying to preserve it by creating their first alphabet and by introducing an education system. Young Kalash are now going to university in Europe and coming back to settle down but with experience of countries miles away. Their sense of identity is very strong and seems to be strengthened not weakened by their knowledge of the outside world.
Were you ever in danger during filming?

The way there was the dangerous bit; the roads were pretty scary. We narrowly avoided a landslide of huge rocks hitting our jeep and a little avalanche that was hot on our heels. The whole of the journey from Islamabad to Chitral was pretty hairy, we had a police escort with a siren blairing which just made us more visable. You can't read the situation so you feel very vulnerable. We were fine. As soon as we got to the valleys and met Wali Khan, we felt very safe and were very well looked after. Our 12 policemen were looked after well too, they danced every single night to the tunes of Mira Zam - the local flute player.
How do women fare in their culture?
Kalash religion centres on purity and impurity. Boys and goats are pure, women and childbirth are impure. Our crew had a lot of discussions lying in our sleeping bags at night about whether women had a nice time or not in the Kalash valleys. I don't think it is good being thought of as impure and being banned from some places. Tom felt that compared to Islamic culture it was pretty free. Kalash women wonder around on their own and do not wear a veil. They generally seem happy and they work hard but seem to have plenty of fun too.
When/where will the film be released?
Not sure yet- we haven't started editing yet but it should be on TV somewhere by the end of the year.
What's next for you?

Editing this flim and deciding what to do with the rest of my life.

TONIGHT

2012-02-09T10:26:00.000Z

2012-02-08T13:06:00.001Z

VOLUME IS LISTENING TO

2012-02-08T10:16:00.002Z

VOLUME RECOMMENDS

2012-02-07T11:46:00.002Z

Early Works TN075 by MICHAEL OHMYHONEY

He says: 'The aim of this compilation is to collect together miscellaneous back catalogue material, which is all unreleased. It is representative of the variety and chronology of the music I have made and is here to contextualise forthcoming releases. I started making music with music program demos and a 4-track tape machine, eventually settling on Reason. My visual art references quite a lot of suburban and domestic things and I do something similar with the music – the samples often coming from children's cassette tapes lying around the house or from computer games and rom-coms.' Click HERE to download your free copy from TOP NICE

VOLUME IS LISTENING TO

2012-02-07T11:39:00.001Z

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE WEEK

2012-02-07T11:04:00.001Z

FIONA JESUS

VOLUME TALKS TO

2012-02-06T10:58:00.011Z

PORCELAIN RAFT

Mauro Remiddi aka Porcelain Raft talks to Volume about his new LP Strange Weekend, living around the world and his love of Julia Holter

Words: Kay Wrate

Photo: Jennifer Medina

If you could describe your current sound in one sentence, what would it be?

The seconds before your eyes open in the morning - you are half awake and it's all new somehow.

You’ve lived in different in cities around the world –did any particular place influence the sound of Strange Weekend?

I'm sure but I wouldn't really know. Those are things you understand if you analyze them. I tend to be pretty simple and not to analyze my influences at all. Things that influence you are 'you' in a way. We are just sponges, anything that touches us is absorbed if you like it or not.

Where did you record the album and who worked with you on the production?

I recorded it in Brooklyn in a basement by myself - composed and recorded there in two months. Chris Coady mixed it. I needed an external ear to make the details really come out.

What inspires your music and creativity?
Life?

Strange Weekend has been receiving positive reactions in the press – over the years have you paid much attention to critics?

I pay attention to a certain degree. Sometimes bad reviews spotlight things about you that you actually like. It's good if what you do comes across anyway, then people can like it or not. But the fact that some elements are visible to anyone is great. The album wasn't meant to be all 'hits' or anything in your face. I liked the idea that it has moments of great pop and moments which are less focused. Some reviews say that and they feel it's a bad thing. That's exactly what I wanted and if they see it, that's great.

What are you listening to at the moment?

Julia Holter Tragedy, that's the only thing I'm listening to right now - such a work of art.

You've been touring with M83 and the Smith Westerns- where are your favourite countries to perform in?

All the places I've been so far had something that I liked. It may have been people I met randomly, or a park or a venue and so on. It’s almost impossible to make a list.

What would be your dream concert line up?

Grimes and Dirty Beaches. I could just do the lights at that show and be happy.

You’ve been making music for nearly 20 years - what have been the highlights so far?

Changing where I live. From Rome to London, from London to NY. Reinventing yourself is like fresh water on your face.

You previously fronted Sunny Day Sets Fire – do you miss creating music with a band and does the creation process change dramatically as a solo artist?

I don't miss a band or composing with a band since I was always the composer. The band would arrange mostly and I don't miss that either. It's like a painting I have in mind. I can see it clearly sometimes. Other times it's a struggle to have just a glimpse of it but it's in front of me. Just I can see it and get it done.

What upcoming artists are on your horizon?

To people that are reading I would just say please check Julia Holter's music. It's about the texture - it's like listening to a movie without watching it. Also check out Oupa ...great stuff.

Describe your ideal day?

My ideal day would start with a great cup of coffee.

2012-02-05T15:40:00.001Z

2012-02-03T13:21:00.001Z

2012-02-03T12:09:00.001Z

FASHION SPECIAL

2012-02-03T09:42:00.002Z

Photographer: Michael O Williams
Assistant: Robin Conway
Stylist: Lucy Kebbell
Makeup: Rebecca Muir using MAC
Hair: Brady Lea using Bumble and Bumble
Model: Hannah H @ Lenis Models

CREDITS
1. Silk dress by Hermione de Paula/Earrings – Stylist's own (throughout)

2. PVC cape by Burberry/Satin corsetlette by What Katie Did
3. White floral dress by Hermione de Paula
4. Earrings and necklace – Stylist's own/Suede corset – Vintage
5. Chiffon printed dress by Hermione de Paula/Satin briefs – What Katie Did
6. Silk dress by Hermione de Paula
7. Vintage sheer corset /Black briefs by What Katie Did/Chiffon skirt – Hermione de Paula
8. Black briefs by What Katie Did/Flowers (used throughout) Photographer's own

VOLUME IS WATCHING

2012-02-02T12:04:00.000Z

VOLUME IS WATCHING

2012-02-01T12:31:00.002Z

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE WEEK

2012-02-01T11:18:00.002Z

JAZMÍN SANZ

VOLUME RECOMMENDS

2012-01-29T15:54:00.000Z

2012-01-28T10:12:00.000Z

3 February

Top Nice

2012-01-27T12:20:00.000Z

2012-01-26T17:22:00.001Z

2012-01-26T12:16:00.001Z

VOLUME IS LISTENING TO

2012-01-26T10:44:00.001Z

2012-01-25T15:35:00.001Z

2012-01-25T15:09:00.001Z

OPENING TOMORROW

2012-01-25T15:07:00.002Z