cartell music's jean-francois ponthieux

What would you expect the owner of a record company to be like? If films are anything to go by, he'd have to be short, pushy and talk fast. (I don't think I've ever seen any reference to a female record head.) My experience meeting Jean-Francois Ponthieux from Cartell Music couldn't have been further from the stereotype. He's a French man living in Melbourne, to start off with. He's also married to fashion designer Yeojin Bae, who I interviewed here. Jean-Francois also takes a different approach to finding and promoting music too. (As you'll see from this and this.) When we met a little while back he had just worked with SBS to bring performances from So Frenchy So Chic to the small screen. The artists he represents - Nouvelle Vague, Melanie Pain, Berry - are some of my favourites.

Which five words best describe you? Curious, hyperactive, daydreamer, thinking, laughing.
How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I started my career organically. After my business degree I experiment many jobs. I worked on a political campaign, radio, film festival, exported Pierre Cardin home perfume, marketed a travel guide, travelled around the world and landed in Australia. I found out what I wanted to do (music) at 29 and never looked back.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Trust your gut feeling and be patient.
What’s your proudest career achievement? Starting my own business, loving the freedom and the responsibilities.
What’s been your best decision? To make the first step. It's always the hardest with whatever we achieve. Once the step is made, the horizon opens up.
Who inspires you? My father.
What are you passionate about? Music, politics, history, geopolitics and people watching.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Antoine de Saint-Exupery.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? Continuing my path.
What are you reading? Mao - The unknown story.

images courtesy of cartell music

artist daimon downey

Most people know Daimon Downey from his time with the award-winning band Sneaky Sound System. But now he's making a name for himself as an artist. It's back to where he started out in some regards. He was born in South Africa but grew up in Bellingen, NSW before moving to Sydney to study art. Along the way he got distracted with music, and touring with the likes of Robbie Williams and Lady Gaga. Now he is not only creating artworks but translating them into limited edition scarves, thanks to a collaboration with Bay & Fyfe. Daimon has also opened a bar in Double Bay: Pelicano.

Which five words best describe you? Crash bang go lost found.



How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? The world is a magical place, chance meetings in strange places... never planned only dreamt. Creativity has always been the main objective so finding what fits for the present is always the fun struggle. It's the wonderful life. Currently I am painting and turning paintings into scarves. Also, I have just opening a restaurant bar in Double Bay called Pelicano. So much fun!

What's the best lesson you've learnt along the way? If you're unhappy change the situation. Surround yourself with people you love and enjoy, and who love you equally. Do it yourself. And time management (still in practice on that one).

What’s your proudest career achievement? Almost selling everything at my first solo exhibition of paintings and sculpture in Sydney, and winning 2 ARIA awards for our first album.

What’s been your best decision? To leave Sneaky Sound System and pick up a paint brush: freedom to create, move, breathe and not live out of a suitcase.

Who inspires you? People who do a million things at once and smile about it. People who can run an empire from a Moleskin notebook. Men who wear pink three-piece suits to breakfast.

What are you passionate about? Colour and balance! My hate towards t-shirts with branding on the front. Australian native birds. How amazing my scarves look. The love for my cat. Sweet things. Cocktails. Brand new tins of paint.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Not my maker, but to be rolling with Burroughs and Dali in the day would be totally whack. But a simple lunch with Will Ferrell singing karaoke will do. I'm not much for meeting my idols as I have a few on my tours and it most often doesn't end like the fantasy.

What dream do you still want to fulfill? To write a folk album, a children's rap album, make super large scale sculptures, have children, own a monkey, go to Peru, have something hanging in MOMA, win bar of the year, to fly.

What are you reading? I'm a bit slack here. Mags are king in my world. There is a bunch of Bill Bryson books by my bed as I love a bit of fact before bed.

images courtesy of daimon downey and bay & fyfe

meet the next family on Frontliners

Here's a look at some shots from the latest project on Frontliners, which I created with photographer Kata Varga. We spent a rainy Sunday with Wayne Connolly and Tracy Ellis (as well as their son, Harvey), who you might know from the band Knievel. Tracy is also a writer and editor while Wayne is highly respected in the music industry - he has won four ARIAs. In fact, he picked up his latest award only a few days before we met. Head over to the site and let me know what you think.

images courtesy of frontliners