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Mar 14, 2012 Feist By Morgan Kibby

Coming back to Australia, we were all quite peaceful. We had two side shows in Melbourne and we spent each day pre-show at St. Kilda beach, quietly swimming in the ocean and eating popsicles and drinking cold shandies. The shows were so much sweaty fun and once again I have to say I was blown away by the crowd reception. Thank you, Melbourne.

By Sydney we found our rhythm and were out every night, gallivanting like little ponies from fun time to fun time (from the haze I think I remember parading around a punk rock club with a coconut in mid air, then jumping on the DJ deck…). Summer camp was definitely in full swing with everyone finally getting to talk, hang out and be silly with one another. Just to say too, the lineup was insane: Chairlift, Anna Calvi, Twin Shadow, Austra, The Horrors, Feist, Active Child, Girls, Washed Out, Toro y Moi… the list goes on and on. Brilliant young artists all connecting with amazing audiences and one another.

The next leg of my adventure however was something I don’t even know how to explain. We had three days off in Sydney, but the ubiquitous surf film director Taylor Steels and his amazing partner Mikey were kind enough to invite me to their summer hang out spot, La Casa, in Byron Bay: a beautiful sea cottage ten feet from the ocean, equipped with countless instruments and surfboards. I have to admit, I can’t explain the beauty of Byron without getting quite emotional. Waves so clear you can see the fish tumbling within them as they break, moonlit horizons like metal, shells and treasures for miles. Apparently it is a sacred fertile place as well, which didn’t surprise me as every woman I met on my trip was either already a mother or at least three months pregnant. I was alone however and couldn’t have relished it more. I essentially spent three days meandering the coast looking for shells, surfing my magical deserted beach, writing new White Sea songs and hanging with my gracious amazing hosts. I woke up early the last morning and skinny-dipped in the ocean with no one to tell me otherwise, and as the shuttle picked me up to head back to Sydney, I was in an almost childlike state. I felt so clean, sun kissed, quiet… completely ready to get back to work. Thank you, thank you La Casa… The space was just what the doctor ordered. I can honestly say my time in Byron, solitary and melodic, gave me a kind of mental safe haven I’ll be returning to.

I came back to Syndey the day of our solo show and prepared myself for the last couple days of the festival: 5 AM flights, hotel views to worship and bittersweet goodbyes amongst new companions. Adelaide, Perth and then Singapore. In Perth, many of the bands had their last show and I happily watched those I wasn’t able to catch beforehand as we played early enough. I stayed up late with some new friends and in a daze of wine and nostalgia walked back to my hotel through the abandoned and feather-strewn streets of Perth (an arts festival that day had a performance that apparently included LOTS of feather throwing…). It was insanely beautiful. The air was so warm and all over the city, pieces of feathery down floated like soft snow, swirling in the wind, nudging my feet and my calves. I felt high. I stayed awake all night writing, happy to feel inspired and open and boarded the plane to Singapore with excitement to see all my new friends again.

All I can say about Singapore is wow. The crowd was one of the most insanely jubilant and happy groups of people I’ve ever played for. Covered in humidity and eventually a beer that Anthony poured all over me during the last song (thank you Tony boy, don’t worry my keyboard is fine) we left stage feeling ecstatic and sad. The end of camp was near. Somehow I ended up with the glorious Miss Leslie Feist (birthday time!), Twin Shadow, Matthew Koshak, and Anthony at a casino where Leslie and I were turned away for lack of passports, so we headed back to the insanely beautiful hotel we were staying in, and George from Twin Shadow and I snuck into the pool to enjoy our last night in the heavy Singapore air.

Teresa and I ordered champagne and chili crab the next day in our room overlooking the Singapore harbor and toasted a moment in time. Well rested, soaked, scrubbed and packed, we prepared for the trek back to the UK. Next up is Europe. I can’t wait to see who we meet next, what incredible adventures we have and what new music we write in the next five weeks. I’m feeling optimistic and happy. Hope it lasts, the deepest winter awaits us, we’ll see how it goes…

+ happy +

+ happy 2 +

+ Sushi Boats in Melbourne +

+ Hat Flair +

+ Mr. Owl +

+ Morning Coffee Spot - Byron Bay +

+ Byron Bay Studio +

+ Tides +

+ Shell Trolling +

+ Shell Trolling 2 +

+ Collage Art in La Casa +

+ Dim Sum with Hugo +

+ Sad to Leave Byron +

+ Naptime View +

+ Active Child & White Sea +

+ Twin Shadow & Active Child +

+ Fan Flowers! Thank you Perth! +

+ Perth, covered in down +

+ Morgan and Koshak +

(www.ilovem83.com)

(thewhitesea.wordpress.com)