There is never a dull moment for the charming and talented Em Williams, who by day is Assistant Editor at Brisbane’s much loved Rave Magazine.

Immersed in a wonderful world of music, entertainment, trips to New York and as much spaghetti as she can get her hands on, she answers our 10 standard questions.

1. What do you do for a job and where are you based?

I am Assistant Editor at Rave Magazine, and currently I am based on the Gold Coast. It’s been an interesting transition, but living GC-side has its perks.

2. What is the most interesting project that you have ever worked on?

There are lots given the nature of Brisbane music and entertainment, but most recently I was editing a series of issues where we completed a dual cover for a very particular film, and run a comp where, among other things, we had people choosing their ‘side’ and post the photos to our social networks — a series of hilarious, re-appropriated cover images ensued across multiple channels. It was a lot of fun, and pleased the client immensely. (Besides, it’s nice when you’re able to embrace your inner geek.)

3. Which person has most influenced you?

It may sound corny, but that’s probably my mother. No other person has had such a critical role in my life on a personal level and also as role model for aging gracefully in the face of steep odds (albeit always humorously). It’s my friends that inspire me to think differently and offer a good debate on things when I need it; I often do.

4. The thing that you’d be most surprised about me is….

I was baptised twice, the second time by a priest later admitted to rehab… strange, as my family are not at all religious. I also like to garden lots, but that’s not as salacious.

5. Who is your favourite designer (of any description)?

Fashion-wise it’s the Lover team creators, Susien Chong and Nic Briand. Wearable, classy and duly feminine pieces that consistently retain some much needed spark in a sea of same. Visual design I can’t go past Peter Saville — the guy just nails everything he touches, lending an anchor to the lunacy surrounding many of his subject’s creations. I love that.

6. What is your favourite city in the world and why?

New York! When I lived in London I spent more time booking flights to return there than I’d care to remember. For me it’s the best city in the world for whatever you want to do, at any time you want to do it. It’s a classic!

7. If there was only one dish you could eat for the rest of your life what would it be?

That’s easy, spaghetti. Plain, pesto, aglio e olio, bolognaise — it doesn’t matter. My great-grandfather used to make it and hang it about the chairs in their tiny Brunswick kitchen. Some things stay with you.

8. If you could invent anything, what would you invent and why?

On a pedestrian level, and automatic ironer would be great. To dream? A big set of scissors to cut through the oppressive red-tape in disability services.

9. What were you doing this time 10 years ago?

Returning to university after my year abroad, hoping to grow up… I am still waiting for the latter to kick in.

10. What’s your trend prediction for the next decade?

For everyone to enjoy a technology-free day, once a week (or at least a couple of hours). With our dependence on technology I wouldn’t be surprised if we start to increase value on our tech-free downtime (this is going to make me unpopular, isn’t it?).

Jessy Cameron of Molten Store fame, is one of Underbrand’s favourite friends because just like the word ‘molten’ she’s brilliantly glowing, like hot liquid metal.

As the latest Underbrand interviewee, we find out about what otherworld jewellery, dream recorders, and cheesecake mean to her.

 1. What do you do for a job and where are you based?

I launched my own online boutique Molten Store, a destination for purveyors of otherworldly jewellery and curious gifts, in July of this year. I live by the river in Brisbane’s Teneriffe. Some nights, when I’m working late, I can hear the subtle lick of lazy waves from the City Cat breaking against the shore.

 2. What is the most interesting project that you have ever worked on?

The development and launch of Molten Store was the most tiring, heart-wrenching and rewarding project I have ever been involved in. From the creative direction, brand development and copywriting to the buying, label procurement and business development, it pushed me far beyond the limits of what I thought I was capable of.

 3. Which person has most influenced you?

I’m an inspiration sponge, so I would find it hard to nominate just one person. Net-A-Porter’s Natalie Massenet is an easy point of reference and closer to home social strategist Susannah George has got her own thang goin’ on.

It’s also important for me to cultivate my own influences. From collaborations with my talented friends to a glance at the beautiful antique photograph of an icicle-covered mountain that hangs above my desk, I try to nurture my own attention span.

 4. The thing that you’d be most surprised about me is….

I am notoriously lucky when it comes to competitions. I hardly ever enter them, but when I do I often win. It’s a bit ridiculous actually; I’ve won sneakers that can be converted into rollerblades, 3000 M&Ms, $500 in the form of a novelty cheque, flights to America…

 5. Who is your favourite designer (of any description)?

I have a soft spot for one of Molten Store’s brands, Maripossa. The label’s designer is fascinatingly clever; she fuses silver and crystal embellishment with fine mixed metal chains, which she crochets by hand. Her necklaces are intricate and elaborate, but somehow they whisper rather than shout.

6. What is your favourite city in the world and why?

Visiting my boyfriend’s family in New York City is a world of fun.

7. If there was only one dish you could eat for the rest of your life what would it be?

Pass me a slice of New York Cheesecake and you’ve made a friend for life!

 8. If you could invent anything, what would you invent and why?

I’d love to invent a dream recorder so I could play back the quirky games my mind plays on me after dark.

 9. What were you doing this time 10 years ago?

I was a tenth grade student at Brigidine College in Indooroopilly. My family had just relocated from Canberra and I could hardly breathe in Brisbane’s hot summer haze.

10. What’s your trend prediction for the next decade?

We’ll never tire of our gadgets, but I think we will become a bit disillusioned with the intangible aspect of our digital world. I suspect that nostalgia will become the buzzword that marketers have up their sleeve.

From a product perspective, it will be all in the details; subtle beauty will reign supreme. We’ll want to see, touch, and feel products, just like we used to, and we’ll want a damn good brand experience thrown in for good measure.

And there lies the challenge for e-retailers like me…

To visit Molten Store and see some gorgeous pieces, visit:  www.moltenstore.com

Underbrand is a big fan of the work that photographer, Mark Lobo produces and we were thrilled when the opporunity to work with him arose by way of a photo shoot for the new West End venue jam jar.

We think he’s really interesting, so we asked him to be the next subject of the Underbrand Interview.

1. What do you do for a job and where are you based?

I’m a photographer based primarily in Brisbane. I try to keep myself mobile and most of my work is done on location, so I guess my real base would be my home in Woolloongabba!

2. What is the most interesting project that you have ever worked on?

That’s a tricky one. I was doing some editorial photography for Tiger Airways’ inflight magazine which saw me standing on the back of a moving Harley for the cover shot. I think a good photographer needs good balance and the ability to climb trees well!

3. Which person has most influenced you?

I have so many influences that it’s hard to name just one. Most aren’t even photographic. I have a project focusing on networks of inspirations in Brisbane and I think that’s kind of where I draw most of it from, the people that surround me.

4. The thing that you’d be most surprised about me is….

I can blow bubble rings under water, like a dolphin.

5. Who is your favourite designer (of any description)?

Much like my inspirations, I have quite a few. I love the vintage aesthetic when it comes to cameras. I have a project called Von Vintage which focuses on shooting Vintage things on Vintage cameras. So to narrow it down, I think the designers of the SX-70 polaroid film camera were geniuses.

6. What is your favourite city in the world and why?

Tokyo, it’s probably where I feel most comfortable with my surroundings, and also where I grew up. Despite all the people and chaos that surrounds me, I still feel a sense of invisibility which I enjoy.

7. If there was only one dish you could eat for the rest of your life what would it be?

At lease once a week I’ll make an olive and semidried tomato pasta with fetta, basil pesto and lots of chilli. I could eat that forever.

8. If you could invent anything, what would you invent and why?

A thin camera sensor that can be used in the place of a roll of film in any old camera.

9. What were you doing this time 10 years ago?

I was working as a Telemarketer, earning $10 an hour selling photocopiers. I was also in my first semester of university studying Information Technology, which I was failing…

10. What’s your trend prediction for the next decade?

There is no doubt that film photography is making a big come back. I think and hope we’ll see a greater pickup of film photography and film cameras.

Top photo: Mark Lobo, self portrait

Bottom Photo: jam jar photo shoot. Photography by Mark Lobo. Art Direction by Craig Bridge, Underbrand.

To see more of Mark Lobo’s work, check out his website: marklobo.com.au

1. What do you do for a job and where are you based?

I am freelance food stylist, recipe writer and chef. I’m based in London and have been for the last 10 years.

2. What is the most interesting project that you have ever worked on?

There’s two that stand out actually. I worked on a show called “Kill It, Cook it, Eat It” years ago. It involved filming and cooking at an operating abattoir. It was such an eye opening experience, being right there for the animals death and then being handed freshly slaughtered meat to cook. It really changed the way I thought about meat forever. I think you need to see the whole process in order to respect the food you eat.

The other one was my first overseas job – I worked on Ina Garten’s show “Barefoot Contessa” in the Hamptons. It was a brilliant experience to be cooking American style food and shopping at roadside fruit and veggie stalls. The quality of food there was amazing and the produce was just fantastic. I couldn’t get over how big everything is over there. Like 5L tubs of ice cream! I was also lucky enough to visit New York on the weekends. I completely fell in love with NYC and all it has to offer.

3. Which person has most influenced you?

My father. He is such a genuine, loyal, loving and generous man. I was pretty naughty as a kid and I think I managed to stay out of trouble mainly due to the fact that I couldn’t bare it if my Dad was ever disappointed in me. He also taught me a lot about cooking at a very young age and always encouraged me in the kitchen. My parents are great.  They never wanted my sister or I to have flashy jobs. They just wanted us to be happy in whatever we chose to do. He’s very proud of me and we still love cooking together whenever we catch up.

4. The thing that you’d be most surprised about me is….

My second love after food is Cars and Motorbikes! Classic American cars are my favourites and I think I admire cars and motorbikes on a daily basis more than the opposite sex! I love the handling of a car, the way the steering wheel feels, the smell of classic cars leather seats and their unique but beautiful style. I currently drive a Porsche 944 and have an old Honda CMX 250 but I dream of having a massive garage with all my dream cars – when I grow up, that is! An American Buick skylark convertible, a Karmann Ghia, a VG valiant, a Ferrari gto, a 1950′s chevy pick up truck…. oh and the list goes on.

5. Who is your favourite designer (of any description)?

Vivienne Westwood for sure, my best friend works in her Press Office so I’ve been treated to many little Vivienne gifts over the years! I love it.

6. What is your favourite city in the world and why?

Yikes! This is a hard one but I would have to say Sydney because it has the best of both worlds when it comes to a destination in Australia. It has the awesome beach culture, great weather and relaxing lifestyle but then it also has a huge city culture, great arts and nightlife and some of the best food in the world. I could never bring myself to live there before I moved to the UK as it seemed too fast paced for me back then but now that I’ve been living in London for 10 years, Sydney is definitely where I want to be when I move back home.

7. If there was only one dish you could eat for the rest of your life what would it be?

A Cheeseburger Baby!! A proper flame grilled one, with smokey bacon and thick slice of well melted cheddar cheese. It would have to have grilled onions, tomato, lettuce, mayonnaise, American mustard and ketchup on it and it would have to be served with thick cut fries and chipotle mayo…. YUM! All a girl could want…

8. If you could invent anything, what would you invent and why?

Teleportation – I liked the way Jeannie did it in “I Dream of Jeanie”. The wiggle of the nose was a cute touch. I feel like a different cuisine for just about every meal I make and this way I could go straight there and get the real thing. It would also make visiting my family and friends back in Oz a breeze!

9. What were you doing this time 10 years ago?

I was the chef at a Health food cafe in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast called Decadence.

10. What’s your trend prediction for the next decade?

As a lot of my work revolves around food TV, I am astounded at just how popular the world of food has become. I think in the next 10 years people are going to be even more discerning about what they eat and I’m hoping more ethical about their purchases. I’m thinking mezze or small plate restaurants are going to pop up everywhere, Korean food and Mexican food will really shine and I’m also hoping the world of Food TV will start to steer away from the competitive style and be more about actually teaching the regular people at home how to embrace their love of food and cook tasty, healthy meals for their family and friends.

If there is one thing that Underbrand loves, it’s the burritos from Tuckeria. Founder Jordan Birchall not only makes a mean one, he’s also one really intriguing person.

What do you do for a job and where are you based?

I am Founder and Director of Tuckeria Fresh Mexican Restaurant in Fortitude Valley in Brisbane.

What is the most interesting project that you have ever worked on?

Probably this one (Tuckeria). The whole concept of Tuckeria Fresh Mexican started as a random, crazy idea that I had in 2004 while sitting in San Diego in a taqueria (taco store) while on holiday. I didn’t develop the idea much further for many years, but a few years later while living in San Francisco, California, the idea started to grow on me that a California-style Mexican taqueria may actually be a really interesting thing to launch in my hometown of Brisbane.

Starting in 2008, over the course of 18 months, I travelled widely throughout Mexico and California to refine my recipes and to gain ideas. I tested my recipes on my friends. I developed menus, business plans and concepts. I visited more taquerias and tried more Mexican meals than you can imagine! I took lots of cooking classes. Eventually the idea of opening a taqueria in Brisbane, similar to the ones that I enjoyed while living in California, was so vivid in my mind that I convinced myself that I should quit my US finance job and move back home to Brisbane and turn my ideas into reality.

It has been tremendously rewarding putting my ideas for Tuckeria into reality over the past 12 months, and there are still many more to come! Seeing customers enjoy the Mexican food we serve, meeting new people everyday, and working with all the members of the Tuckeria Team is a lot of fun for me. In general, restaurant work is tiring but good fun!

Which person has most influenced you?

My parents. Successful entrepreneurs in their own right, but most importantly good people. They always taught me that anything I wanted to do was achievable, and they were right.

The thing that you’d be most surprised about me is….

Seeing as I go to work these days in jeans and skate shoes, it might be hard for people to imagine that I was once a commercial real estate financier, both here in Brisbane and in the US, going to work each day in a suit, tie and pair of black dress shoes!

Who is your favourite designer (of any description)?

I have a great affection for the mural artists of San Francisco’s Mission District. I love the way the muralists capture in their art the rebellious and vibrant spirit of the Mission District, while addressing serious issues in modern American and Latin American society.

What is your favourite city in the world and why?

San Francisco, California. It was my happy home for a couple of years and I still consider it my second home today. I try to come back as much as I can. In fact, I am writing these answers from San Francisco right now. I am over here getting some more ideas for Tuckeria and visiting friends. I love the city’s party atmosphere, the liberal views of its people, the easygoing lifestyle, and the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area, which I consider has the most beautiful landscapes of any place in the world. More than anything, I love the people of San Francisco. I have so many friends here in San Francisco and have always felt very extremely welcome and at home.

If there was only one dish you could eat for the rest of your life what would it be?

Carnitas (pork) tacos with hot pico de gallo salsa, sour cream, onions and cilantro, with lots of salsa picante, washed down with a Pacifico (Mexican beer).

If you could invent anything, what would you invent and why?

Faster airplanes. I love travelling overseas but long haul plane travel becomes tiresome.

What were you doing this time 10 years ago?

I was a university student at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). I graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Business majoring in Financial Economics. I was also a keen Australian Football and waterpolo player. My interest in finance has waned somewhat, but my interest in football and waterpolo haven’t!

What’s your trend prediction for the next decade?

I am excited about the increased connectivity in everyday life through social media, and how this may lead to some exciting entrepreneurial opportunities. I also like the idea that technology advancements will allow people to work remotely more often. The idea of working everyday from wherever I choose in the world, and being able to tap into information via ‘the cloud’ is extremely appealing to me.

To find out where you can try one of Tuckeria’s tasty treats visit tuckeria.com.au

Romina Karamanea is fast becoming one of the UK’s hot new fashion designers. She also happens to be both a client and close friend of Underband.

What do you do for a job and where are you based?

I am a fashion designer with my own luxury ready-to-wear brand, AW10 is the fourth season that we have been on the London Fashion Week calendar. The studio is based in an area called London Fields that is just east of the City of London. The area is amazing, really vibrant, with many creative neighbours and everything is happening right on our doorstep… We are lucky!

What is the most interesting project that you have ever worked on?

We were fortunate enough to be chosen for the much anticipated and acclaimed book ’100 new designers’ by Hywel Davies. The book looks at designers in the first ten years of their career. It is visually stunning and we are proud to be part of this. This led to our collaboration with Show Studio on a video day showcasing our brands aesthetics with Nick Knight. We are really pleased with this project and love Nick Knight, he is a true talent and visionary.

Which person has most influenced you?

Definitely my mother, she is so creative and is also very business-like with a strong spirit and an amazing aesthetic. She owned a successful boutique in Athens for many years whilst I was growing up and she is definitely a huge inspiration. Her house is full of interesting rare finds from all over the world and she is a very independent, powerful woman, which I admire greatly.

The thing that you’d be most surprised about me is….

That I am a bit of a tom-boy which is surprising as this season the aesthetic is much more feminine with flowing gowns, modern corsetry, sexy silk and tweed fabrics. When I was growing up I had a boys BMX bike and did karate, I was a total boy and today I love hanging out with the boys, especially my boyfriend’s band NoiseToy.

Who is your favourite designer (of any description)?

I love Madeleine Vionnet, she really celebrated the natural femininity of the female form, undoubtedly a true visionary and way ahead of her day. She was coined the ‘queen of the bias cut’ for her revolutionary cutting technique that was against the preceding eras definition of beauty with corsets and padding that distorted the female form as opposed to accentuating it.

What is your favourite city in the world and why?

Where I live London. It was funny as recently I went back to Greece, where I am from originally, and I could not wait to come home to London!!! It’s a unique city relative to others as there is so much going on at street level, you really do not need a lot of money to be involved from unique fashion, bands, parks and people I cannot get enough of it – even after 15 years!! It’s not synthetic like a lot of modern cities, you can always get lost and you can never get bored!

If there was only one dish you could eat for the rest of your life what would it be?

This is hard as my life is all about variation but I am a Carb girl, I know not very fashion, eh? So I would choose a potato as you can have chips, jackets, baked, boiled, fried in garlic and butter, am I allowed that….?

If you could invent anything, what would you invent and why?

A TIME MACHINE without doubt!!  I would go to all my favourite eras for inspiration and to hang out with the fine renaissance men, Tudors, Punks, Hippies and of course into the future to see what trends are coming out, and what pieces sell best before making them!!

What were you doing this time 10 years ago?

I was mainly partying, it was such a great time….I was hanging around Brick Lane meeting a lot of new interesting people (my friends that I am still hanging with today) having new crazy hairstyles and experimenting with a different style every weekend. I was also designing underwear for the high-street and had a lot of pocket money for partying!!

What’s your trend prediction for the next decade?

I think that we are going to see more ambiguous and androgynous fashion, style that blurs the line between gender ands sexuality. I think that people are getting tired of overt sexual references and also a little bored of obvious fashion revivals. I predict that clothes will function for both sexes more and more as we are seeing the traditional masculine and feminine roles fading in modern society so what we wear will reflect this. Which is why we are introducing a more unisex range for our first pre-collection that is launching this summer!

To view Romina’s work visit: RominaKaramanea.com or any leading fashion sites such as: Vogue.co.uk, DazedDigital.com