Neon Factory Presents: Mr Jay

The Neon Factory’s resident DJ, Mr Jay [AKA Jason Broomfield], has always had music as a big part of his life, with influences coming from as broad a horizon as his grandparents’ theatre exploits, to his early exposure to trippy 80’s bands such as Depeche Mode and Pink Floyd.

It was in 1999 however that Jason purchased his first record after falling in love with the beauty of a spinning vinyl on a turntable. He was instantly hooked on the art of DJ’ing and has spent the last 17 years exploring different sounds, music genres and technology of this art form.

Having been immediately drawn to the euphoric rave sounds of the late 90’s, Jason quickly honed his skills and picked up residencies at the Gallery nightclub as well as the infamous Club 55, with regular guest appearances at Club Sky and Sliver. It was here that he learnt how to manage a dance floor, holding his own alongside the various internationals traveling to SA at the time.

Musically, Jason doesn’t like to put himself into a music style “box”. Having delved into different sounds over the years, his music collection stretches from Old school Hard house to Uplifting trance, Deep house, Electro, Psy trance,  Techno and everything in between.  “Good music is universal” is his moto and being able to draw on these influences when the occasion demands it is something that only time behind the decks can teach.  Having said that, there are certain genres that are timeless and these are a particular favorite for this DJ. Deep Progressive House is one of these genres that has always been an influencer for Mr Jay and as such, will feature prominently in the Neon Factory’s journey into a musical and artistic exhibition.

 Catch Mr Jay at Neon Factory: Exposure

At ERA, 71 Loop Street, Cape Town

Doors Open at 19h00

A First Thursdays Cape Town Initiative 

Neon Factory Presents: Kingma

Neon Factory caught up with Laura Kingma to discuss her journey through make-up and costume design, this is what she had to say:

"I studied Entertainment Technology (yup theres actually a course named Entertainment Technology) in Pretoria and specialised in Makeup and Costumes creation and design. After a short background in Theatre and Film I moved to London and worked in a warehouse making props and armour for films such as Troy.

Upon my return to Jouburg I hopped onto television work. Getting my fingers dirty in the costume department and cleaning them up for the makeup department. I learnt fast behind the scenes of Egoli (Plek van Goud), Binnelanders, a few short films and some international productions which got me experimenting with SFX and body painting. 

Currently my focus in terms of makeup is aimed for international catalogues and television commercials - both local and abroad.

What I know now is, I love meeting the people on set, working with other creative minds and the behind the scenes is always great fun. I love makeup for the reaction you get from the client, the person I apply it on, the ways of creating a hidden character inside everyone, period makeup to natural, it' s all beauty to some or other degree.

I decided I needed to learn a new skill, again something with my hands.

So I drove out to Vredendal, stayed with Frik who taught me the basics of how to make hand made leather products, from a simple stitch to a travel bag, and so my curiosity got the better of me and I decided to jump, head first, into the sexy side of strapping up leather.

So now I am currently working on a project which is building the brand, Kingma. I have plans to work with pole dancers, drag queens and the sexy mamas in Camps Bay. Kingma is all handmade, worn over clothing or under and can best be experienced by putting it on and testing it out, wink, wink, wink."

                     

Laura will be lending her talents as a make-up artist to assist any of the ladies while they get ready, she has also been furiously slicing and banging creating some leather couture for the ladies to don for a never before seen art installation: Exposure.   Furthermore she has graciously donated her body to be body painted by Cape Town's most talented body painting artist (more info to follow). 

Catch all this salacious excitement on 6th October from 19h00 only at ERA - 

71 Loop Street, Cape Town.

Neon Factory

For more of Laura's leather design check out her page: Kingma

Neon Factory Presents: Kanan K7

Hailing from Curitiba, Brazil Thiago Kanan, aka Kanan K7, has spent the last 17 years turning a fascination with underground dance music into a way of life. 

A sought after DJ and promoter Thiago has traveled the world playing gigs at clubs and festivals in 15 countries. However his passion for beats, kicks and hi-hats began long before he discovered electronic music. The son of a professional drummer he grew up behind a drum set before picking up an electric guitar at the age of 12. It was these instruments, combined with a natural dislike for authority led him to Punk Rock and he spent years as part of various bands. In 1998 however, all of that changed. While traveling the USA Thiago ended up at an electronic music event by accident and the rest, as they say, is history.

After the festival, before flying home to Brazil, he went into a music store and emerged with an arm full of Electro, Breaks, House and other electronic albums. He then spent the next while, in his own words, “trying to convince my punk rock friends that this was the music of the future”. 

It’s funny that at the time he had no idea that this music would become his future.

Later that same year he got hold of his first set of turntables and set himself on the path to where he is today. A path that has seen him travel the world, settle in The United Kingdom, Denmark and South Africa and become fluent in three languages including Spanish, Portuguese and English.

He says that the experiences he’s had while on this path translate into the style of music he plays. And the world has noticed. So far he’s had the opportunity to play at high profile venues such as Space Ibiza, Destino, Sysiphos and the Brixton Academy. He’s also opened for some of dance music’s biggest names including Tale Of Us, Guido Shneider and Mark Henning. For him however the most rewarding part of playing his style of music is seeing people in crowd with their eyes closed just listening to the messages it contains. It’s a style that’s impossible to imitate, just like his accent, and it’s one of the reasons we’re excited to welcome him to the TOYTOY family. 

https://web.facebook.com/kanan.k7 
 

https://soundcloud.com/kanan_k7 

Catch Kanan K7 at Neon Factory: Exposure

6th October 2016

ERA

71 Loop Street

Doors Open at 19h00

World Rhino Day

22nd September is World Rhino Day. 

To show our support we have recruited Steve Newman, the sexy-naked-rhino guy, to help raise funds for rhinos. Steve will have a donation bucket - ready to receive your kind donations.

He has graciously given his clothes away in hopes that you can see the gift in giving.

Are you a giver?

Neon Factory: Exposure

At ERA 71 Loop Street, Cape Town

6th October 2016

19h00

A First Thursdays Initiative

Just Steve Newman

Prepared by Jonathan Inggs

on behalf of Steve Newman

Introduction

The plight of the Rhino is a global war. It is a war against ignorance and outdated philosophy, but most significantly, it is an economic war. Economic in the sense that public and local governments via limited resources and limited measures have ensured that the poaching of Rhino requires a great deal of capital: Rhino poaching has come to utilize highly skilled individuals with sophisticated means to ensure the ongoing slaughter, and ultimately great financial reward for willing markets. Official figures put the poaching of Rhino in South Africa at over 1100 animals in 2013 alone, with the African Black Rhino been declared officially extinct.

It is to be noted that due to local government corruption and the existence of extreme poverty in Sub Saharan Africa, easy access and protection for poaching syndicates remains the norm. It is only through the efforts of civil action groups, private wildlife conservancy practices and advocacy groups that the tide is slowed. Many NGO’s, charities (a good many charlatans) and the will of individuals has the plight of the Rhino been championed. But as with most initiatives, they require funding. They require the will of not only civil society, but that of the private sector. It is against this backdrop that we outline this proposal.

Steve Newman - “The Who”

Steve in his words:

“Allow me to introduce myself, I am the naked skydiver/ Just Steve Newman - an adrenaline junkie with a deep set desire to do good things for those that are unable to do it themselves. Furthermore, I am a passionate South African, nature lover, socialiser and radical – in other words, I don’t do things in half measures.

The recent Rhino related horror stories have had an impact on everyone I know, and been the cause of plenty sleepless nights. I am believer in participation – I don’t sit back and dwell on the “what if’s” – I believe in being part of the change, and so I made a decision to put myself “out-there”, quite literally, to raise funds for Project Rhino KZN and the African Conservation Trust.

Project Rhino KZN is a Pietermaritzburg based NGO whom have an ambitious yet achievable goal to raise R10million for Rhino conservation and protection in South Africa in 2013. Key anti-poaching needs that will benefit include training anti-poaching teams in advanced skills, provision of specialised equipment for anti-poaching teams and extending aerial surveillance support to a wider range of rhino-bearing reserves. Interventions that include education, awareness and job creation in rural communities close to game reserves will also be supported.

I started out skydiving and from there everything spiraled out of control from the Red Bull Lion Heart event Red Bull Flugtag, Pick n Pay Cape Argus, 2Oceans marathon and Spoofing the camera (youtube) to name a few and have heaps of events lined up for this year and next. I am also trying to align with brands to support what i am trying to achieve to make a difference in corporate world.

I am only one person but I am hoping to make a real difference or at least be the start of a movement of people who do things instead of just saying they will, And with the doing I hope my super passionate self comes through to inspire others.”

Steve Newman is just an average, concerned citizen. He is an average citizen with an exceptional amount of compassion. Over the last two years he has embarked on a crusade to help shape and aid the plight of the Rhino in Africa.

This native son of Cape Town, happened to chance on an opportunity that was to propel him into the public spotlight, not simply by design, but by the will to make a difference about something he is deeply passionate, namely, the plight of the Rhino and conservation in South Africa. What started out as a “dare” to skydive naked, has become a lifestyle orientated, emerging brand that enjoys household recognition amongst a broad demographic of the local and international consciousness.

It is to be noted that all Steve has achieved has been through the generous contribution of time, money and skill by various members of the public and the private sector. Steve himself has a full time job and has to constantly juggle the demands of his charity work against the demands of employment. Whilst his employers have been nothing but amazing in their support of his charity work, it has come to the point where he has to make a choice- to pursue his passion full time, or in a limited capacity.

Steve enjoys fantastic media coverage and support, mainly in the “lifestyle” category. It is through his constant activism that he seeks the support of corporates in order to continue his brave fight.

Many thanks,

Steve and Jon.

SaveSave

Neon Factory Presents: Mx Starr

"Originating in the outer galaxies, and due to technical anomalies in the fabric of the spacetime continuum, Mx Starr intercepted your Voyager & Pioneer probe efforts shortly after spacial insemination.

Their mission twofold; to acknowledge fortuitous receipt of these wondrously naive attempts at extraterrestrial communication, and in the spirit of knowledge-sharing, to illuminate earthlings hitherto trapped within a binary definition of masculine/feminine, with the message of an intergalactic gender spectrum.

They manifested, made human flesh via incarnation, and became, so as to understand the trappings of your limited existential experience.

Their work aims to question and explore outdated ideas around beauty and gender identity specifically in the context of the overlapping of differing traditional ideals and standards; in short to introduce to one another, then obliterate the space between, quaint notions of cis-genderhood and modern knowledge of gender identity & politics.

Their occasionally visceral, usually veracious, quit-witted, sharp-tongued observations on the interaction of humaines can easily be placated by earthly delights; since arriving on this planet, they have become rather partial to ethanol based refreshments as uniquely afforded preparation by your species, and peculiarities of the local environment. Far from normal, they have come to embrace you, to tantalize you, and to tickle your fancy." - C. Starr

Catch the insatiable Mx Starr Exposing some of their addiction to glamour at Neon Factory's Event: Exposure.  

On at ERA Nightclub, 71 Loop Street, Cape Town. 

6 October 2016. 

A First Thursday initiative. 

Neon Factory Presents: Ivana Vodka

Ivana Vodka is something young and fresh to the night-lights of Cape Town.

“Uh, I love a little Vodka in the morning. Don't you?”

Fishy and utterly audacious for Cape Town’s nightlife Ivana Vodka is always sassy with a splash of something sensational.

 

“Have a shot of me, I dare you to, because it ain’t a party without a lil’ Vodka, darlings”

She has been serving drag extravaganza and generally slaying the house down for “13months3weeks3daysandAnHour”.

“I am a Cape town based Queen, hostess, super model, entertainter and really just the most down right glamorous fuckin’ bitch on any goddamn scene. I endeavor to be South Africa’s Drag crown jewel, while bringing about world peace.”

 

She truly aspires to show the world what South African queens have to offer, the depth these artists dive to in order to have their vision of art realized. So behind the no bullshit tone and piss off eyes is an artist who strives to be great.

“To reach a level of beauty and opulence that just might kill me, Hunny. Strong female icons as well as Drag queens who’ve come from nothing and made it happen inspire me to push through stereotypes, stigmas and break down binary constraints.”

Catch Ivana Vodka Exposing some of her addiction to glamour at Neon Factory's Event: Exposure.  

On at ERA Nightclub, 71 Loop Street, Cape Town. 

6 October 2016. 

A First Thursday initiative.