Ships in the Night, Perth’s bi-monthly celebration of words and music, returns this week. After two successful showings at Perth’s Fringe World, where the evening inhabited a ger or yurt, the team are back in a more conventional venue this month – Paper Mountain.
We caught up with the two headliners Laurie Steed and Tristan Fidler for some quick Q&As to find out a bit more about them, their practice and what they’ve been reading and listening to. You can find the Q&A with Laurie Steed here, but for now here’s what Tristan Fidler had to say.
Tristan Fidler is a presenter on Perth’s RTRfm and creates comics and zines under the title A Rich Tapestry. Fidler is also the host and producer of Magnolia’s Late Night Live a DIY local talk show, recorded live.
What is your opinion on the state of the Perth literary scene?
To be honest, I am not sure. I don’t read as much as I’d like to, so I couldn’t offer an informed answer, sadly.
In terms of Perth writing, that I read, I would suggest people read Amber Fresh’s columns for Cool Perth Nights as I think she has such a beautiful, original way with words. Tahlia Palmer and Lyndon Blue also write great thoughts on there.
I’m happier that Perth zine culture is continuing on with renewed energy. There used to be the Perth Zine Collective and Aunty Mabel’s Zine Distro but they are not as active any more. Thankfully, there is a new group called the Xero Collective that is putting out zines and comics by talented people. They are now doing the hard work of being visible at fairs and gigs, alerting people outside and within their circle of self-published gems.
How do you approach the writing/creative process?
I used to write short fiction more but now I prefer drawing and writing comics that have been inspired by American Splendor and King Cat Comix, autobiographical pieces on things my friends say or gigs I attend. There’s something calming about the act of drawing over trying to write into a Microsoft Word doc. Then, there is a self-imposed deadline of a weekly output so I am always fending off that feeling of never getting enough done to push on to produce something.
Being asked to read or speak at an event like Ships In The Night provides the deadline and the excuse to write something new, and so far, it’s been the same old process: a lot of thinking about the stray ideas circling around in my head, a half-hearted stab writing it down on paper, an hour of decent typing into a computer, then the on-going drafting and editing to make it bearable for reading it out loud to people.
What are you currently reading?
Martin McKenzie-Murray’s A Murder Without Motive, which I had long been meaning to read, and which has been quite moving in parts considering the senseless crime it details, and the familiarity to me of the Northern Suburbs of Western Australia where it took place.
Otherwise, I have been getting back into reading serialised comics and have been finding the following titles quite compelling: the Brubaker/Phillips film noir story The Fade Out, DeConnick and De Landro’s feminist sci-fi prison title Bitch Planet, and Fraction and Zdarsky’s sex-positive comedy-action tale Sex Criminals. I hadn’t realised that Image comics kind of turned into what Vertigo comics were in the 1990s.
What is your go to album/song/band at the moment?
Well, I’ve been going through a Prince revival at the moment considering his passing, which I was quite sad about. What a body of work to sink yourself into though!
I’ve been attempting to listen to all 3 CDs of his Emancipation release, which came after he broke free of his Warner Bros contract/legal hassles and also appreciating more of his side projects like The Time.
My current favourites from 2016, at the moment, are Eleanor Friedberger’s New View, which is just so charming and soothing in equal measures, and The Drones’ Feelin’ Kinda Free, skitter barks of frustration and anger at everything going wrong here in Australia and around the world.
What is the one book/text/work you think everyone should read? And why?
Raymond Carver’s Will You Please Be Quiet, Please? I’d seen Short Cuts prior to reading any of Carver’s actual short stories, but once I did, they had such an impact. I would keep returning to re-read certain stories over the years, wanting to repeat the calming, reflective effect they’d have on me with their mixture of humour and sadness, particularly ‘Night School’, ‘How About This?’ and ‘Put Yourself In My Shoes.’
What are you currently working on?
Each year, I put out a collection of the weekly comic strips I make, A Rich Tapestry, and so I am well behind on finalising the four edition. I just need to make the front and back cover, and write an introduction. Hopefully having this reminder in print will force me to finish it.
Ships in the Night #13 takes place on Thursday 19th May at Paper Mountain in Northbridge, Perth. For more information and to book tickets visit HERE. Joining Tristan Fidler and Laurie Steed on the bill are Axel Carrington, Elizabeth Lewis, Hugh Manning and Ciocia Ola; with music coming from New Nausea and Golden String.
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