How did I live without music? There were distractions and I kept busy exploring my sexuality and eventually coming out as bisexual. I changed my appearance to pass for male because some older white chick in my dorm told me I never could. Genderqueerness--or what I now think of as disguising femininity to be gender “neutral”--was replacing the masculine names lesbians used to describe themselves. “Butch” an “baby butch” were going out of style. Everyone knew that if you wanted to be a visibly queer woman 24/7 (read: get laid more often and way faster), short hair and smaller boobs were the way to go. (It worked.)

While I try to remind myself that such a versatile hobby doesn’t belong to a certain demographic as the earth turns up the pressure cooker, I look to my dad who is turning over the earth with our rusty shovel and I realise I should probably give him a hand before this interview turns into a lecture.

Inspo Nights are set to feature more guests and artist performances, so be sure to keep your Wednesday nights free (we know you’re home and not doing anything).

Here are 10 tips I’ve personally found helpful in my seasons of waiting…ed that waiting is less of a stop and more of a pause if you realise and utilise the things you still can control.

Lockdown for Some: double standards and abuse of police powers in Western Sydney

Anie Kandya makes the case for fewer cops and more community in The Area

Western’s mike gives us a breakdown on how to create your own D.I.Y studio!

They say 30s is your prime, I kind of get this now, as if I feel like I know who I am as a person and know what you need (not want). Life at 30 should be no different than any other year except there are more lessons and life experience that you could imagine.

The long and arduous journey to Varuna the Writers’ House was not easy. I endured the challenge of walking through a twenty-minute labyrinth of inclines and turns, all while carrying three loads of luggage and listening to the blinding chirps of cicadas - it was worth it.

How do you feel when people ask you about your future? Does it make your palms sweat and your heart race? In a world where our future holds even more uncertainty, how do you cope with the pressure?

‘Closing Night’ is one of eight segments featured in the latest anthology film, Here Out West. A love letter to ‘the ever-changing melting pot’ of Western Sydney, the Screen Australia-supported project spotlights eight emerging writers and their diverse takes on what it means to live in Western Sydney, including Vonne Patiag of Halal Girls fame, and Bengali writer Arka Das. The Western was privileged enough to chat with Chinese-Australian critic and essayist, Claire Cao. Hailing from Canley Vale, she describes her work with Here Out West as an experience unlike past projects in her writing career.

ZOKU Creative masters the power of storytelling by sharing the stories of those who would be considered as the black sheep of society.

If you love bananas, you need to try Just Bannoffy’s Banoffee Pie. I am a sucker for all things banana; whether it’s a banana berry smoothie, banana bread or Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey. I remember having a Banoffee Cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory in 2019 when I was in America and it was one of the most delicious desserts I’ve ever had, my mouth waters thinking about it.

The Western podcast is finally back! As we come in headstrong for our fourth season in 2021, our editorial writer Nicole Cadelina will be hosting a new episode every week, with a fresh line-up of guests to meet and greet.

Who has power over you, and what would you like to the say to them? Creators and writers Jeremy Goldstein and Henry Woolf bring their program from the United Kingdom to Western Sydney. Speakers and artists tell stories in response to that question, including The Western’s own Mark Mariano. Running March 11-13 at Riverside Theatres in Parramatta, tickets are available now!

Nicole interviews Miranda, a Filipinx writer and speaker. Their latest project, Let Me Know When You Get Home, will be performed at Riverside’s National Theatre in Parramatta, from March 18-20. Tickets are available now at the CuriousWorks website.

We are excited to announce UPFRONT, an Instagram live special. On Wednesday, May 27, The Western’s, editor Mark Mariano will chat with special guests The Pxblication. Tune in at 8pm AEST on our Instagram page!