Multi-Hypho - Getting comfy on the intersection Candy Bowers

This week Candy interviews iconic TV presenter, radio/podcast host and journalist Yumi Stynes. Born to a Japanese mother and white Australian father, Yumi was born and raised in the suburbs of Melbourne to later relocate to Sydney to work for channel V Australia.

Fast forward 20 years to now, Yumi writes and runs her ABC Radio podcast on female health and sexuality, ‘Ladies, We Need to Talk’ whilst hosting the 3PM PICK UP aired on multiple national stations. This year Yumi has released two books including ‘Welcome to your period’ and ‘Zero F***s Cooking- Endless Summer’. When she isn’t decolonising in mainstream Australian media, Yumi can be found goofing out at home with her partner and four children.

This week Candy chats with singer-songwriter, Thando. Born in Zimbabwe, Thando spent her early life travelling between the farmland and townships of the country whilst creating shows with her two older sisters. This desire for the stage was pursued further when her family immigrated to Ngunnawal country, the capital of so-called Australia. Here the possibility of a music career became real.

Currently based in Naarm [Melbourne] she is known for her electric presence and powerhouse vocals as a singer and performer. Thando is a brilliant collaborator and features on Sampa the Great’s debut album ‘The Return’. If she isn’t shaking it up with her art, Thando can be found mothering her beautiful daughter and fighting for representation in Australia.

Growing up on Gadigal country [or so called Sydney] Zoe found their love for acting at a young age while performing in school plays. From humble beginnings to national television, nowadays Zoe is known for their performance on the critically acclaimed Australian series Wentworth. They are also set to star alongside Nicole Kidman on the series 9 Perfect Strangers in the new year. When Zoe is not acting for the stage or screen they are likely to be advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community, in particular with their work in fighting for trans representation in the entertainment industry.

This week Candy chats with not one, but two creatives - Sapidah Kian and Eugyeene Teh.

Sapidah is a a director, actor, theatre maker and dramaturg, working across theatre, film, television and radio. Born in Tehran of Azeri Iranian heritage, Sapidah’s family migrated to Sydney at age 3. An outlier growing up in the suburbs of St Ives, at 16 Sapidah found her like-minded folks at a free class run by ‘PACT’ and feel in love with the arts. Nowadays Sapidah acts for both stage and screen, whilst teaching and holding space for students of colour at the VCA.

Eugyeene Teh is a Malaysian born and bred theatre maker, architect and designer across theatre, dance, opera and fashion. With a passion for design and expanding his individuality, Eugyeene relocated to Melbourne at the age of 19 with the mission to decolonise and centre the stories of underrepresented minorities. These days Eugyeene can be found looking chic in his impeccably curated outfits.

This week Candy chats with producer, artist, multi-instrumentalist and sometimes rapper Joelistics (aka Joel Ma). Growing up in Australia with Chinese, Malaysian and Scottish roots Joel is known for his experimental and eclectic artistic style expressed through his music, writing and theatre. Joel makes art not for the Australian mainstream but for the underground, the resistance.

His most recent album titled Joelistics Presents Film School is a nod to his heritage. It is a collaborative album that samples ancestral sounds of his past including some Canto-pop records found during his most recent trip to Malaysia. When he’s not experimenting with his synthesizers, Joel can be found loving up his lockdown born baby daughter Lua.

In the past Joel has collaborated with noted artists such as Tim Rogers, Emma Donovan, Ecca Vandal, Hermitude, Wil Wagner, Parvyn Singh and Madonna. On his most recent album some collaborators include Francesca Mountford, Mindy Meng wang, Elle Shimada, Hayley Cramer, Thomas Mitchell and Emily Chen.

On this episode Candy chats with musician, dancer and actor Samuel Gaskin. Based in Naarm with African and Maori heritage Samuel, in true multi-hypho fashion, can be heard on the radio and seen on our screens queering up and colouring in the Australian entertainment scene with his art.

Samuel’s most recent work, RECKONING “Te Waiata Paihere Wairua -The Sounds of Woven Souls” is a multi artform performance that fuses Indigenous cultures of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Te Whēnua Moemoeā (Land of the Dreamtime) Australia. When he’s not working Samuel can be found spending quality time with his kids, watching Temptation Island or listening to Christine and the Queens.