dot com baby vol. 01 - chaos n dreams (ongoing)
vol. 01 – @pushmagsydney
Went to the Push Magazine issue 07 launch for the drinks, the printed mag (because I didn’t have one yet), and the vibes. Ended up talking to half the venue because, apparently, I’m a yapper lol. I kept telling people they looked nice BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY DID.
Also snapped a few portraits because everyone’s drip was sick.
Ran into @kayqra again after a while. She said I’m very extroverted. Maybe she’s right lol.
SPACE BEATS
vol. 01 - dancing in outer space vol. 09 by @spacebeatssoundsystem
Documented alien lifeforms with my legendary digicam + 3 webcams.
Orbiting back for Vol. 10
kitty of the valley
vol. 01 - @kittyofthevalley_
Managed to interview them right after the show at @marysunderground , and yes, I walked out with their CD in hand. I photographed the front, the centre spread, and the second last page. The physical release is a 12 page artwork with full lyrics, ending on a soft note: “From us, to you. With love, KOTV ♡ xx”.
The tracklist isn’t the same as the digital version. The CD includes a foreword by Sophie Grace-Bagster, Rumpus + Reprise, Lift Off (Ambient), and an extra track, Rain. They weren’t joking when they said this one is meant to be played loud. It really is a different experience.
Next week on Tuesday the 2nd, they’re playing an acoustic live set at @sapphobooks , Glebe for the Venus, Examined launch party.
I guess I’ll see you there?
Alternative kids
vol. 01 - alternative kids
@404ngelina asked me to come to the @unionhotelnewtown . I was literally there a few weeks ago for Halloween lol. She was shooting for @binsadband and said, “I reckon your vibe… post-punk emo indie kinda vibes.”
Of course I f*****g love it.
Honestly, I woke up feeling like s**t today. No idea why. Maybe the gloomy weather hit my mood, or maybe it’s Mercury retrograde being chaotic again lol.
I was surprisingly nervous when I arrived at the venue. The original plan was just to enjoy the night without taking any photos. For me, the first photo is always the hardest. Once that first shot is out of the way, everything becomes easy like usual.
I swear I’m friendly lol.
Mary’s Underground
vol. 01 - @marysunderground
Went to Mary’s Underground last night. The main quest was to interview one of the local heroes, @kittyofthevalley_
When I arrived, I immediately ran into more local heroes: @blairrromance and @cherry__rype (I tried the chocolate yesterday btw… I finally understand why she hates it now).
Lucy walked in wearing a T-shirt, denim, and full tattoos. I told her that’s exactly why she looks effortlessly grungy.
Then I spotted @1lastflick photos on the wall, so obviously I had to take a photo of them in front of them works.
I said hi to @allegrapezz_ , we chatted a bit, and I told her, “Let’s do the interview outside after the show.”
And yes, I still wish my mom had let me get tattoos growing up. The irony is insane considering the people I hang around now lol.
From the 13th debut runway backstage
vol. 01 — @fromthethirteenth debut runway backstage
I arrived at 2 PM for The 13th backstage shoot and spotted Kim with a big suitcase. Turns out she is one of the makeup artists for the show. When we got to the venue, the first people we met were Jordan and Adi. Jordan asked how long the interview would take. I said, “Ten minutes max, but I can make it shorter,” knowing we would both be busy once things kicked off.
While at the venue, I started talking to everyone, makeup artists, models, literally no one was left behind because, well, I am a yapper lol. Conversations drifted from how strong Vietnamese coffee is (it actually made me tremble) to people trying to guess if I am Filipino or not. I had just come back from the Philippines earlier this year for my friend’s wedding, so I get it, we probably are cousins from different islands lol. Also, the Philippines slaps, you should definitely go.
I shot most of the backstage moments with my legendary digicam paired with a tiny external flash for some extra punch. Creative decision, almost everything in the collection is black, so I wanted the flash to hit the garments directly and pull out the textures, stitching, and tiny details at their fullest. Of course, I forgot to charge the digicam the night before, so the battery started dying two thirds into the show. Luckily, my mirrorless camera stepped in like a dependable sidekick.
This was my first time shooting a runway backstage, so massive shoutout to Jordan for letting me capture the making of his debut runway, raw and in progress, behind the big long black curtain.
For the IG edit, I shaped the story into two flows within this series.
The first focuses on candid moments, the quiet concentration, the jokes, the last minute touch ups, to show that behind the glamour, we are all just humans doing what we love.
The second is where everyone looks majestic and gorgeous. Someone backstage told me the best moments to capture are the ones right before the runway starts. I would describe it as beautiful chaos, just like the current Dot Com Baby edition, chaos and dreams lol.
So enjoy The 13th, the creation in progress behind the curtain, plus the gorgeous guests who came to celebrate the debut.
Also, mom, I made a lot of new friends.
Cherry Rype
vol. 01 — @cherry__rype
See the two of us yapping after the show at @unionhotelnewtown . My two personal favourites are Shed My Skin and Strawberry Fields.
I even did my homework by listening to the whole Rory album so I could understand her better before asking rapid-fire questions lol.
Music videos by @1lastflick @coveredflaws @mallgoth6 @domengo.ig
I added subtitles for people with Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) like me. APD affects an estimated 2 to 5 percent of people according to NSW Education and Frontiers in Neurology, and many cases go undiagnosed. I only learned I had it last year.
It is a niche condition, so I wanted to share in case it helps. If you ever struggle to follow conversations in noisy places, getting checked by an audiologist can make a big difference.
If you’ve got APD too, you’re not alone. I feel you lol.
NYA, 10 November 2025
vol. 01 – @n.cbx
I met Nya at Second Life Market two weeks ago. My gut said she had a Southeast Asian background like me, and turns out I was right. She’s Filo. Cousins from another island lol.
I noticed she really likes brown. She said it’s just easy to mix and match outfits with that colour.
We started at the Art Gallery of NSW. One thing I remember about taking photos in museums and galleries is the no flash rule, otherwise it can degrade the artworks.
We took some photos in front of a projector because it looked trippy lol.
Then we moved from the art gallery to the State Library because she said she’d never been there before. I suddenly became a tour guide.
By the way, the State Library was so packed during the day. It felt like everyone was trying to finish something flawlessly before the year ended.
Second Life market, 2 november 2025
My street style curation from @secondlifemarkets
Tbh, I always feel a bit nervous every time I ask a stranger if I can take their photo. But I’m learning to overcome that fear of rejection.
Turns out, I think I’m doing just fine.
Thank you to everyone who let me capture your style!
union hotel, 31 October 2025
vol. 01 — @unionhotelnewtown
I asked @blairrromance to come to her show at Union Hotel. She told me I could also interview @cherry__rype if I wanted.
When I arrived at the venue, I WAS SO NERVOUS. I used to be a photographer for a band, but since I haven’t done this in a while, ngl it felt like going on a blind date lol.
I met Mel (Blair Romance) first before being introduced to Lucy (Cherry Rype). I asked Mel if she ever gets nervous before performing, and she said, “Every time!”
I took some portrait shots of her because this time I could finally see most of her tattoos. My Halloween costume was a last minute decision, a cat salaryman lol. @holdingontoitclosely told me I needed one more touch, whiskers. She asked, “Do you want three or four?” I said, “Three’s fine.”
Then I took a few photos of the audience because everyone ate with their costumes. I later asked Lucy if I could interview her, and she said, “After the show!”
The next one will be my conversation with Cherry Rype📽
Been Sufferable, 31 October 2025
@dotcom.baby vol. 01 - @fromthethirteenth w/ @jrxdxn
A conversation after the runway. Thanks Jordan!
Btw I'm a Cancer lol.
After Party at Burdekin Hotel
dot com baby vol. 01 - @fromthethirteenth after party
"Oh I thought you gonna stay for one drink or two" I ended up drank more than that lol
Thanks @jrxdxn for the after party
Veda Diva & People of Newtown, 14 October 2025
dot com baby vol. 01 — veda diva & people of newtown
I met Veda at Moda Designer a few months ago. She’s the one on the first slide of the Club Kids series and we planned to do a shoot around Newtown.
The initial plan was to head to Camperdown Memorial Rest Park, but five minutes in, we spotted an orange 1965 Mustang. Just as we were about to take some photos in front of it, the owner, Daryl, showed up.
Veda asked if we could take a few shots with the car, and Daryl replied, “Do you wanna cruise as well?” I was like, “WTF of course I do!”
I asked if the colour was orange, but Daryl told me the official name was Poppy Red. We took a few photos inside before the cruise. Once we got in, I could smell the petrol. Expected, of course, and hear the roaring, screaming engine. (I’m lowkey a petrolhead, lol)
While cruising, Daryl asked if we wanted to stop for a drink at The Carla (Carlisle Castle Hotel). I said, “Sure!”
When we arrived, we were greeted by friendly locals who were just as amazed by the car. It’s rare to see a 1965 Mustang in 2025, so I get the excitement.
The first people who approached us were Chelsea and Bruce, and we got to experience Newtown hospitality at its finest that day. Inside, Daryl, Veda and I ended up talking about what it really means to be happy (and somehow scored two free schooner lol).
Then Chelsea started telling me about her work in the film industry. Turns out she’s a professional makeup artist! She’s currently working on a classified movie and even showed us some behind-the-scenes clips featuring a stuntman on fire.
After two drinks, we chatted with a few more locals before heading off to the cemetery, driven by Daryl. That’s where we wrapped the shoot and said our goodbyes.
I guess we’re just a flock of seagulls chasing happiness.
Thanks, Newtown.
Blair Romance, 12 October 2025
dot com baby vol. 01 — blair romance
Interviewed @blairrromance and typed all the subtitles manually (as usual). Also added a countdown timer so you’ll know how long each section lasts.
I put it there because I believe time’s more valuable than money (though you can buy Time, the magazine, at a newsstand haha).
The video runs for 6 minutes and 23 seconds.
🧠 Subtitles are for people with Auditory Processing Disorders (APD) like me.
Mine’s mild, but sometimes the brain just needs a little help catching up with what the ears hear.
So yeah, the subtitles are here to help us out.
We did the shoot right after the interview in Double Bay. Which happens to be the first area I visited during my first week in Sydney back in 2017, so it’s a personal spot for me.
Top 5 Asian Movies
Long Weekend, 4 & 5 October 2025
Saturday
dot com baby vol. 01 — saturday
My good friend Marco just came back to Australia for his graduation.
He said clubbing in Indonesia feels different — mostly because there’s no proper afters. The only ‘afters’ you can do there is grabbing breakfast. Fair point, I guess.
Meanwhile, I was hovering between two events on two nights in a row. Dancing without worrying about what comes next.
This one’s for you, Marco.
I know moving back to your hometown sucks lol.
Sunday
dot com baby vol. 01 — sunday
Mo asked me how I managed to go clubbing two days in a row, while everyone else was wiped out after one.
Turns out the secret is — I’m unemployed. lol.
Just realised the others have weekday jobs while I’m currently in my “soul-searching era” (please hire me).
Anyway, Mo asked me to come to Cosmic Boogie, an event held by the headmaster himself — Rubio.
The genre and the kind of vibe he wanted to bring? You’ll hear that in the interview.
When we arrived at Abercrombie, the first thing I noticed was the incense smoke and the disco ball spinning above.
Before the interview, we drank G&Ts, a quick smoke, and talked about free will — but that’s a story for another day.
Then suddenly, Rubio handed me a 4K handycam with night-vision mode and said,
“It’s yours for tonight.”
The interview ran for nine minutes.
Finally, I found the real use for my yapping — interviewing one of the events I genuinely loved.
Back in 2015, I was deep in my disco era. I listened to Breakbot, Steve Monite, and anything with a funky bassline.
Cosmic Boogie felt like a time capsule — a reminder that sometimes you just need a simple boogie to feel alive again.
Thanks, Cosmic Boogie.
Until the next event.