Stranded Conversation #2: Music and culture

Thea Basiliou

Thea Basiliou founded the multi-brand boutique Blonde Venus in Brisbane in 1990 and co-founded The Outpost in 2006. As a creative director and progressive buyer, she introduced leading international designers such as JW Anderson, Roksanda, Mary Katrantzou, Chalayan, Simone Rocha, and Jacquemus to Australia. Passionate about supporting local talent, Thea championed early collections by Akira, Zimmermann, Karen Walker, PAM, Dion Lee, Christopher Esber and Gail Sorronda.  Her vision for cross pollination of the creative communities led to many fashion, art, music, and film events through her stores. Thea has consulted for Australian Fashion Week, Queensland Government and worked as program leader for the Melbourne Fashion Festival. She has lectured and mentored fashion students for over 20 years. Thea currently teaches fashion at RMIT and Collarts, and freelances in styling, writing, and mentoring. 

Luke Henery

Born and raised in Brisbane’s southern suburbs, Luke Henery has spent much of his life touring with bands like Violent Soho, DZ Deathrays, and Total Pace. His travels have fostered an appreciation for diverse landscapes and cultures, which he captures through photography to preserve fleeting memories. Luke’s personal work focuses on mundane, empty spaces, often evoking an uneasy, almost broken emotion. Deeply connected to the music scene, Luke has photographed album covers, book covers, and press shots for artists such as Tim Rogers, Polaris, Dear Seattle, Dan Sultan, Waax, Dune Rats, DZ Deathrays, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Smith Street Band, and Boy & Bear. Now based on the Gold Coast, he spends downtime exploring the region through alternative photography formats. 

Patience Hodgson

Patience Hodgson is a Brisbane-based artist, performer and community connector whose creative career spans music, fashion, theatre and grassroots organising. Best known as the effervescent frontwoman of indie rock band The Grates, she has spent two decades lighting up stages across Australia and abroad with her signature mix of chaos, colour and heart. Beyond music, Patience is an artist and community worker collaborating with artists like Rachel Bourke to create whimsical exhibitions and workshops. A natural host and storyteller, she brings humour, heart and a touch of mischief to everything she does. Whether she’s wrangling a crowd, crafting dog-themed bunting, or finding connection through creativity, her work celebrates joy, belonging and the beautiful weirdness of people coming together. 

Blair Martin

Blair Martin (he/him/-they/them) is a tall human with a sonorous voice – and a beard. Resident of Meanjin/Brisbane, Australia and has been seen on TV, film, stage & major events (as an actor & MC), heard on radio and mentioned in social media dispatches (aka #EpicBeardMan). Since 2012, coordinator of Queer Radio on 4ZZZ (along with 4ZZZ’s Dykes On Mykes the world’s longest continuously running diverse in gender and sexuality radio program – 33 years!) and has collected the occasional award: 2010 Entertainer of the Year & 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award (both Brisbane Pride Festival Queens’ Ball Community Awards) and the C.A.N. Awards 2013 – Media Award "For excellence in journalism/social media which promotes the social inclusion and equality for all". 

Moderator - Michelle Brown

Michelle Brown is the Coordinator of the State Library of Queensland’s Applied Creativity team, leading public programs and engagements in The Edge. An artist, creative technologist, and curator, her work explores the intersections of culture, technology, and storytelling. With 30 years of experience in Brisbane’s arts scene, Michelle has managed 4ZZZ, worked as fashion and culture editor for Rave and Scene magazines, played in bands, and produced countless events. A passionate observer of cultural evolution, she continues to explore how creativity, community, and technology shape identity and expression.