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Arts and culture


Life Behind The Lens - Doug Allan
Doug Allan has spent more than four decades doing the kind of work most of us only experience from the comfort of a couch: waiting in brutal cold, diving beneath sea ice, and travelling to some of the most remote places on Earth to capture wildlife moments that end up becoming part of our collective memory. He’s a world-renowned wildlife cameraman whose career has taken him repeatedly into the Arctic and Antarctic, and his credits span major natural history productions. If yo

Jade McLeod
18 hours ago2 min read
Taylor Swift: The End of an Era
The first 2 episodes of The end of an era are out now and WE NEED TO TALK!! This docuseries being titled end of an era and being dropped in december adds a poetic, reflective, emotional element to it! Right from the opening moments, it feels like more than behind the scenes footage, it plays like a time capsule that knows exactly what it is capturing: the end of one chapter, and the careful stitching together of the next. There is a raw honesty threaded through the way the se

Jade McLeod
Dec 13, 20255 min read
Art on the Streets
Graffiti, street art, buskers, and street fashion all live in the same place: the bits of a city that are technically “in between.” Footpaths, alleyways, underpasses, train platforms, markets. The places you cut through on your way somewhere else. Together, they turn concrete into colour, noise and personality. To some people they are a sign of chaos. To others they are proof that a city is alive. Modern graffiti grew alongside hip hop culture in the 1970s and 80s, when young

Jade McLeod
Dec 12, 20255 min read
CHRISTMAS WATCHLIST:
It’s the start of the magical month - December. Whether you’re celebrating with friends and family during the month or wanting to have a nice hot cocoa by the fire on Christmas eve, here are some movies I recommend to watch! HOME ALONE (1990) This 1 hour 43 minute movie, released in 1990, is about an 8 year old boy named Kevin, who gets left home alone whilst his family goes on a Christmas vacation to France, leaving Kevin behind without realising until they all get on the

Chloe Nielson
Dec 1, 20253 min read
Wicked Part 1 and 2!
WICKED A magical moosical moovie was released in December 2024, WICKED starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. The story interprets two young girls named Glinda and Elphaba who met at Shiz University in the Land Of Oz. Both destined to make a difference in some ways. Glinda being a pretty pink princess, wanting everything in the world. Whilst Elphaba, a beautiful witch as you may say, has a kind demeanour and heart, searches for her meaning in life. She didn’t really fit in

Chloe Nielson
Nov 28, 20253 min read
From Page to Stage to Screen: Adaptations and Their Influence on Culture, Community, and Creative Expression
Narratives appear in various forms, including stage productions, novels, and musical compositions. In recent decades, works such as Mamma Mia, Wicked, The Wizard of Oz, Matilda, and Mean Girls have achieved prominence not only through commercial success but also by significantly shaping popular culture. These adaptations have expanded the possibilities of narrative transformation, extended their cultural influence, and cultivated unique communities. ABBA, the Swedish pop grou

Jade McLeod
Nov 26, 20254 min read


The Cultural and Artistic Significance of ONE SHOT Featuring Ed Sheeran
Art captures specific moments, evokes emotions, fosters community, and reveals unexpected interpersonal connections. ONE SHOT, featuring Ed Sheeran, exemplifies these qualities by offering an intimate perspective on the authentic and unfiltered experience of music and live performance. Unlike conventional concert films or documentaries, ONE SHOT prioritizes authenticity. Instead of presenting a polished or staged production, it allows viewers to observe the raw and unedited

Jade McLeod
Nov 22, 20251 min read
Aotearoa’s Creative Culture:
Aotearoa has consistently fostered creativity across a wide range of environments, from small towns with a single café to Wellington flats adorned with band posters, from marae enriched by whakairo and kōrero to alleyways marked by messages of resistance and joy. Art permeates every setting. At The Groovy Moo, our mission is to illuminate the essence of this creativity: the artists compelled to create, the communities that support them, and the culture that unites us. This fe

Jade McLeod
Nov 19, 20253 min read
From Mouse Ears to Megastars: The Disney-to-Mainstream Pipeline
Disney functions as more than a television network or movie studio; it serves as a launchpad for emerging talent. For decades, the company has identified young performers with potential, refined their abilities, and introduced them to global audiences as stars prepared for mainstream success. From the early days of The Mickey Mouse Club to contemporary productions such as High School Musical: The Musical: The Series , Disney has established a pipeline that integrates acting,

Jade McLeod
Nov 7, 20255 min read
Activism in Art: When Creativity Becomes a Call to Action
Art doesn’t just decorate culture, it directs it. From stadium anthems to subway murals, creativity can turn empathy into action and attention into aid. At The Groovy Moo, we believe the right song, stencil, or spotlight can open wallets, change minds, and soften hearts. Here’s how landmark moments in charity singles, protest anthems, public art, and televised pleas show what happens when creativity meets cause. Band Aid 30: A Chorus Against Crisis “Do They Know It’s Christma

Jade McLeod
Oct 15, 20254 min read


The Power of Poetry: When Words Become Magic
Poetry is a heartbeat, a spark in the silence, a secret stitched into sound. On paper, it whispers, in voices it roars spilling truth like stars across a night sky. Spoken word is the pulse of language, breath turned into fire, a story leaving one mouth and finding a home in many hearts. Because words are not just words they are bridges, they are mirrors, They are revolutions in disguise. And here at The Groovy Moo, We believe in the magic of them all scribbled, shouted, sung

Jade McLeod
Sep 8, 20253 min read
Pixels, Passion & Sidequests: When Fan Art Meets Music
In the ever-expanding realm of creativity, the internet and fan art shine as playful forces that redefine artistic evolution. They have transformed culture by blending community and creativity, demonstrating that the real power behind modern art lies not only in what is created, but also in how fans and creators connect and drive innovation together. This unique synergy is the true engine fueling cultural transformation. Forget silent galleries; online creativity bursts to li

Jade McLeod
Aug 27, 20253 min read
Arts through the decades: 2020s edition
Even though we are only five years in, the 2020s have already proven to be a decade for the books. Technological innovation is at an all-time high, society is rife with conflict, and the growing distrust of the government dominates the public. Naturally, these shifts have left a distinctive mark on the arts. Visual Art During the prolonged isolation of COVID-19, many people turned to creative outlets for their boredom. The pandemic inspired its own recurring artistic theme

Ava Ickes
Aug 25, 20253 min read
Chromesthesia: Hearing in Color
Imagine hearing a trumpet and instantly seeing a flash of bright yellow, or watching a violin solo unfold as waves of deep purple and blue unfurl before your eyes. For people with chromesthesia, this isn’t imagination; it’s perception. Chromesthesia is a rare form of synesthesia, a neurological condition in which stimulation of one sensory pathway automatically and involuntarily triggers another sensory pathway. In the case of chromesthesia, sounds like music, voices, or even

Jade McLeod
Aug 2, 20252 min read
Matthew LeBroke on Creative Risk, Small-Town Roots, and the Power of Finding Your People
In a world where creativity often feels competitive and isolating, Lloyd’s Workshop stands out as something rare: a global collective of artists, photographers, and dreamers connected not by geography but by vision, vulnerability, and a shared desire to grow. Matthew LeBroke is one of those creatives. From the outside, he might seem like another aspiring photographer. But in conversation, it’s clear: his story isn’t just about taking pictures—it’s about finding purpose, commu

Jade McLeod
Jul 9, 20253 min read
Street performers
“Everyone starts somewhere.” For many musicians, that “somewhere” was a busy street corner. Around the world, people take to the streets to share their talents, pursue dreams, and entertain passing crowds. Some earn money to eat, others try to jump-start a career. Infact, 5 Seconds of Summer, a popular Australian pop rock band, started out performing on the streets. Street performers or buskers make art accessible to everyone, creating joy through spontaneous performances. Th

Ava Ickes
Jul 6, 20252 min read
Cassie Jones on Creative inspiration, and Capturing authentic moments during concerts.
Cassie Jones (cassiejvisuals on Instagram) is an Australian photographer making waves in the music scene. I had the opportunity to sit down with her to discuss her inspiration, creative process, and everything in between. First and foremost, Cassie has been a long-time music fan, with her current playlist featuring Fall Out Boy, Twenty One Pilots, Tate McRae, and at least one song by Taylor Swift. She has been a photographer for eight years, spending the first five years focu

Jade McLeod
Jun 9, 20252 min read
From Passion to action: Behind the lens with Sylvie De Meyer
Sylvie de Meyer is a well-loved member of Lloyds workshop with whom I chatted about how the workshop has shaped her journey with photography. As always, it had to be asked who was on the current rotation in Sylvie's playlist, and she has an iconic lineup featuring artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, King Princess, Harry Styles, and Black Pumas. Sylvie has an evident appreciation for music, which is fantastic to see in a music photographer. Sylvie finds her inspiration

Jade McLeod
Jun 9, 20252 min read
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