STACK NZ July 2016 Issue 75

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visit EXTRAS NEWS
04 JULY 2016
EXTRAS
A lthough Hollywood’s habit of splitting
the final book in a YA trilogy into two
movies hasn’t always worked,
Divergent star Shailene Woodley believes fans
of the books will enjoy the fact that the third
film in the series, Allegiant , takes the source
material in a new direction.
“This movie is similar to the book but also
has a completely novel storyline in many ways,”
says Woodley. “There are a lot of things in
the film that Veronica Roth created, and then
there are a lot of things created by the director
and other people involved in the movie. I think
this movie is bolder because the characters
encounter a world they’ve never experienced
before, and that means the audience will also
get to experience this world for the first time.”
Unlike the previous films, Allegiant also finds
Tris (Woodley) and boyfriend Four (Theo James)
at odds for much of the movie after falling out
over the purpose of a mysterious new facility
they discover when they escape Chicago.
“Unlike many YA films, their partnership isn't
built on the singular foundation of physical
attraction,” Woodley says of the film’s central
love story. “It’s a very real union that can at
times be messy and vulnerable, and at other
times be strong and powerful. They never lack
passion. I feel Allegiant does a great job of
illustrating their ups and downs.” Adam Colby
Allegiant is reviewed on page 25
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANT'S
T he iconic Kiwi rockers are currently
on tour in Australia, but Jon
Toogood is already looking ahead to
what will be Shihad’s tenth studio album.
Toogood told STACK that he was about to
start writing songs for the new record with
bassist Karl Kippenberger and indicates that
there will once again be a political edge to
the material.
“All the things we touched on on the
last album FVEY - inequality, injustice,
greed, materialism - seem to be even more
pronounced now than when that album was
released,” he says “So I reckon the next
Shihad album could be even more intense
than the last one!”
However, there might be some surprises
musically. ”As far as what’s inspiring me
at the moment, I’ve been working with
musicians from Sudan recently who play this
amazing mix of Middle Eastern melodies and
these awesome North African rhythms. It’s
like nothing I’ve ever heard before yet I can’t
not move my ass to it. It’s just so good!”
Toogood is also pleased that some of the
band's earlier albums are now getting a vinyl
reissue. In April, Shihad’s self-titled 1996
breakthrough – often referred to as ‘The Fish
Album’ – was released for the first time as a
deluxe 2LP set and the singer admits he is
“a complete vinyl nerd”.
“That’s how I fell in love with music
when I was like two or three years old,” he
continues. “I used to watch my parents'
albums go round and round on their
turntable and just be mystified by the fact
that this sound was coming off this bit of
black vinyl, through a needle, down a tone
arm and then out through these speakers –
it was watching a magic trick! And I still get
that tingle when I listen to a record.
“So yeah, we take great care when it
comes to releasing anything on vinyl. To
me it’s like the ultimate package. When
you master it right it sounds better than
any other format, and visually, it’s by far
the biggest and best format for getting
the artwork right. When you do, it can be
stunning – and completely irresistible to a
vinyl junkie like me!" Zoë Radas
TOOGOOD FIRED UP
FOR NEW SHIHAD LP
The Shihad frontman is working
on an " intense" followup to their
last album.
“The first time I saw Mavis Staples, it had been raining all day in New York
City,” recalls director Jessica Edwards, whose acclaimed documentary Mavis!
is released this month. “She was scheduled to perform that evening at an
outdoor concert in Brooklyn, and I wondered if the show would be cancelled.
But the rain cleared just before show time, and I sat on a soggy picnic
blanket with friends and watched as this amazing woman and her band came
on stage. Her voice reverberated through the trees as she sang, testified,
preached, moaned, wailed and gave everything she had. When I got home
that night, I wanted to know everything I could about Mavis and her family.”
Mavis! traces the fascinating story of the R&B legend, from her early
gospel days with her father Pops’ group the Staple Singers, their successful
switch to soul in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, and her triumphant recent
collaborations with the likes of Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy. The documentary is
stacked with a wealth of archival material, but Edwards was keen for it not to
be just a ‘historical' portrait of the singer. “Mavis’s story isn’t about the past,
it’s happening now. The fact that she is 75 years old and is still a vital and
important artist, and not just out there performing as an oldies act, informed
the way we made the film.”
Mavis! is out on DVD and Blu-ray on July 14.
SHE'LL TAKE YOU THERE