E. Beth Allan – Elizabeth Allan

Philosophy of Mind and the Body

April 7, 2018 by E. Beth Allan

As a teenager I was certain there was life after death and at university I learned this meant I sat on the side of Dualism when it came to the Mind/Body philosophical conundrum. According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy… Read more →

Greek Mythology according to Stephen Fry

April 4, 2018 by E. Beth Allan

Mythology Versus Religion Reading Stephen Fry’s retelling of Greek mythology in his novel Mythos, I had an epiphany as to how it is possible for Creationists to believe the world was created in six days, little more than 6000 years… Read more →

Anti-Social Media

March 7, 2018 by E. Beth Allan

Zadie Smith recently released a collection of essays in a book called Feel Free. One of the older essays, Generation Why?, is a review of the Facebook-inspired movie The Social Network as well as a savage indictment of social media… Read more →

A+ Women Writers

December 20, 2017 by E. Beth Allan

Solipsistic, narcissistic, neurotic – these terms could relate equally to myself as to the protagonists of pretty much every book I’ve managed to finish over the last couple of years. I can’t seem to deviate from thirty-something females living in… Read more →

Master of Creative Writing

July 21, 2017 by E. Beth Allan

Halfway through the programme, the time seems ripe to commit a few phrases to memory. The novel I’m writing as my thesis will be my sixth and I’m doing a masters in order to understand the process better, and to… Read more →

Swing Time by Zadie Smith

November 29, 2016 by E. Beth Allan

Unlike my other literary heroines—Jane Austen and George Eliot—I feel lucky to be Zadie Smith’s contemporary and to have read each of her novels upon release. I’ve grown up with her themes and Swing Time is no exception. The details… Read more →

Bored to Death

September 1, 2016 by E. Beth Allan

Every time I chew through another great TV series I fear I’ve come to the end of the line. Having just finished, Stranger Things and Call the Midwife on Netflix, I checked to see what I’d missed on HBO. And… Read more →

Game of Thrones S06E10

June 27, 2016 by E. Beth Allan

The final episode of the season offered everything you could have hoped for in terms of plot, but the score courtesy of Ramin Djawadi, was also sensational—as was the lighting. So much so I watched the episode twice in a… Read more →

Dorothy Dickson

June 21, 2016 by E. Beth Allan

Her full name is Sister Dorothy Anne Dickson of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Mission, but I know her as Auntie Dot. The following is a transcription of an interview she gave with my cousin, Pastor Joseph McCauley.… Read more →

Hello Friends and Allies

June 20, 2016 by E. Beth Allan

Recently I read Patti Smith’s memoir M Train and it became clear she loves a good cafe as much as I do. In the book Smith spends a lot of time in her local Greenwich Village cafe, where she eats… Read more →

Patti Smith

June 1, 2016 by E. Beth Allan

I had long heard the name Patti Smith and associated it with the exciting time in NYC, somewhere between Warhol and the Ramones. I thought of her first as a musician, like an American PJ Harvey perhaps – though she’s… Read more →

The Datsuns with Bloodbags at the KA

April 2, 2016 by E. Beth Allan

What can I say about the Datsuns that I didn’t say last time I heard them play? Last night in a sweltering, sweaty Kings Arms they over-delivered on the rock n roll. Tight as hell while also—to my ears—more Beatle-ish… Read more →

Splore Festival 2016

February 23, 2016 by E. Beth Allan

This was my third trip to Splore, the scenic festival about an hour south of Auckland. They say it’s an integrated, eco-aware, family-friendly event and that it’s not all about the music—but the music is always gonna be top of… Read more →

Osho

December 13, 2015 by E. Beth Allan

Today I was tidying up my papers in preparation for going back to NZ from Saudi and I came across a pamphlet on Rudra Meditation, which I’d been meaning to read for years. The final pointer was: “The greatest sadhana… Read more →

Hannah Wants

October 27, 2015 by E. Beth Allan

Living in Saudi, I’ve spent more time than usual in my room listening to music online. The first six months were dominated by drum n bass. House fell flat on my ears; the 4/4 beat bored me. Then scrolling through… Read more →

Wayne Dyer’s Books

October 10, 2015 by E. Beth Allan

I plan to read all of Dr. Wayne Dyer‘s books and quote my favourite parts below. I’ve realised some of the 41 books shown on his website include anthologies or re-editions, so I’m aiming to read the 34 listed on… Read more →

A Night in Riyadh, KSA

September 4, 2015 by E. Beth Allan

Until last night my experience of Riyadh nightlife consisted only of going to and from a mall: sitting in the school bus or a taxi, inching along the enormous highways in a traffic jam or zooming through the glittering lights… Read more →

Saudi Moments

May 16, 2015 by E. Beth Allan

A few whimsical memories of my time living in KSA. It wasn’t all bad!! Passing a spice shop and taking a breath of cardamon and cinnamon then a second later catching a whiff of the sewer. Buying an ice cream… Read more →

TC DNB

May 15, 2015 by E. Beth Allan

It was last century that I got excited about a particular drum n bass producer but listening to a Respect podcast last night, a tune by TC caught my ear. I’ve now listened to a good chunk of his… Read more →

Saudi Arabia: Part 2

May 3, 2015 by E. Beth Allan

So I’ve been here over four months now and a few things are standing out in my experience… but excuse the mostly unrelated photos as it’s not very cool to take pics in public. The first thing is the beggars.… Read more →

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

January 28, 2015 by E. Beth Allan

I haven’t found anything wildly compelling to read since devouring the first five books in George R. R. Martin’s series A Song of Ice and Fire, in the wake of watching four seasons of the TV show (Game of… Read more →

Saudi Arabia: First Impressions

January 6, 2015 by E. Beth Allan

I landed on the 18th December, after 31 hours travel, feeling shattered and worried I’d made a big mistake. I’d been told I would be met at the airport by someone who would have a sign. I interpreted this to… Read more →

MONO at Ink Bar

December 8, 2014 by E. Beth Allan

The Auckland club scene is slowly crawling back to life but punters have few choices outside Ink Bar and Access on K Rd; Cassette 9 and Roxy downtown, or a smattering of upmarket venues around the Britomart/Viaduct area. And with… Read more →

Queen + Adam Lambert

September 5, 2014 by E. Beth Allan

All my Christmases came at once last night when I got to witness half of the original Queen line-up perform with my favourite American Idol contestant. I’ve watched docos, read books and tried every one of the band’s 15 albums:… Read more →

Game of Thrones

July 25, 2014 by E. Beth Allan

Better late than never, as they say. The HBO series based on George R.R. Martin’s books has been winning viewers steadily since it first aired a few years ago, and I am its latest super fan. I had seen the… Read more →

Kiesza

July 17, 2014 by E. Beth Allan

Idly watching music videos on TV a few months ago, I sat up and took note of an upbeat house track fronted by an athletic girl dancing around the streets of Brooklyn. It was Canadian artist Kiesza with her runaway… Read more →

“A Crude Awakening”

July 12, 2014 by E. Beth Allan

This doco was released in 2006 but the facts remain valid and it’s well worth a look. Oil is a pet hate of mine and I was half expecting to have heard all the horror tales before but there was… Read more →

Renegade Collective Magazine

June 7, 2014 by E. Beth Allan

As part of a birthday package, my mother recently hunted around for a magazine that she thought I’d like and came up with Renegade Collective, which neither of us had seen before. The Aussie mag proved to be a great… Read more →

Golden Television

May 7, 2014 by E. Beth Allan

First post of the year. Yikes! I’ve had nothing to say – been too busy muddling my way along in a limbo between thinking the New Age positive thinking/Law of Attraction/pray-to-the-relevant-angels school of thought is mumbo jumbo, and then, on… Read more →

Whakatane, Bay of Plenty, NZ

January 7, 2014 by E. Beth Allan

I was born in Whakatane but moved to Gisborne when I was 3 so I’ve never really considered the place to be my hometown. My dad, however, has lived there most of his life and the last couple of times… Read more →

Beyonce

December 13, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

Today Beyonce surprised the world by releasing a 17-track visual album on iTunes. If you’re wondering what a visual album is, it means she’s made a video for every single track. The album is my favourite Beyonce material ever and… Read more →

Ingrid Starnes

December 7, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

Ingrid Starnes is an Auckland-based fashion label specialising in beautiful clothing that has a tailored, timeless quality. The brand has been extant a mere four years and yet today they launched a fragrance. The “other-worldly, mystical” scent is called Vetyver… Read more →

Auckland Eats for $6 or Less

December 5, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

I’m as happy as the next man to spend $100 on a spot of fine dining, or $30 on a nice main course, but when it comes to eating out on a daily basis, I like to spend as little… Read more →

The Milford Track

December 3, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

The Milford is the most famous of New Zealand’s so-called Great Walks and I can confirm that it involves a considerable amount of walking (54km) and is definitely a great experience. But whether, like me, you consider it to be… Read more →

Dirty, Violent New Zealand

November 5, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

A month or two ago a single pipe in one of Fonterra’s many tentacles was discovered to be “dirty” and this was blamed for the contamination of milk, which was used in the processing of infant formula – some… Read more →

Red Bull

October 11, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

This is not a health-conscious rant about the dangers of drinking highly caffeinated, sugary drinks; it’s pure praise for the Red Bull brand. You could be forgiven for thinking I’m being paid to write such a one-sided glowing report but… Read more →

Manuka Jam at Ink Bar

September 30, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

Salina-Pearl Nigro was evidently a mover and shaker in the Auckland house music scene about a decade ago and this year she’s made a comeback as a DJ/promoter with her 42 Below-sponsored party Manuka Jam. Saturday was the second installment… Read more →

Thoughts on Self-Promoting

September 24, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

So I hosted a non-literary book launch in a cafe a few weeks ago, which was closely patterned on the parties my friends throw at nightclubs: Book some DJs; make a poster; stick them up in appropriate public places; list… Read more →

The Datsuns

August 31, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

The Datsuns are probably my favourite band and their show last night at the Kings Arms was another great gig to add to my memory bank. I first encountered them around 2002, not long after the release of their first… Read more →

Lady D Q&A

August 28, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

This piece originally appeared on undergroundhouse.net in 2005. Cut to 2013 and Lady D has been featured in a movie about high-profile female DJs – proving she’s as relevant as ever.… Read more →

Pop Wars

August 25, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

If you don’t follow pop culture you might not know that Katy Perry and Lady Gaga are currently going head to head with their latest singles, and both are playing them at the Video Music Awards tonight in the US.… Read more →

Concord Dawn @ Ink

August 17, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

Last night was the second installment of “Bad Habits” since it’s moved to Ink Bar from Bacco Room. As mentioned in a previous post, the monthly drum n bass party is hosted by State of Mind’s Pat and Stu, plus… Read more →

“Promote Your Book”

August 14, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

This book by Patricia Fry (Allworth Press, 2011) certainly gives a self-published author a lot to think about. I have sped-read my way through and my mind has often boggled at some of the suggestions. On the other hand, some… Read more →

Monster Songs

August 13, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

A short post to mention two tracks that feature monsters in their brilliant videos, and make you feel happy to be alive like you do when you see great fireworks.… Read more →

Bulletproof + “Bad Habits” @ Ink

August 9, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

Tonight Bulletproof releases his 5th studio album with a party down at Ink Bar on K Rd. It will no doubt be a great night – full of fans, and pulsating with quality music.… Read more →

Sunshine Movies

August 3, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

I find I have many favourites of everything: bands, songs, foods, designers, countries… A neat answer to the question of movies, though, is to say that three of my favourites have Sunshine in the title.… Read more →

The Devil’s Jukebox

August 1, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

This party was spawned down at Ink Bar, where, for a few heady weeks, live bands sweated it up in the bunker lounge as a ragtag bunch of mods and rockers looked on from the foyer. But being as Ink… Read more →

Google Poems

July 18, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

These 4-line ditties have hit the headlines lately, after Google Poetics drew our attention to the fact that when you type a word or two into Google, the search engine gives you four popular ways to complete the phrase. I… Read more →

Yeezus

July 13, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

Kanye’s latest album is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea and on first listen, I wasn’t sure it was mine either. It’s an original beast: frenzied and relentless one minute, mellow and plaintive the next. The lyrics are raw and… Read more →

NYC 2011 Unplugged

June 5, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

This is a long overdue story about my trip to New York a couple of years ago. I’d been to LA as a child, and SF and Chicago in my twenties, but this was my first time in the Big… Read more →

Kemi and Diana

May 1, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

April 25th marked the 14th anniversary of the death of Kemi Olusanya, better known as Kemistry from the female drum n bass duo Kemistry & Storm. When I went to London in May 1998, I arrived on a Tuesday and… Read more →

Brown Noise

April 4, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

I live on a major Auckland street, on a section between two other major streets, and the roar of trucks bothers me at night and then wakes me back up at around 6am. I already wear silicon earplugs but these… Read more →

Sushi and Sound Quality in Japan

March 26, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

A bunch of movies from last year’s International Film Festival have just hit video stores and first pick for me was Jiro Dreams of Sushi. If you’re not into sushi, and not seriously into food or Japanese culture, you might… Read more →

“Quietly Devastating”

March 17, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

That phrase came from a review of Zadie Smith’s recent novel NW but could as easily be applied to two movies I’ve been wanting to see for a while but – based on the reviews – couldn’t quite face.… Read more →

A Few Songstresses

March 11, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

A few songs have caught me ear lately, while also capturing the imagination of everyone else! First up, LIPS. I was lucky enough to meet Steph Brown when staying with a friend in Brooklyn in 2011 and when I asked… Read more →

Hot Spots

February 16, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

Some places around the world where I took a few breaths to imagine those who had gone before me! Herman Melville’s grave, Woodlawns Cemetery, The Bronx.… Read more →

Idris Elba

February 7, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

Watching a bit of music TV the other day I was surprised to see The Wire‘s Stringer Bell running around a field that was very much not Baltimore – looked like the Scottish highlands but turned out to be Pembrokeshire… Read more →

Alkaline Vs Acid Foods

January 26, 2013 by E. Beth Allan

Image borrowed from: vitamedica.com This is by no means intended to be a scientific treatise on the topic, but simply a reflection on my causes and findings so far… And I’ll begin by mentioning that a quick google search will… Read more →

Salt and Pepper

December 18, 2012 by E. Beth Allan

No, not the pop-rap trio Salt N Pepa but the basic seasoning of any self-respecting savoury recipe. This is just a quick note to say that I think some Auckland eateries, particularly the new wave of Mexican ones, need to… Read more →

Summer in Auckland

December 1, 2012 by E. Beth Allan

Ponsonby Market Day never disappoints. It’s fun traipsing up and down the strip catching a soul band in a church yard, or a troupe of amateur drummers on a street corner, with such pleasure showing on the faces of the… Read more →

The Wire

November 2, 2012 by E. Beth Allan

I’m a late adopter but can now see what all the accolades are about, having just finished Season 2… I started Season 1 but was sketched out by the dystopia of addiction so skipped ahead; the Port/Union plot immediately drew… Read more →

Shadow Dance

September 21, 2012 by E. Beth Allan

The cover of this book doesn’t do it any favours but one of the recommendations on the back says: “As useful a self-help book as one is likely to find.” And I would tend to agree! There’s a certain amount… Read more →

Auckland City Cafes: Remedy

August 24, 2012 by E. Beth Allan

This place caught my eye a few times before I ventured inside and found it was a perfect little spot to grab a drink or bite to eat, and then kick back with something to read. Remedy has a range… Read more →

Film Fest Movies

August 17, 2012 by E. Beth Allan

I’m late on this review but the movies may yet get a general release, or come out on DVD, so what does it matter? I went to three movies at this year’s NZ International Film Festival and each one left… Read more →

Why is the healthy option so much more expensive?

July 24, 2012 by E. Beth Allan

If I can go to bed at around 1 or 2am and wake at around 10, I’m fine. But as soon as I have to get up at 7am, and therefore get to sleep earlier, I start having issues. It’s… Read more →

Bill Cunningham: New York

June 15, 2012 by E. Beth Allan

What an adorable, life-affirming documentary! I was pretty sure the film would be up my alley because I’m interested in New York and fashion and streetwear and high society and artistry, which are all amply represented. But Bill Cunningham himself… Read more →

Sage & Wine

June 14, 2012 by E. Beth Allan

I love all the usual garden herbs but here are two recipes that happen to feature sage and wine. One also features leek and I await its appearance at the market each season so that I can make this very… Read more →

Street Lit

April 28, 2012 by E. Beth Allan

I’ve changed my URL to Street-lit.com as part of the marketing strategy for my novels. Street Literature encompasses modern urban life: pop culture, music, fashion, slang, partying, ambition, creativity, despair… wracked by guilt for how far we’ve come from our… Read more →

Manchester City Football Club

April 19, 2012 by E. Beth Allan

*Well serves me right for being pessimistic: I must update this post because City have just won the league!!! Brilliant. **Now they are utterly dominating I’m embarrassed to say I adopted them! So it’s pretty much inevitable that United will… Read more →

Photek

April 12, 2012 by E. Beth Allan

Photek has been my favourite electronic music producer since I first heard his stuff in 1996 and I kind of expect everyone else to have heard of him and adore him too. But no doubt some people are still in… Read more →

Hemingway

April 11, 2012 by E. Beth Allan

This pic is snuck from the fabulous blog: fuckyeahhemingway.tumblr.com where it was submitted by somebody called jwock. I’ve loved a lot of Hemingway’s work but I’d particularly recommend the book I just read: Islands in the Stream. It’s broken into… Read more →

Noise Control

March 30, 2012 by E. Beth Allan

To quote my own novel: “It’s so wack and it happens all the time: places get hip on the strength of their nightlife and independent vibe then corporate types move in and make it mediocre faster than it takes a… Read more →

Spiritual Dangers of Drugs and Clubs

March 29, 2012 by E. Beth Allan

Everyone knows the physical and mental risks that drugs pose to living people, but what if they also threaten your well-being beyond the grave? Of course you’ll need to believe in an Afterlife to even consider this, but I… Read more →

How to Write a Novel

March 28, 2012 by E. Beth Allan

Although most of my work is still confined to my hard drive, I’ve been writing non-stop since I was 17 and have reason to believe I will some day succeed as a published author. Sometimes I’m even solicited for advice… Read more →

The Placebo Effect

March 25, 2012 by E. Beth Allan

At Womad a week ago, I went to the Village of Wellness and had a chakra balancing session. This involved sitting backwards on a tilted chair, face pressed into a cushioned-hole, clutching a big crystal in each hand, while a… Read more →

Brazil Tech, Ink Bar, 23/03/11

March 25, 2012 by E. Beth Allan

Having worked at Ink on and off for years, it’s easy to spot whether a night has a genuine point of difference, or if it’s just another DJ line-up with a pretty flyer. This party has been going for a… Read more →

What makes me different?

March 23, 2012 by E. Beth Allan

I kept a blog when I was living in Japan almost ten years ago and so my point of difference was obvious. I was going to interesting places, meeting interesting people, and learning interesting things all the time. Starting a… Read more →

Q&A about Houston’s scene

June 25, 2005 by E. Beth Allan

This was originally published on worlddj.com Despite being the fourth largest city in the US after New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, comparatively little has been said about Houston in terms of electronic music. I asked Nathan Stewart and Mario… Read more →

Bodyrock DJs Q&A

June 25, 2005 by E. Beth Allan

This was originally published on worlddj.com. The pic is from their myspace page. Now that we’re safely ensconced in the mid-naughties, it seems like the superclub heyday is over and the underground is making a comeback. The time is right,… Read more →

Miles Maeda Q&A

June 20, 2005 by E. Beth Allan

This was originally published on worlddj.com Having shifted to Chicago from Hawaii in the late 80s, Miles Maeda was perfectly positioned to hone his skills as a DJ/producer in the city. A recent mix entitled “The New House Sound of… Read more →

Rithma Q&A

June 17, 2005 by E. Beth Allan

Rithma is focused on family now so God knows if we will ever be graced with another album, but luckily his debut Music Fiction (Om Records, 2002) is a timeless classic. I was lucky enough to be in Chicago at… Read more →

Francois Kervorkian, Yellow, Tokyo, March 2005

June 14, 2005 by E. Beth Allan

This was originally published on worlddj.com when I lived in Japan and reviewed events for free entry. Yellow was an incredible club that has since been shut down. I took the booth pics and they supplied the others. As one… Read more →

Jay Tripwire Q&A

June 13, 2005 by E. Beth Allan

This was originally published on worlddj.com Jay Tripwire’s first tracks were allied with the so-called West Coast sound but they soon started invading other zones of the house umbrella. Tripwire then invented an acidic alterego, Mr Barcode, to express another… Read more →

Sombionx & Lindsay Q&A

June 2, 2005 by E. Beth Allan

This was originally published on worlddj.com Putting the flair and fun back where it belongs at the heart of the dance music experience, Adam “Sombionx” Nelson & Lindsay Frkovich are capable of causing a commotion anywhere from their studio at… Read more →

DJ Rolando, Saza*E, Osaka, September 2004

November 29, 2004 by E. Beth Allan

This was originally published on worlddj.com when I was living in Japan and writing club reviews for free entry. I’m not sure if my review conveys how absolutely awesome this club was! Note the lady dancing on stage in front… Read more →

Farina/Carter Release Party @ Zentra, Chicago, August 2004

November 20, 2004 by E. Beth Allan

The latest beautifully packaged offering from San Francisco’s OM Records is a live mix CD from Derrick Carter and Mark Farina respectively. To celebrate its release, Farina was invited to spin in Chicago at the Monday night industry party… Read more →

Three Chairs Album Release, Yellow, Tokyo,

November 18, 2004 by E. Beth Allan

This is one of the dopest parties I’ve ever been to. Yellow is a serious nightclub and the 3 Chairs crew are serious about their music but the two factors combined to create a lot of fun. The Japan tour… Read more →

Jeff Mills’ Month, Womb, Tokyo, November 2004

November 13, 2004 by E. Beth Allan

This was originally published on worlddj.com when I lived in Japan and reviewed events for free entry. The Tokyo club scene is super professional and sometimes there were no cameras allowed but they would give me ones from their pros,… Read more →

Author: <span>E. Beth Allan</span>