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About “Little by Little” The new CD single "Little by Little" is a sonic tapestry that transcends genres, weaving delicate melodies with evocative lyrics. AthinaNiki artfully integrates her distinctive style and music production skills with lyrics and music masterfully crafted by the iconic musicians/lyricists, Grammy Award Winner Winston Sela and Australian songwriter Janice Slater, infusing the track with a unique blend of nostalgia and modern flair. The meticulous mixing by 2023’s GCMA Producer of the Year, Jared Adlam and skillful mastering by award winning Mastering Engineer Paul Blakey (APRA Pop Work/Blues and Roots of the Year, Dolphin) delivers a remarkable sonic experience that engages and captivates the senses. https://open.spotify.com/track/7ijFcvLjcVd5Xeyz5RQnxI?si=c18248163be549b7 https://on.soundcloud.com/wrBDG   https://www.youtube.com/@AthinaNiki

Janice: Kathryn, we seem to have known each other for ages; yet I (until recently) knew so little of your varied accomplishments in theatre and particularly about the New Theatre. Kathryn: Janice, it’s been a while since I was immersed in New Theatre. I spent over a decade there mostly in the 1980s during which time I designed sets, created scenic art and posters, wrote short skits, did stage management, and occasionally, acted.   More recently, I’ve been writing an essay about New Theatre for a non-fiction book I’m co-authoring with Liz Hall-Downs. The essay is called ‘Reds under the bed’ and it touches also on the history of the New, not just my time there. Of course, I have recently discovered your own family connections to New Theatre through your relative Norman Slater, who’d met the famous singer Paul Robeson, via his involvement with New Theatre, Sydney. For me, working at ‘the New’ in Newtown was a formative time of my creative life, and it certainly shaped the trajectory o...

She slowed her taxi to a halt at the crossroads. Like on a racetrack, cars tore by. We waited. The conversation was mundane but friendly. I began by talking about heavy downpours. La Nina, she said. I thought it meant droughts. Where you're situated near the equator or below it. She said.  She put her foot down on the accelerator. A mountain biker hurtled towards us. Like in the movies he landed on our windscreen. Fuuuck he grimaced at her. He stumbled away. Behind us, he limped towards his friend, another bike rider. We drove through the intersection and parked, shell-shocked.  Janice Slater   October 2023 

                                                              He stood using the furniture like scaffold.                               There’d been a number of attempts before.  Each one building his strength and confidence.  This time would be different, though.  It was his moment.  He looked up ensuring his audience.  Then, let go.  His little feet reconnected with the floorboards.  Their arrhythmic steps catching him by surprise.  Plod, splat, plod.  Cheers erupted in the background.  His face softened to a smile.  Wobbling took over as time slowed.  There was a pointless attempt to rebalance.  Knees buckled. Thud.  He’d almost made it across t...

  His trolley screeched around the corner; a look of oblivion on his face.  It was inevitable that they would crash. But she jerked back at the last second.  They stood still.  An apologetic smile from her.  A look of blame from him.  He held his ground, demanding she move.  He was used to taking up spaces.  She obliged and shrunk into the aisle.  Triumphantly pushing his trolley past, he continued on.  He had not learnt his lesson.                                                              Cassie Crowther 2024 

Ice Flow Geraldine stopped reading and looked at her watch. Almost four. Her mother would be back soon. Hello baby. Elle would say. What’s doi’n hon? Nothing much. Geraldine would answer. This was the routine they shared. Solo Mom and adolescent daughter. Geraldine hated onslaughts of small talk. Geraldine hated her name. Elle’d made a pact with Geraldine. ‘I won’t call you Geraldine. At least not to your face.’ Then she’d added. ‘I won’t bore you ‘Deeny’ with how my day’s been if you’ve done your chores - ok ? Otherwise, I’ll haunt you, Hon, with the name you were born with.’ The phone rang. Mom? Deeny said. It’s ME! The voice announced. Hello ME. Deeny replied. Cheeky duck. More like your mother every day. Geraldine raised her left eyebrow. I’m surrounded Geraldine! Geraldine pursed her bottom lip. You know I will hang up ME if you ever call me THAT again! Surrounded by ice - oops Deeny. Mountainous icebergs. Anyway, she’s not here MEEEEE! Mom’s not here. I was dancing with Rudi dear...