Sabrina Raso

Digital Advertising Manager — Melbourne

01Profile

A Sabrina Raso Photo

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Sabrina, I’m a Melbourne girl.

What do you do?
I’d say right now what I do for work and what inspires me in my spare time, line up closely. I work as a fashion digital advertising manager for Culture Digital Agency. I get to conceptualise, create, and execute on advertising and marketing ideas for a number of brands that inspire me. I also spend all my spare time styling and directing shoots (something that I am working hard to pursue in the future). I’m always seeking out brands, in particular designers located in Naarm that I can collaborate with. I love feeling inspired and challenged and am so grateful to be working in areas where I constantly feel this way.

Describe your style in three words?
Reckless, fun and elegant.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to in Australia?
That’s such a difficult question because I get a different feeling from each gig but the best that I’ve been to was DMAs at The Corner Hotel in 2016. I had just turned eighteen and only starting to properly explore the live music scene, so everything was new and exciting to me. The gig turned into such a large mosh which I was obliged to jump into. I internally bruised my sternum and lost my job the next day because I couldn’t walk to turn up to work. All worth it though, I’ve been left ever since with a euphoric memory of that night.

Which Australian subcultures have influenced you?
I don’t know if I could identify anyone singular that has a bigger impact on me than another. I think with the influence of the internet and the ability to explore so many old and new subcultures I’m constantly acknowledging new inspirations. While considering that, I’d say the '70s and '80s Aussie punk scene has had a big influence on both my fashion taste and my personality traits. Dad always tells these stories of his experiences at The Croxton and so many other places that I still go to today, so I can definitely see how I’ve been influenced by him too.

Best Australian musician?
'Same Same' by Waax or 'The Strut' by 30/70. Both are even better live, women that command a room.

Where is your favourite independent venue in Australia?
A difficult question because I’ve got so many memories attached to them all. I’d say my top would be the classic Corner Hotel and Croxton Bandroom. There've been so many acts that I didn’t think I’d ever see in Australia that I got to, like King Krule.

What is Australia’s best-kept secret?
I don’t know if there’s any one best-kept secret that I could define but more so the wide access we have to discover so many small and big bands in venues across Melbourne. It’s pretty incredible that we live in a place where there is something new to discover every week, you’re always hearing whispers.

Best place to hang out in Australia?
Always the dust, in front of a stage in the bush. There’s something about an Australian bush doof, being in nature, that cannot be compared to anything else. No matter what kind of music you’re into, that feeling cannot be compared.


www.instagram.com/sabrinaraso

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
'Who The F*ck Are The Arctic Monkeys?' by Arctic Monkeys but also unashamedly 'Maneater' by Nelly Furtado. They both shaped me.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Paranoid' by Black Sabbath and 'Dope Calypso' by Violent Soho define my teen years. It was a period of exploring what my taste was without being influenced by those around you which can be a difficult thing to do when you’re so young. I still love listening to both bands and recently got to see Soho at the Tote which was so cool since they’re at the point of playing massive gigs like Splendour.

One record you would keep forever?
It would have to be 'Lust For Life' by Lana Del Rey or 'Delete' by DMAs. My clear indecisiveness over all of this is the best possible indication of my music taste, that I love something different every day.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
'How Bad Can I Be' by The Lorax. The political song of our generation.

A song you wished you had written?
If it would be any it would have to be something by Amy Winehouse like 'Love Is A Losing Game' or 'Some Unholy War', she was an incredible poet. I’d say generally though I don’t so much wish I had written a song or have been inspired by a lyric rather than appreciate the artistry and the impact or emotions that it has the ability to evoke.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Donatella' by Lady Gaga, always.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
I think when people meet me they assume I’m mostly into techno, but if anyone hears me speak about music they realise I love almost everything. Funk, Metal, Fem Rap, Dance, Heavy Punk, Alt Rock. Maybe Gaga people wouldn’t expect, but I’m only human.

A song to get you straight on the dance floor?
I mean, I don’t take much convincing to have a boogie but some disco will get me there the fastest. I’d choose 'Daddy Cool' by Boney M. or 'Keep The Fire Burning' by Gwen McCrae.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
That depends. If I’m choosing to sit alone and reflect on my night in a deep existential way then it has to be 'True Love Waits' by Radiohead. If I’m choosing euphoria and optimism, sitting with my friends there’s no other way to end it than 'What’s A Girl To Do' by Fatima Yamaha. I have such a pure memory of my friends and me sitting at Clifton Hill station in the early hours of the morning, waiting 30 minutes for the next train to arrive and being completely content leaning on each other listening to Fatima for the wait.

Any new bands you’re into at the moment?
They’re not new but very into Amyl and The Sniffers right now, waiting to hear them reschedule their Melbourne residency. I often find the best way to discover new local music is finding people playing live.

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Sabrina, I’m a Melbourne girl.

What do you do?
I’d say right now what I do for work and what inspires me in my spare time, line up closely. I work as a fashion digital advertising manager for Culture Digital Agency. I get to conceptualise, create, and execute on advertising and marketing ideas for a number of brands that inspire me. I also spend all my spare time styling and directing shoots (something that I am working hard to pursue in the future). I’m always seeking out brands, in particular designers located in Naarm that I can collaborate with. I love feeling inspired and challenged and am so grateful to be working in areas where I constantly feel this way.

Describe your style in three words?
Reckless, fun and elegant.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to in Australia?
That’s such a difficult question because I get a different feeling from each gig but the best that I’ve been to was DMAs at The Corner Hotel in 2016. I had just turned eighteen and only starting to properly explore the live music scene, so everything was new and exciting to me. The gig turned into such a large mosh which I was obliged to jump into. I internally bruised my sternum and lost my job the next day because I couldn’t walk to turn up to work. All worth it though, I’ve been left ever since with a euphoric memory of that night.

Which Australian subcultures have influenced you?
I don’t know if I could identify anyone singular that has a bigger impact on me than another. I think with the influence of the internet and the ability to explore so many old and new subcultures I’m constantly acknowledging new inspirations. While considering that, I’d say the '70s and '80s Aussie punk scene has had a big influence on both my fashion taste and my personality traits. Dad always tells these stories of his experiences at The Croxton and so many other places that I still go to today, so I can definitely see how I’ve been influenced by him too.

Best Australian musician?
'Same Same' by Waax or 'The Strut' by 30/70. Both are even better live, women that command a room.

Where is your favourite independent venue in Australia?
A difficult question because I’ve got so many memories attached to them all. I’d say my top would be the classic Corner Hotel and Croxton Bandroom. There've been so many acts that I didn’t think I’d ever see in Australia that I got to, like King Krule.

What is Australia’s best-kept secret?
I don’t know if there’s any one best-kept secret that I could define but more so the wide access we have to discover so many small and big bands in venues across Melbourne. It’s pretty incredible that we live in a place where there is something new to discover every week, you’re always hearing whispers.

Best place to hang out in Australia?
Always the dust, in front of a stage in the bush. There’s something about an Australian bush doof, being in nature, that cannot be compared to anything else. No matter what kind of music you’re into, that feeling cannot be compared.


www.instagram.com/sabrinaraso

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
'Who The F*ck Are The Arctic Monkeys?' by Arctic Monkeys but also unashamedly 'Maneater' by Nelly Furtado. They both shaped me.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Paranoid' by Black Sabbath and 'Dope Calypso' by Violent Soho define my teen years. It was a period of exploring what my taste was without being influenced by those around you which can be a difficult thing to do when you’re so young. I still love listening to both bands and recently got to see Soho at the Tote which was so cool since they’re at the point of playing massive gigs like Splendour.

One record you would keep forever?
It would have to be 'Lust For Life' by Lana Del Rey or 'Delete' by DMAs. My clear indecisiveness over all of this is the best possible indication of my music taste, that I love something different every day.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
'How Bad Can I Be' by The Lorax. The political song of our generation.

A song you wished you had written?
If it would be any it would have to be something by Amy Winehouse like 'Love Is A Losing Game' or 'Some Unholy War', she was an incredible poet. I’d say generally though I don’t so much wish I had written a song or have been inspired by a lyric rather than appreciate the artistry and the impact or emotions that it has the ability to evoke.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Donatella' by Lady Gaga, always.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
I think when people meet me they assume I’m mostly into techno, but if anyone hears me speak about music they realise I love almost everything. Funk, Metal, Fem Rap, Dance, Heavy Punk, Alt Rock. Maybe Gaga people wouldn’t expect, but I’m only human.

A song to get you straight on the dance floor?
I mean, I don’t take much convincing to have a boogie but some disco will get me there the fastest. I’d choose 'Daddy Cool' by Boney M. or 'Keep The Fire Burning' by Gwen McCrae.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
That depends. If I’m choosing to sit alone and reflect on my night in a deep existential way then it has to be 'True Love Waits' by Radiohead. If I’m choosing euphoria and optimism, sitting with my friends there’s no other way to end it than 'What’s A Girl To Do' by Fatima Yamaha. I have such a pure memory of my friends and me sitting at Clifton Hill station in the early hours of the morning, waiting 30 minutes for the next train to arrive and being completely content leaning on each other listening to Fatima for the wait.

Any new bands you’re into at the moment?
They’re not new but very into Amyl and The Sniffers right now, waiting to hear them reschedule their Melbourne residency. I often find the best way to discover new local music is finding people playing live.