Stab Livin’ – Corona’s La Casa Residency

Right now, Stab‘s inhabiting Corona’s La Casa Residency in Byron Bay. It’s a beach house in every sense of the idea. Cream coloured, all open windows and hard wood floors, with a shorebreak licking the backyard. Jay Davies, who’s also staying at the house, jumped off the rocks (just) below the balcony and paddled out to the choppy peak on his first night, stating afterwards that it was more fun than it looked and made even better by the proximity to a glowing fridge of cerveza.

On the bottom floor is a recording studio with production monitors, an iMac with sound programs, a drum set, three guitars and two basses, a Wurlitzer keyboard and more, begging to be jammed on. Then there’s that backyard, a sunburnt patch of grass circled by trees and a place that’s impossible to sit without feeling ocean spray.

Climb the stairs and, aside from generous sleeping spots, is a lounge room that feels just the right amount of lived-in. It’s homely and well-decorated, often with portraits of previous guests (Kelly Slater’s done time here, among others). Taylor Steele, one of the men behind the project, is a constant presence. Donnie Frankenreiter picks up and drops off music equipment. A palate of Corona cases appears every coupla days, from where, no one is sure. The living certainly ain’t tough.

There’s also, of course, the backdrop of Byron Bay itself. Y’want a snapshot of Oz’s kinkiest cultural melting pot? There’s charming grime beneath the glam! A tale of two cities! Hair is generous on heads and faces (gents), and cotton is sparing on limbs (gals).

Stab has been busy, shooting photographs and filming things and having conversations and collecting the aural and visual pleasure we get kicks from spoon-feeding to you. You want it? Drop an ice cube in issue 65 and drink it all in. – Elliot Struck

For a taste of what’s been going down in the house since opening, check out the La Casa site over here.