ROCK ‘N’ ROLL DREAMS CAME TRUE SOMEHOW…

By Sarah Smith - @makemeoverartistry

People often ask the question “What would you be if you weren’t a Hair and Makeup Artist?” “Easy!” I reply, “A Rockstar, for sure!”

Unfortunately, I have very little musical talent, which I’m totally ok with (there’s always karaoke, right?). I guess it’s a good thing, with a career spanning over 23 years, that I’m still obsessed with my chosen profession. I’m incredibly fortunate that makeup and music have often intertwined for me, both serving as powerful forms of self-expression and creativity. In my wildest dreams, I could never have imagined being backstage, glamming up my idols.

I’m sitting at the Domestic Terminal in Naarm, waiting on a delayed flight home to Meanjin, after a whirlwind trip. I sit quietly in reflection, trying to process the events of the previous 24 hours. How on earth did 15-year-old me, sitting in my teenage bedroom in rural Queensland, listening to Killing Heidi’s debut 1# multi-platinum album ‘Reflector’, find myself 25 years later, in the same room as Ella and Jesse Hooper, doing their hair and makeup for the Album’s quarter century anniversary release?

It began 5 years earlier when, after a chance meeting on Social Media, finding each other through mutual creative connections, we arranged to meet and collaborate on an Editorial Shoot. The band were on Tour for Reflector’s 20 Year Anniversary (definitely not my first or last time seeing them live). Right before breaking into rock song ‘Real People’, Ella addressed the crowd “This next song, I had to fight to get it on the album. I just knew that there were young people out there who needed to hear it..”

Real People (First Verse + Chorus – Lyrics by Ella and Jesse Hooper)

Learn to keep the pain you feel Keep it and don’t let it spill Under lock and key don’t let it out That’s what secrecy is about

Make it alright just keep your eyes shut Keep your eyes shut tight What you feel ain’t bad Cause there’s no shame in being sad

The next morning, mid-glam, I turn to Ella (a little teary-eyed) “It was me! I was young people. That song and those lyrics spoke to me” and we hugged it out. Being a young person, growing up in the country in the late 90’s was a confusing and complicated time in my life. Trying to navigate new emotions and recently diagnosed mental health conditions, felt incredibly isolating – oftentimes locking my door, cranking the tunes and finding comfort in the words coming out of my CD player. I felt understood and seen.

I turned 40 at the start of this year. A pretty huge milestone, considering I barley saw myself making it out of my 30’s alive. Perhaps a little morbid, but in all honesty, I think I had always glamorised the idea of living fast and dying young. That narrative changed quickly after experiencing the earth-shattering aftermath of losing 2 friends, in short succession, to their battles with mental health and substance abuse. Shook me to my core.

It turns out I won’t be on the Guest List for Rock ‘n’ Roll Heaven for quite a few years yet. Lots of living left to do and plenty more icons left to glam! A few things I’ve learnt over the years:

• It’s never too late to start to start living the life you always dreamed of - “She turned her cant’s into cans and her dreams into plans” Kobi Yamada

• ‘THEY’ say “Never meet your heroes”. What do ‘THEY’ know? Looks like y’all are just idolizing the wrong people

• Stay humble and always be kind. Create connections, not content – we live in a time where Social Media rules – put your focus into building genuine connections with people and guaranteed, you’ll stay booked and busy.

• There’s a big difference between making someone LOOK hot, and making them FEEL hot. Everybody is already beautiful. You can be the best HMUA in the world, but energy is transferable. Making people FEEL beautiful should be number one priority. Never underestimate the power of a kind word and a swipe of red lipstick.

• Never make money your main motivator. Sure, money is nice. We need it, obviously (especially in this economy). PLAY. CREATE. COLLABORATE. Stay passionate and see the value in human connection. There is nothing better than the feeling of seeing a collective creative vision come to life.

• Most importantly - BE GENUINE. Embrace your authenticity. The real ones can spot the fakes from a mile away. Be yourself; everyone is already taken.

YOU ARE A ROCK STAR! See you on Tour!

Sarah xo

PS. You WILL make it in the end.

IMAGE CREDITS: 

@theresahall11 @ninelivesaus @tamcamimages

@thomascharlescalder @gxbriellemxry @samueljamesneil

@visualpoetssociety @samantha.quintal