Three Minute Squiz With… Astrid Jorgensen
We don’t have favourite subscribers. But just say we did… Astrid Jorgensen would be in with a good chance. Astrid is a musician, teacher and the founder of Pub Choir– a Brisbane-based community initiative that sees hundreds of people meet in a pub every month to share the joy of singing.And she got the most people signed-up to The Squiz in June. Please welcome this #legend to the Three Minute Squiz.
How and where do you Squiz?
I don’t know what time you poor buggers wake up but I’m always grateful to have The Squiz to read first thing in the morning in bed!
I don’t know what time you poor buggers wake up but I’m always grateful to have The Squiz to read first thing in the morning in bed!
You signed up a tonne of people to The Squiz in June – thanks! You clearly have a great network with Pub Choir. Tell us about it.
In 2017 I created a monthly event in Brisbane called Pub Choir. It’s an open invitation to strangers to meet at the pub, where I’ll teach them how to belt out a popular song in three-part harmony in 90 minutes. There are no auditions, no solos… not much pressure at all, really! Around 800 people turn up for a sing each month. However, I actually convinced my friends to sign up for TheSquiz by simply telling them; “You’ll be less shamed at work if you read this every morning.” Fear of public humiliation works every time.
In 2017 I created a monthly event in Brisbane called Pub Choir. It’s an open invitation to strangers to meet at the pub, where I’ll teach them how to belt out a popular song in three-part harmony in 90 minutes. There are no auditions, no solos… not much pressure at all, really! Around 800 people turn up for a sing each month. However, I actually convinced my friends to sign up for TheSquiz by simply telling them; “You’ll be less shamed at work if you read this every morning.” Fear of public humiliation works every time.
What is it about a choir that you love?
Choir is the ultimate human equalizer. No matter who you are or what your life experiences have been, in a choir everybody contributes just one voice. And we all get the instrument (our singing voice) for free at birth!
Choir is the ultimate human equalizer. No matter who you are or what your life experiences have been, in a choir everybody contributes just one voice. And we all get the instrument (our singing voice) for free at birth!
What was the first album you ever owned?
‘Aquarium’ by the band AQUA ie the Barbie Girl album. Fairly shameful.
‘Aquarium’ by the band AQUA ie the Barbie Girl album. Fairly shameful.
What’s your go-to karaoke/Pub Choir song?
I’m all about variety. No repeats!
I’m all about variety. No repeats!
What’s your guilty TV-watching secret?
I don’t feel guilty, but Call The Midwife is my favourite TV show and I don’t really know why. It’s mostly women crying giving birth…
I don’t feel guilty, but Call The Midwife is my favourite TV show and I don’t really know why. It’s mostly women crying giving birth…
Name four people – living or dead – you’d kill to sit down to dinner with.
Amy Poehler, Jacinda Ardern, Terry Gross, andAnnabel Crabb & Leigh Sales (Crabb and Sales are one unit, don’t question it).
Amy Poehler, Jacinda Ardern, Terry Gross, andAnnabel Crabb & Leigh Sales (Crabb and Sales are one unit, don’t question it).
Your favourite author?
Mary-Rose MacColl from Brisbane*.
What skill or talent do you not have but wish you did?
I wish I was bilingual. My mum is. My brothers are. I’m a foreign language dunce.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
In 1901 Annie Edison Taylor jumped off Niagra Falls in a barrell, just for something different to do (she was OK afterwards, physically speaking). Obviously a bit mad. I get it.
In 1901 Annie Edison Taylor jumped off Niagra Falls in a barrell, just for something different to do (she was OK afterwards, physically speaking). Obviously a bit mad. I get it.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Being tidy (insight into my life).
Being tidy (insight into my life).
What’s your no-fail dinner party recipe?
Handmade wontons.
Handmade wontons.
What qualities do you most value in a friend?
Humour and empathy.
Humour and empathy.
What would you say is the most currently overlooked news story we should know about?
What’s really happening to fellow human beings on Manus Island.
What’s really happening to fellow human beings on Manus Island.
*By any of the books using the Booktopia link and we may get a little commission. Merci.
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