Disco Business Man
The 7:33am train departs from Hampton station on a brisk March morning. Out the window of the train the grey-blue ocean is choppy, it looks restless. Passengers with eyes closed, cross their arms over their chests in order to squeeze in the last precious moments of rest before the working day commences.
One man, wearing a blue button up shirt and back tailored slacks has just awoken from his commuter respite. He face is expressionless as he looks out the window at the world passing by outside. He wears matte black headphones and looks down at his phone to peruse Spotify for a new playlist to listen to. Morning Motivation, Coffeeshop Chill, #ThrowbackThursday, Hot Hits Australia, he pauses. After a few moments of scrolling he has settled on the soundtrack to his Monday morning: Disco Forever.
Ever so faintly through his headphones a persistent kick drum rhythm can be heard, followed by an instantly recognisable melody and then:
“Lookin’ for some hot stuff, baby this evenin’, lookin’ for some hot stuff, baby tonight,”
He maintains the same vacant expression as he looks out the window, unaware of the audibility of his music.
The woman sitting next to him in the carriage, is looking out the opposite window, she seems to be daydreaming, and as she does, she gently taps her foot in time to Hot Stuff by Donna Summers as the train pulls into South Yarra.
This observation was written by Darcey Taylor-Morrison. The film inspired by it is titled ‘Hot Stuff’, and was made for Assignment 2 Part 2 of Translating Observation, and screened as the Media Studios Present Exhibition.