debating the criticism of my work

Well, to be honest I think that most of the controversy has been about whether my art was pornographic rather than the particular stories or characters. These Words Are Meant For Someone has what I would describe as clean lyrics. It's hardly a practical how-to on how to have sex. The Perfumed Garden is intended to be different, though. I have this idea that if we were to adapt a few of the other stories as well, then it could be this picaresque that also has explicit advice on sexual performance. There's a modern translation, which is equally filthy but attempts to rhyme the poems, which is really tedious. I think the 19th-Century translation is crack-up. - Writing songs from other perspectives is something that Don does, so it's hardly just me, even in the Kiwi pop realm. I'm enjoying getting inside Jade's head, but I haven't tackled Caliope yet. I think people are pinning too much hope on this one Chinese girl to be the symbol of everything that Asian New Zealanders feel. Plus there's the student gang to build...