I had a really simple entry into the world of DJ’ing. I went to this party where the pure focus was on the music. I realised someone was consciously controlling everything I was hearing. It had never occurred to me before, but in that moment under the bridge - It all made perfect sense.
I was under Gardeners Rd at 4 in the morning listening to Magda Bytnerowicz play records like “02 Differ-Ent - Differ-Ent(Ity) [Don't Be Afraid]”, and “Trap10 - Tale Of Stu [ARTLESS2184]”. I was completely spellbound. Aidan Psaltis and TGMN are also two artists I will forever look up to for what I saw and heard that night. They were the catalyst for me, sparking a true passion I will not shake for the rest of my life.
Approaching the party, the first thing I noticed was that sub bass wandering through the streets. You hear the low-end thump away, and it gave me this strange feeling inside that I could tell had affected the air around me. I can only put it down to adrenalin.
The thing that draws me to the party is this inexplicable feeling in the air I reference – at once above the crowd and within their hive-like mind. It’s conjured on dance floors right in front of my eyes, time and time again. I’ve seen the artists build it from scratch, meld with it, adjust it, break it – I’m still spellbound to this day. The seemingly basic idea of putting two signals up against each other to create a continuous flow of sound is just so raw to me. I love the sonic qualities that arise during the mix itself, I could go on and on and on..
The music you can find if you have the time to find it is wild. That’s one of the greatest allures to me as well. You’re never going to hear all of it, and there’s no quota on what you need to hear or don’t need to hear to be satisfied. It’s infinite, like many great things..
I love being on dance floors, I love being taken by performance, I love watching parties progress to different stages. When I’m listening to music that is purposefully selected, I’m at home.
After a number of identity crises in the past 4-5 years since finding the world of underground dance music, I have come to realise that it’s more important to place an emphasis on the quality of the music you present, rather than worrying so much about where it fits in with the rest of your collection (from a genre standpoint).
Too often I would stop myself and realise that what I was collecting/buying wasn’t informed purely by the sounds themselves, but by the direction I thought amassing some particular sound would take me (as a DJ). Select with intention and your identity will follow. Don’t choose your identity before you select.. My two cents..^
It’s been nothing short of terrible. I can’t wait for this nightmare to be over. We were throwing warehouses on average once every three weeks. We had to cancel all of the tours we had planned this year, we had to cancel our trip overseas and all the gigs we had planned for the European summer just passed. I’m definitely de-sensitized to disappointment these days..
I want to play the opening slot at a rammed BAG Warehouse – think back to Etienne, Quest, Alci. I want the ceiling to be dripping from condensation by the time I’ve warmed that floor up. I don’t want there to be an ability for anyone to move on that dancefloor. It has to be rammed!
I’m going to twist this one slightly and provide my favourite B2 at the minute. Just the right level of dreaminess mixed with the perfect vocal chop + a clean hi hat = this.
B2 – Smos – Have You Seen My Shoes
You spent some time in Europe last year. Was there a particular event or experience that has influenced your djing or the way you run events?
I think the time I spent in Europe as a whole influenced me more than any particular event. Carrying my small bag of records across Italy, France, Germany, England, the Netherlands… Digging in all the stores I came across.. It was just heaven. Wheeling that little UDG around made me feel like I’d found my life’s calling, and I’m so grateful to know what that feels like. Backing the digging up with long nights out.. Backing the nights up with long mornings awake.. It really solidified for me that this “music thing” was here to stay. It will soundtrack my life, I’m sure of it.
Most importantly, I might not have ever properly met Talia & TJ if I wasn’t in Berlin at the same time they were! Shout outs to @#Douglas St! Doing an amazing thing!!
Not at all. Radio show, home listening, rammed warehouse – it doesn’t matter to me. My approach to amassing music will always remain certain and true. If it’s good, it deserves to be heard!
Orbital radio is great though! To be able to broadcast from any set up with internet and a soundcard is a big plus – leads to some really whack times!
B A G is going to venture into city skyline/rooftop livestream territory within a month or two! You didn’t hear it from me..
We also hope to slowly bring back a couple invite-only events leading into summer, before we can begin to adapt to this new environment (if we do). To be honest, I’m not really about this whole “adaptation” thing. I’d rather wait two years to put on a warehouse party properly (when I’m “allowed” to) than do one in a month’s time with intense scrutiny and “Covidsafe” Practices.
Locally, I’m a pessimist. It is my contention that any night which is advertised or labelled as a party is always going to (over its course) gravitate towards what things used to be like (everyone in very close proximity to each other). Then we will go through multiple cycles of ban this, ban that, ban them, a few riot squads will be called. I’ll finally be put in the handcuffs I deserve.
On a serious note, I salute the people in this city trying to make it work with the hand they’ve been dealt. They keep the fabric of Sydney’s nightlife wound tightly and colourfully, and this city would be nowhere without their passion.
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