WED JA N 9TH 2 012
ISSUE 1353 MELBOURNE’S ONLY DEDICATED CLUB MAG
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AND MORE PLUS: NEWS, TOURS, CLUB PICS
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UPCOMING
FEBRUARY
JANUARY
ONTOUR HOT CHIP [UK] Wednesday January 9, The Palace AUDIO INJECTION [USA] Friday January 18, Brown Alley MOULDY SOUL [UK], MISTER ROGERS [UK] Friday January 18, Brown Alley PLEASUREKRAFT [USA] Sunday January 20, Revolver Upstairs CRYSTAL CASTLES [CAN] Tuesday January 22, Billboard THE BLOODY BEETROOTS [ITA] Thursday January 24, The Palace SOUL CLAP [USA] Friday January 25, The Liberty Social CLAUDE VONSTROKE[USA], JUSTIN MARTIN [USA] Friday January 25, Brown Alley RAINBOW SERPENT: GUY J [ISR], CHRISTIAN SMITH [SWE], PETER VAN HOESEN [BEL] Friday January 25 - Monday January 28, Lexton BIG DAY OUT: THE BLOODY BEETROOTS [ITA], KASKADE [USA], CRYSTAL CASTLES [CAN] + MORE Saturday January 26, Flemington Racecourse WOLFGANG GARTNER [USA], PROXY [RUS], HUORATRON [FIN] Saturday January 26, Royal Melbourne Hotel SASHA [UK] Sunday January 27, Chasers JESSIE WARE [UK] Wednesday January 30, Prince Bandroom SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA [SWE] Thursday January 31, Sidney Myer Music Bowl Friday February 1, Sidney Myer Music Bowl KLUTE [UK], GRIDLOK [USA] Friday February 1, Brown Alley ABOVE & BEYOND [UK] Saturday February 2, Hisense Arena HOLY OTHER [UK] Tuesday February 5, Workers Club EL-P [USA] Wednesday February 6, Corner Hotel BUTCH [GER], EDU IMBERNON [ESP] Friday February 8, Brown Alley JACKMASTER [UK], SHLOHMO [USA] Friday February 8, The Liberty Social ULTRAMAGNETIC MCS [USA] Saturday February 9, The Espy BICEP [UK] Sunday February 10, Revolver Upstairs MACKLEMORE [USA], RYAN LEWIS [USA] Tuesday February 12, The Palace Saturday February 16, Corner Hotel BLAWAN [UK], MARCEL DETTMANN [GER] Friday February 15, Brown Alley LUNICE [CAN] Saturday February 16, Revolt Artspace DAMIAN LAZARUS [UK], SUBB-AN [UK], SHAUN REEVES [GER] + MORE Sunday February 17, Brown Alley PICTUREPLANE [USA] Sunday February 17, The Liberty Social DIXON [GER], HUXLEY [UK] Friday February 22, Prince Bandroom MOODYMANN [USA] Friday March 8, Prince Bandroom FANTASTIC MR FOX [UK] Saturday March 9, The Liberty Social GOLDEN PLAINS: MOODYMANN [USA], JULIO BASHMORE [UK] + MORE Saturday March 9 - Monday March 11, Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre FUTURE MUSIC FESTIVAL: THE PRODIGY [UK], DIZZEE RASCAL [UK], BOYS NOIZE [GER] + MORE Sunday March 10, Flemington Racecourse
REAL TALK
The silly season has killed me. RIP Tyson. Tyson Wray
All Good Funk Alliance: Breaking Good
Claude Von Stroke’s Dirtybird Arcade: Falcon Fun
Sasha: Chasing The Wavy Gravy
Recognised as one of the electronic genre’s most innovative icons, Sasha will be returning to Australia for the first time in over a year for an appearance at Melbourne’s Chasers. A revered veteran of the electronic music scene, Sasha’s universal appeal has seen him establish a strong international fanbase. He has created compilations for Renaussance and Global Underground along with producing epic tunes like Xpander and Wavy Gravy along with albums Airdrawndagger and Involver. He will be showing what it takes to be a “DJs DJ” at Chasers on Sunday January 27.
For the Australia Day weekend, Claude Von Stroke will be bringing his Dirtybird brand Down Under for the first time and appearing at Brown Alley with Dirtybird favourite Justin Martin and San Francisco’s J.Phlip. After a string of successful parties under the Hatched banner in 2012, Dirtybird have fine tuned their party principles to present Arcade in the new year. Since 2005, Von Stroke has released two artist albums, along with a Fabric mix and over 25 remixes for artists as diverse as The Rapture and techno legend Kevin Saunderson. Joining his mentor will be Justin Martin, who has skillfully spun everywhere from Berlin’s Panorama Bar to London’s Fabric. Well known DJ/Producer J.Phlip will also be coming along for the ride. Don’t miss Dirtybird’s Arcade on Friday January 25 at Brown Alley.
Audio Injection: SoCal Lovin’
With a strong local lineup behind him, Audio Injection will be injecting his unique brand of house into Brown Alley on Friday January 18. Audio Injection started DJing at local underground events and raves around Southern California when he was just 15 years old. Since then he has progressed to producing his own music, with releases on techno labels such as Monoid, Stimulus & local label Droid Recordings. In early 2011 he started a project called ‘Truncate’ which focuses on the deeper, darker raw side of techno. He will be appearing at Brown Alley on Friday January 18.
Mouldy Soul, Mister Rogers and Goosebumpz: Funky Town
Butch and Edu Imbernon: Sooty Lives
Klute, Gridlok, Nymfo and Prolix: Klute Force
Coalesce Music have announced Klute, Gridlok, Nymfo and Prolix will be bringing beats to Brown Alley on Friday February 1. Klute has been making his musical mark since the mid-‘90s and steering Commercial Suicide since 2001 to produce over 50 12” singles and 7 albums by himself and others. He will be appearing with drum and bass pioneer Gridlok, Dutch DJ and producer Nymfo, (known for his tough techno tinge) and the UK’s Prolix. They’ll be pumping the bass at Brown Alley on Friday February 1.
Under One Roof have announced that Butch, aka Bülent Gürler, will be appearing alongside Edu Imbernon at Brown Alley on Friday February 8. With style stretching from house to techno, Butch has expressed his versatility through over 100 releases in the past five years. Groove magazine readers voted him “producer of the year” for two consecutive years in 2010 and 2011. His latest performances have included Tokyo’s Womb, Fabric in London, Cielo in New York and Time Warp 2011. Joining him will be Edu Imbernon. The two will be appearing on Friday February 8 at Brown Alley. Tickets $20 through the venue.
RESPONSIBLE:
International heavyweights Mouldy Soul and Mister Rogers will appear alongside some of Australia’s premiere glitch artists when Whomp! and Adapted Records present a night of funk fueled glitch hop at Brown Alley. Mouldy Soul is the warped electronic ramblings of Richard Carington, which have been likened to the sonic equivalent of a multi-dimensional Octopus with tentacles made of lasers. Joining him will be Mr. Rogers whose psychedelic sounds have long captivated America’s West Coast. Melbourne’s own Goosbumpz will head the local lineup set to include Staunch, Angus Green, Kodiak Kid and El Suave. Catch these guys and uncover the secret special guest at Brown Alley on Friday January 18.
Free Shit
Managing Editor: Ronnit Sternfein ronnit@beat.com.au Editor: Tyson Wray tyson@beat.com.au Listings: club/promoter submissions clubguide@beat.com.au - now online at beat.com.au - it’s free! Production: Pat O’Neill art@beat.com.au Typesetting: Rebecca Houlden Cover Design: Pat O’Neill Advertising Senior Sales: ronnit@beat.com.au (03) 8414 9710 Taryn Stenvei taryn@beat.com.au Fashion and Beverages: Tegan Butler tegan@furstmedia.com.au Ph: 03 8414 9732 Deadlines: Editorial Friday 2PM – absolutely NO exceptions. Club photos Monday 9AM (email only clubpics@beat.com.au). Advertising artwork Monday 12PM. Photographers: Callum Linsell Contributors: Rezo Kezerashvili, Miki McLay, Shane Scott, Simon Traspier, Brian Rotide, The Knowledge, Ellen Devenney, Dan Watt, Aaron Ralston, Birdie, Liam Pieper, Simon Hampson, Chad-Michael Michaelson, Mikolai, Reuben Adams, David Edgley. Publisher: Furst Media, 3 Newton Street Richmond 3121 Ph 03 9428 3600 www.beat.com.au
EDITORIALDEADLINE - 2PM FRIDAYS NO EXCEPTIONS
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Reminding fans to expect the unexpected, All Good Funk Alliance have announced they will be getting down in The Espy Front Bar this January. The duo, comprised of Frank Cueto and Rusty Belick, have opened for the legendary James Brown, written songs for Coca-Cola and even appeared on the Breakspoll Top 50 list. Delivering their funky fresh sound to critical acclaim, they have recently signed a major remix deal to put their spin on Kraak and Smaak’s hit album Plastic People. Catch them at The Espy Front Bar on Saturday January 12.
UP TO DATE
Catch Wreck: I Love Oz Hip Hop Fridays
Australian hip hop event Catch Wreck have announced the lineup to their mammoth show this coming March. Headlining is Queensland’s Lazy Grey featuring Jake Biz and DJ DCE with a cast of other household names such as Brad Strut, Maundz, Simplex (Terra Firma), K21, Fluent Form, Raven, Mata & Must, Smiley, BackYard Funk and Def Men Walking with DJs Slap 618 (Obese) and Heata (HG) on mixing duties for the evening. Catch Wreck is happening on Friday March 1 at the Prince Bandroom.
Ahoy! RTIST Creative will be welcoming the 2013 festive season with two excellent boating adventures and bringing together an impressive lineup of acts and artists. Kicking off from the Docklands’ Central Pier, the ‘No Parlay’ boat cruise will feature sets from various well known DJs and musicians, including Perplex and Kodiak Kid. This will be accompanied by live art installations from Itch, Niche, Lunaverse and Horror Sleaze Trash. The main event to follow, at Melbourne’s iconic Shed4, will feature DJs along with sets from Cut Copy’s Ben Browning, N’FA Jones, with UK/AUS outfit Africa Hitech headlining. Set sail at 2pm from Central Pier Docklands for a 6pm return and the Shed 4 main event. It all goes down on Saturday January 19 and we have a double pass to giveaway. Hit up beat.com.au/freeshit for your chance to win.
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STRICTLY OLD SKOOL EVENT 1995 - 2005 FRIDAY JANUARY 11TH @ BROWN ALLEY SUPPORT:
C:1 // BEATSKI // TIME TRAVEL // J-DON LICKWEED // MONKEE // MC HARZEE 47)34%$ !5$)/
THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE
3.
FM RADIO GODS
“Right now, we are kicking it in Montreal preparing to launch a series of EPs. It has been a little while in between drinks for us actually – come to think of it, it has been about a year that we’ve been cultivating a new, more poppy sort of sound that we’re really happy with – the two of us are ready to unleash!”
RAINBOW RADIO: ATTITUDE ON THE AIRWAYS So Andrew Hamilton and Tao-Nhan Nguyen decided that a boring life grinding it out in an office and keeping up with the Joneses wasn’t their calling. Rather, music had a far more tenacious appeal – so in between the odd dress up party for New Year’s, and a rather hectic touring schedule, as well as some time producing in the studio, the duo from Montreal are living their dream. No less, they are heading Down Under for the annual and much loved Rainbow Serpent Festival – itself the bastion of loose times, good music and friendly vibes. It’s all onwards and upwards, as they say. And of the two, it is Andrew Hamilton that takes some time to have a chat with us. “Right now, we are kicking it in Montreal, preparing to launch a series of EPs. It has been a little while in between drinks for us actually – come to think of it, it has been about a year that we’ve been cultivating a new, more poppy sort of sound that we’re really happy with – the two of us are ready to unleash!” But Andrew also takes a moment to explain how earlier in this century his yet-to-be partner in crime heard some music that Andrew was producing under the moniker ‘Lucid’. Intrigued by the sound, Tao asked a mutual colleague to have Andrew along to a club night he was hosting in the Old Port called Velvet. “It all really clicked from there,” he says nostalgically. Indeed, based in Canada, the duo are representing a scene that has produced its fair share of elite musicians – some of them bona-fide superstars. And while the scene isn’t yet as burgeoning as they yet might like, Andrew claims the city has a certain energy and spirit when it comes to electronica – and
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being a hop, skip and a jump to the USA, there is a fair bit going on around the place. “Being based out of Montreal, I have to say, we are in a pretty good spot,” he explains. “The city is pretty lively and we get a lot of support from locals here. That’s why the city is great in that sense. It has always felt like a big city with a small-town vibe.” Which isn’t too far detached from the small-town nature of the electronic dance music scene in Australia – for a country of 20 million something people, we take our music pretty seriously. And we’re rather predisposed to turning up to good festivals and events in our thousands – sometimes in our tens of thousands. So like the lads from Montreal, our musicians don’t necessarily have a natural market and therefore the pressure is on to perform – there are no guaranteed meal tickets and the scene won’t carry passengers. Getting your name out there is part and parcel of the work, and like their local compatriots, the FM Radio Gods are approaching it in their stride. And part of that, is a grueling travel schedule. “We do get to do a fair bit of travel,” admits Andrew. “We’ve done a lot of gigs recently in the U.S. and more recently in Mexico, mainly in New York and Mexico City. For example, we found Mexico to be a great place to perform because of the sheer size of the festivals over there. It’s not uncommon to play for crowds of 15,000 or more people so the vibe, mood and overall spectacle are all pretty intense – it’s great!” So who would have thought that when they debuted in 2006, that they’d achieve such critical mass – travelling the world and spending time in the studio COVER STORY
doing what they love? Yet barely half a decade on, the pair are justly considered true heavyweights of the electronic music scene, with a sound that crosses across multiple genres from house, to progressive, to techno and beyond. Consciously, Andrew admits that wasn’t necessarily part of a firm plan either; rather, it was the way things panned out. “We’ve never thought of ourselves as being genrespecific,” he describes. “We take our music seriously, but we also like to have a bit of fun when we play or when we produce. As a result, we do try and take touches from this genre and touches from that genre, but we tend to kind of just go in any direction.” So whether it’s house, minimal or even electro, the lads are intent on moving forward without any let up. No less, working together for them is a balanced art. “We always work together under one roof in our studio. For us, it’s really important to get a certain vibe going together; that helps us maintain a common vision and arrive at the outcome we’re kind of looking for. Our studio is filled with some pretty cool bits of equipment too – real synthesisers like a Moog Voyager, Prophet 8, Nord Stage and a V-Synth. There’s nothing like the sound of a fat analog keyboard to bring your tracks to life!” Agreed. And there’s nothing like taking a pretty loose direction with your production and turning a track into a raging dance-floor beast that the punters just lap up. Certainly, their approach to collaborations hasn’t hurt them either, with the duo twiddling knobs with some of the best in the business – but that doesn’t mean you can’t dream too. Andrew suggests that they’d still like to get down with chaps like Royksopp,
Stephan Bodzin or Trentemoller. “They are all artists we appreciate and immensely respect,” he claims. The lads are justifiably excited about what they will be throwing down come the anticipated return of the Rainbow Serpent Festival shortly. Believe it or not, this is in fact their first trip to Australia and they are suitably pumped to be representing Canada. “Our live setup will be comprised of a Monome 256, a Jazz Mutant Lemur and a laptop. The two of us will be playing together and it will all be live, so we’re going to try to feel the crowd moving and to keep the energy high! Most of the tracks we’ll be playing at Rainbow Serpent will be unreleased too, so we’re excited to hear everyone’s response! We are always about trying to keep our live show as ‘live’ as possible,” Andrew muses. “There isn’t a lot of point doing it any other way. We’re really about interacting with the crowd as much as possible.” They’ve said before that their gear and their setup is the heart and soul of their performance and that their ensemble makes them look like they’re from outer space. And for my money, there is nothing wrong with that. No doubt, the floor is anticipating it with bated breath too. RK FM Radio Gods [CAN] play alongside Guy J [ISR], Prometheus [UK] and more at Rainbow Serpent Festival which runs from Friday January 25 to Monday January 28 in Lexton.
SATURDAY12TH LOUNGE-CLUB
WEDNESDAY9TH COQ ROQ Rocking Wednesdays at Lucky Coq are rotating DJs Lady Noir, Agent 86, Kiti, Mr Thom, Joybot and guests giving you nothing but the best new wave, punk, brit pop, bong rap and hair metal. Coq Roq takes place every Wednesday from 8pm with free pool downstairs from 9pm as well as drink specials. Roq out! Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor
MIDNIGHT SOUL ENSEMBLE Whether it’s a DJ on the one’s and two’s side by side with a drummer hitting the skins while jammin’ away into the night, or soul singers gracing our humble stage performing Erykah Badu tribute songs over wonky future beats, or hip hop DJs cuttin’ up Serato records, we got the mid-week party. You know you wanna. Free entry Lounge, 243 Swanston Street, Melbourne
SOUL ARMY With more flavour than a chocolate pizza, the Wednesday Soul Army throws down raw, uncut funk next to smooth soul grooves and rare blue jams. Bring that special lady because when the boys lay down the love it could be the difference between ‘we’re just friends’ to ‘let’s get it on’. PBS stalwarts Vince Peach and Miss Goldie accompany Prequel and Black Diamond Kicks weekly. Free. Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy
THURSDAY10TH BIMBO THURSDAYS Tigerfunk brings with him his full band of travelling gypsies, hipsters and middle class executives, all of whom are prepared to deliver the most excitement you can have this side of the weekend. Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy
FREE RANGE FUNK Funk up your Thursday nights with Free Range Funk at the Windsor favourite Lucky Coq. Grab a couch early and enjoy one (or more) of their famous $4 pizzas from 7-11pm. Meanwhile DJs Who, Agent 86, Lewis CanCut and special guests tempt you into the night with their eclectic bag of treats. Setting the mood early is delightful jazz, deep soul, and funk. Later it’s fruity disco, choice house, and hipster dance drops. Free entry every Thursday. Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor
FUN HOUSE Celebrate Thursday night at Co. with club classics and dance floor anthems. Co., Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
FRIDAY11TH GET LIT Get Lit every Friday night with Mugen & D’fro slicin’ n dicin’ over jiggy beats and underground anthems. Bounce to the ounce, and get yer “drank” on! And kids remember one thang, in the wise words of Lady: this pussy be yankin! YOLO. Free entry. From 10pm. Lounge, 243 Swanston Street, Melbourne
FIRST FLOOR FRIDAYS A journey of international music from all over the world; past, present and future rhythms incorporating afro, soul, funk, world and deep house elements! First Floor, 393 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
FREEDOM PASS Friday’s at Freedom with 2 premier clubs, 5 huge rooms, 10+ local and international DJs blending their unique sets across countless styles of tunes – vocal house, smooth R&B, electro and commercial top 40. Throw in a few sexy podium dancers, a world-class lights show and drink specials, the Freedom Pass is your personal ticket to a night you won’t soon forget! Fusion, Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
PANORAMA Start your weekend on a good note with Panorama Fridays at Lucky Coq. DJs Matt Rad, Mr George, Tom Meagher and Phato A Mano transform the upstairs area into one hell of a house party with Hip Hop, Funk, R&B, Disco and House. Meanwhile, downstairs gives you a secluded wind down atmosphere with cult films as background visuals and quality cocktails to sip on. Let the new coqtail list wash away a crappy week! Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor
RETRO SEXUAL FRIDAY DJ Grandmaster Vicious spins Fitzroy’s finest mix of ‘80s and ‘90s pop, rock, new wave, hip hop, disco classics and cheese to please plus dance floor anthems from then to now. One Twenty Bar, 120 Johnston St, Fitzroy
FEED ME
It’s house, electro, dub, anthems, disco and funk with guest DJs Genetix, B-Two and Oohee rocking til the break of day. Doors open 10pm with $5 basics til midnight! First Floor, 393 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
HOT STEP Google Hot Step and you’ll get a bunch of Vietnamese game reviews and Balkanese dances on YouTube. But that’s nothing like what you can expect to find within the confines of Bimbo on a Saturday night. Developing thick and heavy but altogether groovy, enjoy an eclectic mix of fairy floss funk, doom disco and monk movement minimal every week. Free. Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy
SATURDAYS AT ONE TWENTY BAR DJ CKass will take you on a musical journey to the retro sounds of the ‘70s and ‘80s, followed by Top 40. One Twenty Bar, 120 Johnston St, Fitzroy
SOUND EMPIRE Co. At Crown’s Saturday night party Sound Empire this week features mega sounds from resident DJs Tate Strauss, Miss Sarah, Nova, Johnny M, Matty G, Dean T, Joe Sofo, Marcus Knight, Dinesh, Chris Ostrom, B-Boogie and Sarah Roberts. Co., Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
STAR SATURDAYS Star Saturdays - smashing it every Saturday! Phil Ross, Scotty Erdos, DJ Ontime, LC, Nick James, Dane Gains, Ryan Hamill, Deja, Phil Isa, Nixon, Azza M, Scotty Nix, DJ Ryza, C Dubb, Alex-J, G-Funk, Dylisco, Achos, Az, Shaggz and guests. Star Bar, 160 Clarendon St, South Melbourne
TEMPERANCE SATURDAYS DJ Marcus Knight & DJ Xander James drop sexy house, dance and drum and bass all night from 8pm. Free entry. Temperance Hotel, 426 Chapel St, South Yarra
TEXTILE Saturdays at Lucky Coq tick all the boxes so start your night early and stay til close! Famous $4 pizzas from 7-9pm (that’s dinner sorted) then from 9pm spread over two levels with DJs playing hip hop, funk, disco, house and electro. Rotating guests on both levels keep the tunes fresh. Free entry. Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor
interactive digital show as well as bringing the music which I’ve been doing anyway. For me, it was a way of furthering creativity and just expanding. For me, it was probably the biggest thing I’ve ever done, it still is. I’ve had so much fun doing it. It’s a lot more rewarding from my point of view to be able to do the [visual] show.” Gooch has received “amazing” feedback about the new live show, having spent a great deal of last year on tour with the new set up. “Apart from learning the technical aspects of touring the show and battling electronics, we’ve done a tour bus all over America and we’ve been to Europe doing big festivals and we’ve done some fantastic festivals across the UK,” he says. “I’m so pleased with how it looked from the very first sculpture of it to the final thing; it’s pretty much exactly how we wanted it and we’re still adding to it now. We’ve just added more lights and it’s kind of growing in all dimensions.” One would think that it’d be a mission to move such a gigantic piece of equipment from venue to venue across boarders and oceans but, Gooch says it’s his crew who are to thank for making the ‘mission’ like magic. “It weighs just over three tonnes and
1200 Techniques smashed their way into the minds and onto the radios of Australia with 2002’s Choose One. Lead single Karma peaked at number 36 on the ARIA charts, a song equally memorable for its smooth soul keys, rocking guitar riffs and solos blended over a classic hip hop beat, as the eye-catching clip in which the band become homicidal puppets. Jones puts the success of 1200 Techniques down to hard work, and maybe just a little dash of luck. “There were a lot of crews working hard but it seemed like no one wanted to let anyone get through to that higher tier, high rotation on the J’s [Triple J], getting through to your Novas and maybe even over to a Fox or something like that. It was a big no-no. We were just fortunate I guess to be around at the right time. If you look back there are certain things you’re meant to do to get your status up and get heard and get out there, but we were just doing those things organically and didn’t realise it. It was amazing to me to be a part of that first initial wave that was able to crash the shores that a lot of artists have now built on and taken much further.” Finding it hard to break into the mainstream in Australia pales in comparison to what faced him in London as a solo artist. “There’s so many people who were getting their hustle on in London,” he says. “So many people were so full of hot air and
‘Oh I know this guy’ and ‘I’m doing that’ and a lot of people flex over there. People here don’t say they can deliver things if they can’t, but over there a lot of people are almost frauds, but the people we hear about who are doing well are never in those sort of circles and never caught up in any of that. If it’s good, things will work - all the hype is just bullshit.” Recording an album he hopes to release in February this year, things aren’t slowing down anytime soon for Jones, who says he’s “just enjoying making music. You aim for the heavens but don’t expect too much”. “It really wasn’t on the cards for me originally,” Jones says about the upcoming record. “But the Babylondon EP did alright. March On got a lot of airplay - people have been offering me gigs here and there and its sort of been building. “Just before I moved to London I met these guys, Jay Smith and Dutch, two boys in Melbourne, really nice, good people. You get those people you meet sometimes and they’re so good and nice you’re like, ‘What’s wrong with this person?’, until you realise they’re actually like that. I met them and we wrote a bunch of music and then I moved abroad, but when I was away I kept thinking about this music I’d written. I was doing a lot of gigs over there and writing a bit but I kept thinking about this project. Then when I came back to Aus we started linking up again. After we’d done a few things with Drapht and Drapht was starting to vibe with them as well he was in my ear like, ‘Yo, you should do your record, let’s do it, I’ll help you get your head around it if you want’. “You often need other creatives around to help you separate the woods from the trees. Most of its done now, we just got to get all the mixing finished and a couple of extra vocals here and there. It’s not like I stress and rush through things, it’s just getting it done in its time like it’s meant to be.”
N’FA WOODS FROM TREES: TRANSCENDING TECHNIQUE “I don’t want to be in my 40s telling people to say ‘ho’ throughout a whole set,” states N’fa Forster-Jones, only half jokingly. “Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with that, I love it if a bloke can come out and rock it, but that’s him and I gotta find me.” Finding himself may be easier said than done for Jones. This is a man who was at Aussie hip hop’s push into the mainstream with 1200 Techniques, and after closing that chapter in the mid-noughties, has grafted between Australia, London and the rest of Europe, playing gigs, recording music and mentoring young musicians. When I get the chance to speak to him, he is taking a bit of time off to be with his family in Western Australia but we are talking about one busy dude, and he says he wouldn’t have it any other way. “People get so caught up in their art and they want it to be perfect and if it isn’t they won’t do it, but they’ll live their life doing something they hate forever. Once you get past that you go, ‘Okay, how do I make this work for me, what do I want?’ It’s been a long journey and development but 1200 [Techniques] was the start. It’s always gonna be on my mind and in myself.” First popping up on our radar in 1998 with single Hard As Hell,
FIRST FLOOR SATURDAYS
it’s 20 feet wide by 10 feet high [apart from] external stuff lights and tubes,” he says. “Despite it being as lightweight as possible, you don’t want it to fall on you. We have a really good crew of people, they’re so good at taking it up and down - it vanishes after the show so quickly, it packs down very small. So that’s also part of the fun of seeing it being built - realising that it wasn’t just a sculpture you can just wheel on stage, it has to be a touring object that you can live with and other people need to understand it in case it needs repairs and things like that.” As for being on the road, Gooch has had a few great shows with the new live set up over the last year. “We did some great ones when we did the bus tour in North America - I did a fantastic one in Chicago, that’s always a really good crowd and some great shows across Europe and in the UK – Reading and Leeds Festivals – they were probably the largest crowds I’ve ever seen in my life, I couldn’t believe it, it was complete chaos,” he says. “Coming out this month in London – I’m doing my first London headline show, I’m really looking forward to that.” Gooch is pumped to be bringing the Feed Me With Teeth live show Down Under for the first time for Future Music Festival in March. “It’ll be great to see The Stone Roses,” he says. “My stage is pretty much lots of people I know and obviously headlined by the Prodigy who have always been one of my big influences probably since the first piece of electronic music I ever heard. Kill The Noise – Jake [Stanczak] – he’s one of my best friends. I’ve toured Australia twice with him before so this will be an even bigger version of the same antics I’d imagine. I’m bringing the Teeth show so I’ll have my crew with me and stuff. Last time I toured Australia, I had one of the best backto-back tours of dance festivals, it was a lot of fun. I’m looking
ARMED: TO THE TEETH Feed Me, aka UK DJ and producer Jonathan Gooch, is returning down under for Future Music Festival. This time, he’s bringing his new live show Feed Me With Teeth. The live set up contains a huge teeth-like structure with visuals synced up to the music, weighing in at three tonnes. “It was probably the biggest thing I’ve ever done, it still is. I’ve had so much fun doing it,” Gooch explains. Jonathan Gooch is known as the talented producer behind the incredible Feed Me and drum and bass, dubstep and electrohouse moniker Spor. Gooch spent last year on the road touring America, Europe and throughout the UK with his new live show Feed Me With Teeth. An absolutely phenomenal project, Gooch’s new live show is – put lightly – out of this world. It’s a huge set of teeth with lights, visuals all synced up with what’s happening behind the decks and more. “I’ve spent a lot of years DJing constantly and I’ve played over the world several times doing just straight DJ sets. But, for me, I’ve always been a visual artist as well,” Gooch says down the line from his studio back home, speaking of how Feed Me With Teeth came about. “It always seems a more exciting prospect to do a bigger,
Dazzling disco lights? Check. Big dance floor? Check. Stage to dance on? Check. Music all night long? Check. We got Melbourne’s finest purveyors of music. You’ll get funk, boogie, disco, house, Latin, afro, techno and much more. Lounge-Club happens every weekend from 10PM and it’s free entry. Lounge, 243 Swanston Street, Melbourne
ESSENTIALS
SUNDAY13TH SOUTH SIDE HUSTLE The perfect Sunday soundtrack with DJs Askew, Peter Baker, Booshank, Paz, Miss Butt, Junji, Disco Harry and guests. They will be laying down disco, afro beat and deep house til 3am. For lovers of good music - South Side Hustle. Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor
STAR BAR SUNDAYS The original and still the best Sunday in Melbourne. Star Bar, 160 Clarendon St, South Melbourne
SUNDAE SHAKE Our Signature serve. Each and every Sunday we play host to a self professed vinyl junkie caught between the golden years and boogie wonderland. A mouthful? Perhaps. Phato Amano perfectly sets the mood for an audio-adventure that redefines the dance floor weekly. Our Sunday aficionados Agent 86 and Tigerfunk stir up a full cream shake to the flavour of your liking. Forget everything you thought you knew about losing yourself to the grooves. Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy
MONDAY14TH IBIMBO Have you always wanted to be a DJ but been cruelly cursed with tone deafness and a general inability to version excursion? Well Bimbo Deluxe saves the day once again.. All you need is an iPhone and you’re set. Just download the free ‘remote’ application from the app store, log into the Bimbo DJ wireless network and you choose which song plays next. Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy
TUESDAY15TH BIMBO TUESDAYS Bimbo Tuesday’s have long been the discerning DJs midweek breath of fresh air. An opportunity to indulge in, and to each parade their individual takes on music. A night where by the weird and wonderful is not frowned upon but rather celebrated. Resident selectors Matt Radovich, Andras Fox and Henry Who draw from a colorful array of sounds that warm your midweek blues. From 8pm, free. Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy
COSMIC PIZZA NHJ and friends host every Tuesday night upstairs at Lucky Coq. Playing uneasy listening, freaked out bass jams, romantic comedy disco, tropi-jazz, soundtracks and shit you won’t hear on the other nights. Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor
forward to it.” Annabel Maclean Feed Me [UK] plays the Future Music Festival at Flemington Racecourse on Sunday March 10 alongside The Stone Roses [UK], The Prodigy [UK] and more.
Ryan Butler N’FA [AUS] plays the No Parlay Boat Cruise and Shed4 Party on Saturday January 19 alongside Africa Hitech [AUS], Kid Kenobi [AUS], Ben Browning [AUS] and more. The No Parlay Boat Cruise leaves from The Victoria Star, Central Pier Docklands while the No Parlay Party held at Shed4, South Wharf Docklands.
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FROM 5PM SUNDAYS AT STRIKE MELBOURNE CENTRAL OR STRIKE QV, MELBOURNE CBD $6 MINIMUM SPEND. CONDITIONS APPLY. LASER TAG NOT AVAILABLE AT STRIKE QV.
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IN THE ONLY FESTIVAL LCOMES E W T A H T IA L A R T S U A LOBSTER PEOPLE! RT! A & IC S U M L O O C E + WE HAV
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THURSDAY10TH MOTOWN THURSDAYS Kick start your weekend with Melbourne’s newest Thursday night! Motown Thursdays caters to all true music lovers. Join us on an eclectic musical journey of soul, funk and disco through to early R&B. A live Soul Band features some of Melbourne’s most talented musicians; Carmen Hendricks, Laurent Soupe, Duncan Kinell and Aaron Mendoza just to name a few. DJs keep the records spinning into the early hours; residents are Reg-e, Lee Davies, Kalepe, Dinesh, Suga, Rubz and Alwin Rafferty. Join us around a big, shiny disco ball or two, for free entry, soulful tunes, drink specials all night and a dance floor full of friends! Fashion Lounge, 121 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
RHYTHM-AL-ISM Start the weekend early with Fusion’s Resident DJs. Music for your funkin’ soul. Special guests every week! Fusion, Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
FRIDAY11TH KHOKOLATKOATED
FAKTORY This is it. Faktory Fridays are open for business at Melbourne’s home of R&B, Khokolat Bar. Where else? Damion De Silva, Ken Walker, Durmy, K Dee, Simon Sez, Yaths and Jacqui Dusk spinning all night long. Khokolat Bar, Basement, 43 Hardware La, Melbourne
LIKE FRIDAYS Like Fridays at La Di Da serves up R&B and electro house across two rooms giving you a fun filled end to your week. DJs Dinesh, Dir-X, Sef, NYD, Shaun D, Shaggz, Broz and more. La Di Da, 577 Little Bourke St, Melbourne
LIGHT We celebrate everything that has made Light at Red Love, kicking off with our after work drinks session from 4pm. Our DJ lineup includes each and every one of the Daddy Mack’s who have helped lead Light into our 5th running year of old school R&B. Harvey Yeah, Ripz, TMC and Stel Kar locking down that Old School Flava with guest appearances by G.A.K. & The Seminar of Funk and Nick K. It’s all happening this Friday as we celebrate 5 years of doing our do and bringing that Red Love! Red Love, Level 1, 401 Swanston Street, Melbourne
THE LOOSE GOOSE The Loose Goose is focused on providing a wonderful array of cocktails and offers a great CBD location to lounge and relax in while overlooking busy Flinders Lane. A small plates menu
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is available to graze on whilst trying our delicious cocktails from the classics to contemporary, beer on tap and a wide range of beers, wines and spirits. Every Friday evening DJ Jumps of The Cat Empire will take to the decks at the bar spinning his rare afro Latin funk vinyl collected from around the world from 6.30pm until late. Papa Goose Cocktail Bar, 91-93 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
SWEET NOTHING FRIDAYS DJ Marcus Knight and DJ Xander James spin hip hop, R&B and house tunes all night from 8pm. Free entry and early drink specials. Temperance Hotel, 426 Chapel St, South Yarra
THE NICE UP Tom Showtime presents The Nice Up. All flavours of hip hop, ghetto funk and reggae niceness provided. Sailor Jerry nice up the cocktails, Dos Blockos nice up the $5 beers. Fridays done proper. George Lane Bar, 1 George Lane, St Kilda
SATURDAY12TH KHOKOLAT KOATED All new experience, same great location with a fresh koat of Khokolat. Restless Entertainment reloads your favourite Saturday night party. Damion De Silva, K Dee, Jay Sin and weekly guests playing R&B & ol’ skool sounds strictly for the urban elite. Khokolat Bar, Basement, 43 Hardware La, Melbourne
REDLOVE SATURDAYS RedLove Saturdays is all about solid classics from the ‘80s, ‘90s and into the ‘00s! Dropping beats of retro pop, disco classics, old school funk, and certainly some of that old school R&B and house to kick! RedLove Resident DJs Phil, HB Bear and Da Gato bringing down the house every Saturday night. If you’re looking for quality service, music to rock, sumptuous drinks and just a cold hard good time; look no further! Red Love, Level 1, 401 Swanston Street, Melbourne
SHAKA SATURDAY The newest R&B Superclub Shaka Saturdays grand opening is set to hit Melbourne over two massive weeks. The northern suburbs newest, freshest club playing all of your favourite R&B, hip hop, old skool and reggae. Shaka Saturdays is showcasing Australias newest and favourite R&B DJs, including DJ C-RAM bringing video mixing to Melbourne and special guest hip hop band Yellow Cake. Set at one of the most amazing venues Melbourne has to offer with two levels, good music, great ‘Shaka’ atmosphere and cheap drinks, we are hoping to pack it out and create a night for people to remember. Level 2 The Club, 2 Arthurton Rd, Northcote