Beats Magazine - Wednesday May 29

wednesday may 29 inside:

hnqo

p-money

robert babicz news tours club snaps + more

UPCOMING

JUNE

M AY

on tour RIFF RAFF [USA] Wednesday May 29, The Liberty Social OMAR-S [USA] Friday May 31, The Liberty Social ROBERT BABICZ [GER], MARC ROMBOY [GER] Friday May 31, Brown Alley VON-D [UK], CASPA [UK] Friday May 31, Brown Alley ELITE FORCE [UK] Friday May 31, RMH The Venue KUTSKI [UK] Friday May 31, Roxanne Parlour CHRIS FORTIER [USA] Friday May 31, New Guernica FLATBUSH ZOMBIES [USA] Saturday June 1, The Toff In Town 6TH BOROUGH PROJECT [SCO] Saturday June 1, New Guernica COSMIN TRG [ROM] Friday June 7, New Guernica DOP [FRA] Friday June 7, The Liberty Social HNQO [BRA] Friday June 7, Brown Alley JAMIE 3:26 [USA] Friday June 7, Mercat Basement TYLER, THE CREATOR [USA], EARL SWEATSHIRT [USA] Friday June 7, Palace Theatre THE REVENGE [SCO] Saturday June 8, The Liberty Social BREACH [UK], ROUTE 94 [UK] Saturday June 8, RMH The Venue GREGOR SALTO [NED] Saturday June 8, Alumbra DASH BERLIN [NED] Saturday June 8, Shed 14 TENSNAKE [GER] Saturday June 8, The Bottom End CHRIS LIEBING [GER], JIMMY EDGAR [USA] Sunday June 9, Brown Alley EARTHCORE LAUNCH PARTY: COMING SOON!!! [ISR] + MORE Sunday June 9, La Di Da JOHN DIGWEED [UK] Sunday June 9, Prince Bandroom JEFF MILLS [USA] Sunday June 9, The Bottom End SEPALCURE [USA], DJ RASHAD [USA] + MORE Sunday June 9, TBA ATA [GER] Friday June 21, Mercat Basement MAXMILLION DUNBAR [USA] Saturday June 22, Mercat Basement COOLIO [USA] Thursday June 27, Red Bennies OBIE TRICE [USA] Friday June 28, Trak Lounge WINTER BEATS SOUNDSYSTEM: SKAZI [ISR], BEHIND BLUE EYES [DEN] Friday June 28, RMH The Venue BRISK [UK] Friday June 28, Charlton’s Nightclub.

A$AP ROCKY [USA] Saturday June 29, Festival Hall TOKIMONSTA [USA] Saturday July 6, The Hi-Fi JUAN ATKINS [USA], FUNK D’VOID [UK] Friday July 12, Brown Alley ALEX KIDD [UK] Friday July 12, Billboard RICK WILHITE [USA] New Guernica on Saturday July 27 JAMES BLAKE [UK] Wednesday July 31, Palais Theatre CHVRCHES [UK] Monday August 5, Corner Hotel D-BLOCK & S-TE-FAN [NED] Friday August 16, Chaser’s Nightclub RUDIMENTAL [UK] Saturday September 21, Festival Hall PORTER ROBINSON [USA] Sunday October 20, Billboard EARTHCORE: ANGY KORE [ITA], PERFECT STRANGER [ISR] + MORE Friday November 29 - Sunday December 2, TBA BRUNO MARS [USA], MIGUEL [USA] Tuesday March 4 & Wednesday March 5, Rod Laver Arena

tour rumours

Roman Flügel, Maurice Fulton, Jam City, Andrew Weatherall, Silicone Soul

contact Editor: Tyson Wray / tyson@beat.com.au Editorial Assistant: Nick Taras / nick@beat.com.au Production/Cover Design: Pat O’Neill / art@beat.com.au Typesetting: Rebecca Houlden Advertising: Adam Morgan - (03) 8414 8719 / adam@beat.com.au Taryn Stenvei - (03) 8414 9711 / taryn@beat.com.au Kris Furst - (03) 8414 9703 / kris@furstmedia.com.au Photographer: Callum Linsell Contributors: Alasdair Duncan, Andrew Hickey, Annabel Maclean, Chloe Papas, Dan Watt, Jo Campbell, Kish Lal, Lachlan Kanonuik, Leigh Salter, Miki McLay, Morgan Richards, Nick Taras, Nina Bertok, Richie Meldrum, RK, Rose Callaghan, Ryan Butler, Simon Hampson, Tamara Vogl Deadlines: Editorial: Friday 2pm Advertising: Monday 12pm Publisher: Furst Media - 3 Newton Street, Richmond - (03) 9428 3600 beat.com.au

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john digweed word s / m o rga n ri c h a rd s

Opening a story with the line, “Here’s someone who needs no introduction,” is normally just a sneaky way for writers to avoid putting in a proper intro paragraph. But what about when you’re talking about someone who really actually doesn’t need an introduction?

That someone is John Digweed. I could mention a few things— such as the legendary partnership of Sasha and Digweed and their early American forays at Twilo in New York, their game-changing mix CD Northern Exposure, the founding of Bedrock Records with Nick Muir — but if these things mean nothing to you, then you should probably go get yourself an education. Pronto.

It’s morning in England when Digweed picks up the line. He’s just outside London, where it’s a “cloudy, grey and miserable day... as per normal.” Especially when you’ve come from sun-drenched Ibiza, where Digweed has an upcoming residency at Pacha throughout the summer.

“We had a party on Friday for all the workers and the locals, which was really good,” he explains. “I’m playing in Denver, Vancouver, Los Angeles and then fly down to Australia to do a few shows there and then back home via Hong Kong. Then it’s full-on in Ibiza through the summer.”

That’s a decent whack of US dates in there. What are Digweed’s thoughts on the States’ current obsession with “EDM”? “You’ve gotta be positive about the fact that there are a lot of young people who are into electronic music. A lot of it may be more on the commercial side of things, but I’d rather that they were getting their heads around a 4/4 beat and the whole festival vibe than being into hip hop or grunge or rock’n’roll. It’s a great way to introduce them.

“There is an explosion out there, and you’re seeing a lot of clubs opening up that are focusing on that. But then you look at Brooklyn, where they’ve just opened a club called Output. No VIP, no bottle service, no cameras — it’s just like playing at Twilo all those years ago. As much as you’re going to see the clubs that try to be like Vegas, all show and champagne and over-the-topness, you’re going to see people trying to create the polar opposite to that.

“I’ve been going to America for over 20 years and I’ve trudged around all those clubs and thought the potential for it to explode

news

is here, it just needs the right thing to make it happen. It’s blowing up with the more commercial sound, but that’s not to say that there isn’t a knock-on effect for the sort of more underground scene as well. I look at it as a good thing.”

Digweed is hopeful that some of America’s new generation of clubbers might even rediscover the roots of Chicago house and Detroit techno. “A lot of these kids are following all the latest stuff,”

he continues, “but you will find people that will want to delve a bit further, a bit deeper, and try to find out — where did this music actually come from? They’ll be surprised to find out it was actually on their doorstep all the time!”

As for Digweed’s roots, his formative days involved gigs at dingy warehouses and muddy raves — beginnings that seem worlds away from his current tour schedule of huge festivals and packed megaclubs. While he’s moved on to bigger things, Digweed insists

John Digweed plays at Darkbeat’s 10th Birthday at the Prince Bandroom on Sunday June 9. facebook.com/djjohndigweed

- head to beat.com.au for more

winter beats soundsystem

off the record w it h

that elements of rave culture still can be found today.

“I mean, you go around the world, there are still a lot of events that remind me of those days. It hasn’t disappeared completely.

But you’re right, at some of the huge festivals, it has become quite corporate and it’s more about the show than the music. You’ve just got to move with the times. For me, it’s about playing every different kind of place. Sometimes it’s going to work and sometimes it’s not, but unless you get in there and play you can never really tell. I’m lucky, I would say that 99 per cent of my gigs I come away with a smile on my face. That’s all you can ask for, really.”

On the releases front, Digweed mentions a few treats soon to be released on Bedrock. “I’ve got a new album called Live in Slovenia, which is released this Monday. It’s the third part in a series of these live albums I’ve been doing around the world. I think, even though we live in an era of everyone expecting things to be free on Soundcloud or podcasts, there’s a bunch of people that actually like a physical, well-presented mix album that represents a special night somewhere in the world. We’ve also got albums from Electric Rescue coming up in June and also the Japanese Popstars have something coming out in July. We’re trying to get a balance of doing a bunch of good singles and album projects as well.”

What about a reunion tour with Sasha — is that out of the question?

Digweed is non-committal. “At the moment there’s nothing planned. He’s been doing his Never Say Never parties and I’ve been focusing on Bedrock releases. We did do a lot of shows for about 18 years, so it’s been quite nice just focusing on our own solo careers for a while. But as they say... never say never!”

t yson

w ray

I’m willing to bet $100 that Amanda Bynes will take up a DJ career within the next five years. Anyone down?

Earthcore and Solar Empire have come together to bring Winter Beats Soundsystem to 2013. After 2012’s massive success, Winter Beats Soundsystem is returning and with an even bigger lineup than the last. With a host of internationals including Skazi and Behind Blue Eyes who will be joined by amazing local support Terrafractyl, Tetrameth, Circuit Bent, Blunt Instrument, Kalus together with Kodiak Kid, Monkey Bars, Electrocado, Lanksta, Desiseq, Volta, Killa, Danny Dobs, Miza, John Doe, Ozzy and much more. Head down to RMH The Venue for all the fun on Friday June 28.

masif hard dance icons

For the first time ever, The Masif Hard Dance Icons Tour will be making its first stop in Melbourne. With the biggest names in UK hard dance making their way down you can expect classics, anthems, fresh productions and everything in between to be played. The main room will be transformed into a celebration of all things hard dance and of course the debut of The Masif Dance Icons. The 2012 tour sold out so you can expect bigger and better things from 2013. With Kandy dancers, LED rotating stage screens, saffron pistal collaborations, even fruits and other ‘goodies’ the night is only elevated by it’s amazing lineup. Tidy Boys, Andy Whitby, BK, Nick Sentience, Karim, Ilogik and Steve Hill will be joined by stellar local support on what will be a night to remember.

Head down to Billboard The Venue on Friday August 2.

electronic - urban - club life

d-block & s-te-fan

For the first time ever in a club show appearance Finders Keepers Entertainment and Masif Melbourne present D-Block & S-te-fan. With a big love for melody and bass, Diederik Bakker and Stefan den Daas bumped into each other towards the end of 2004. They immediately clicked and at that point they started moving their musical love to a higher level. Considered by fans and peers alike to be the world’s number one hard dance duo, D-Block & S-te-fan’s debut club show appearance in Melbourne will be seminal. The night will have a host of interstate and local talent including none other than Hard Dance Alliance. It’s all happening on Friday August 16 at Chaser’s Nightclub.

Skazi

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news

- head to beat.com.au for more

porter robinson

snaps in tribute: ajax lucky coq

Porter Robinson is returning to Melbourne in what is set to be a rare and intimate show. Coming off playing the biggest stages worldwide at Ultra Music Festival, Coachella, Tomorrowland, EDC and Australia’s Future Music Festival and Stereosonic, Porter Robinson has truly risen to be one of the top names in EDM. With his last two singles Language and Easy on high rotation, Porter has become a household name in an incredibly short amount of time. Head down to Billboard The Venue for what will be a very special night on Sunday October 20.

organic audio

fuzion

Ultrasound and O.P.A are joining forces to bring together Melbourne’s newest night.

With plans for amazing décor, lighting, a great vibe and an all-star local lineup, they’ve sweetened the deal with adding a legendary international artist, Brisk, to the bill. Purveyors of all things hard will get a chance to enjoy hard house, hard trance, hardstyle and hardcore all under the one roof. Brisk is renowned for his production, remixes and his ability to weave in and out with an array of different genres and styles. Having won awards for being the best hardcore DJ, travelled every inch of the globe, running a radio show and coowning three record labels, it’s any wonder Brisk could find time to fly Down Under.

He’ll be joined by Soul-T, Karpe-DM, Uforia, Gazmatron, Danny J and much more. It’s all happening on Friday June 28 at Charlton’s Nightclub.

Organic Audio is an event that looks to capture a vast collaborative soundscape encompassing the expansive measure of Australia and New Zealand and bridging the distance between them. The night is all about supporting artists with distinctive individual styles, representing and depicting their own inherent sound. A sensory concoction aiming towards the unity of like-minded souls. Organic Audio is a platform for ground-breaking artists to take you to the places they love and share with you sounds and art-forms inspired by their home and land. In over three different rooms your ears will be graced with the sounds of Antix, Fiord, Closer Apart, Thankyou City, Moodmachine, Boogs, Muska, Nixie, Oddphonic, Timmus, Tahl, Sun In Aquarius, Mindbuffer, Griff, Altruism and Kodiak Kid. It’s all happening at Brown Alley on Friday July 5.

earth kim & beni

This winter sees KIM and Beni join forces for a string of DJ dates around Australia. This national tour sees them DJ back to back for three hours on what is a journey through some of their latest interests along with their long standing influences, and everything in-between. KIM, one half of The Presets, is out for his first national DJ run in four years. In that time he’s released Selected Jerks 2001-2009, co-produced, released and toured the critically acclaimed Pacifica with The Presets and lent his skills to a wide and varied array of brilliantly talented artists. Beni is no stranger to the DJ booth with his constant touring and excellent production making him one of Australia’s best electronic talents. Along the way he’s remixed Tiga, Kimbra, La Roux and Etienne De Crecy.

Beni has DJed at festivals all round the country including Parklife, Stereosonic, Groovin’ The Moo and triple j’s House Party Tour. They land in Melbourne on Saturday July 13 at The Bottom End.

party profile: earthcore 20 year anniversary launch party

behind the decks with:

amin payne

coming soon!!!

When is it?

Sunday June 9.

Where is it?

La Di Da, CBD. Who’s playing?

Special guests from Israel Coming Soon!!! plus MoGo, RickySixx, PakMan, Twisted Molecule, Left of Centre, Neshi, Blaumann, Killa, Azrin What sort of shit will they be playing?

Two rooms of banging techno, progressive and trance.

What’s the crowd going to be like?

Loose.

What will we remember in the AM? Absolutely nothing.

What’s the wallet damage? $25 presale, more on the door.

Give us one final reason why we should party here.

It’s better to party with us then at your mum’s house!

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A four-day celebration of beats and bass in the Victorian bush with friends, good music, a massive sound system and camping is what Earth is all about. In order to maintain the vibe and magic that made the last Earth so special this will be a strictly limited numbers event. In order to avoid the trend of losing out on their roots, the guys behind Earth have decided this is an essential measure in keeping being the same festival everyone has grown to love. The lineup so far includes Roln, Beatski, Patch, MC Pab, 1LC, Trooper, C:1, Kodiac Kid, Heartical Hi-Fi Outernational, Stryka D, System Unknown Soundsystem, Citizen.com, Matty Blades, Lex, SpinFX & Foxtrot and many more to be announced. It’s all happening in Gippsland on Friday November 8.

Where’s the strangest place you’ve woken up?

Under a coffee table.

Describe yourself using the title of a song.

I’m Not That Guy. What was the weirdest thing you believed as a child?

That there was no such thing as racism.

The most awkward moment you’ve had as a DJ? When the promoter that booked me thought I played mainstream music and that I was providing the turntables also.

What would be the worst dance track in the world to be tortured with on repeat?

Eiffel 65 – I’m Blue.

electronic - urban - club life

What’s the most played record in your bag?

I don’t really play records much when I DJ even though I dig for records on a regular. I use Serato so my most played track is Tom Browne – Funkin’ for Jamaica.

What question would you like to ask an omniscient, allknowing being before you die? If there is a Heaven can you hook me up with a free entry? I’ll shout you a drink.

If you hadn’t made it as a DJ, what job would you choose to work in instead? Recording Studio Engineer and Manager.

When and where is your next gig?

Friday May 31 at Workshop for CDMK Lounge Session.

snaps level 2

robert babicz word s / a l a s d a i r d u n c a n

Electronic music titan Robert Babicz releases his long-awaited new album, The Owl And The Butterfly, this month. The music brings together his signature blend of deep techno and melodic house, and the rather cryptic title is an attempt to sum up his journey so far. “I wanted to find symbols to illustrate the process that I’ve been through as an artist, and the owl and the butterfly both have deep meaning for me,” he says. “The butterfly is a symbol of transformation, and the owl stands for wisdom.”

Babicz has been involved in music for more than two decades, and has gained a good deal of knowledge in that time, while constantly trying to improve and transform along the way. “At this point in my career, I feel like an advanced beginner!” he laughs.

Babicz moved to Germany from his native Poland in the early ‘90s, immersing himself in the burgeoning techno culture, and attending parties like the iconic Love Parade. He remembers a sense of freedom in the air at that time, and says that, since then, boundaries between electronic music styles have become more rigid and defined. He tries not to let new and current trends influence his own work, but as someone who plays in clubs every weekend, that can be impossible.

“I hear the DJ playing before me and the DJ playing after me,” he says, “so I hear a lot of new music. In addition to this, I’m a mastering engineer – I work for many different people and different

labels, and so I can see trends as they start, I can hear people starting to copy certain sounds or follow certain rules.”

While he hears what’s going on in the world of electronic music, Babicz is determined to always try and find his own way. “I’m only human, so I take on influences, although I try not to as much as possible,” he says. “People always ask what kind of music I’m making, what style I’m working in – a few years ago, I decided that the only answer to that question is that I do Babicz Style. I think every musician should just do their own thing, and offer their own personal view.”

Babicz is adamant that, as an artist, he is not part of a machine, and does not need to confine himself to any one style. “I’ve always been an individual when it comes to music,” he continues. “I’ve released on many different labels under many different names, but I’ve never been part of a group. That might account for my way of thinking.”

Many producers will slave away in the studio for weeks, working on new tracks, and then play them in DJ sets to gauge the crowd’s reaction. This is not the case for Babicz, who finds that to be a tedious way of working, and instead, plays everything live and in the moment. His show is built around an array of synths, and he improvises all the way through the show, constantly dreaming up and refining new ideas on the fly.

hnqo word s / j o d y m a cg rego r

workshop

Henrique Oliveira, aka house DJ, producer and head of the Playperview label HNQO, comes from the Brazilian city of Curitiba.

After watching a tourist commercial on YouTube, the main impression I came away with is that the people of Curitiba are very proud of their public transport system, so I ask Oliveira for a better idea of what kind of city it is. “Curitiba is a city of about three million people,” he explains. “It’s not that big, not that small, but it has its own life, its own characteristics. Like very good public transport. It’s kind of renowned all over Brazil.” This must be how foreigners feel when Melbournites talk about the trams.

As far as its music, Oliveira explains that in Brazil – especially southern Brazil – house music is popular at the moment, with places like the Warung Beach Club, which calls itself “the South American Temple of Electronic Music”, acting as hubs for a thriving scene. “The crowds are really warm at the moment and more open-minded than they used to be three years ago. Now’s a really good moment for the house scene. I would say that it’s pretty much very similar to playing in Brazil and over in Europe or Asia, not a big difference. Maybe in Europe there’s a bigger scene for techno and everything but house I would say it’s pretty similar at the moment.

“I feel pretty comfortable to play either in Brazil or in Europe or

Asia, the places I go to now I feel really comfortable. Sometimes I feel more comfortable playing in Brazil. My city, for example, the club vibe I know exactly what I can play and it’s really chilled out, the people are open-minded and they respect the new ideas and everything so it’s cool.”

But right now Oliveira’s not in Brazil. He’s in Switzerland, taking four days off before heading to Berlin, which is the next stop on a touring schedule that will bring him to Australia in June. Although he’s seen plenty of the rest of the world, this will be his first time in Australia. Friends who’ve been here before have given him the lowdown on what to expect.

“They tell me some good things about it especially like the beautiful landscapes, beaches and also some nice parties going on there,” he says. “Like of course Sydney, Melbourne, they’re pretty worldwide famous so I’ve seen some photos and I know a little bit.” That’s not been his only source of information on our country, however. “I’m expecting a warm crowd because on my Facebook page I receive a lot of messages from people in Australia telling they are waiting for me there,” he says. “They’re looking forward, excited to see me playing, so I think it’s going to be nice.”

When Oliveira was a teenager, before house music exerted its pull on him, he was into hip hop and even a member of a

Didier Cohen

p-money word s / l a c h la n k a n o n i u k

It’s been a while since we last heard from Kiwi producer extraordinaire P-Money. Turns out he’s been plugging away at a new album while based in downtown Manhattan. It’s here where I find P-Money nested in his East Village apartment, just before his Antipodean homecoming for a tour to launch his star-studded new LP, Gratitude. His Kiwi accent undiminished by his newfound New York residence, he recounts the starting point of the album’s winding journey.

“I would say it was somewhere around August-September last year was when I really made the absolute decision – ‘cool, I’m gonna do this album, it’s going to be a compilation of different artists, and I need to get it done by a certain date’,” he states. “Music-wise I already had beats, so I had some things to choose from. That helped define the sound.”

Gratitude marks a return to fundamental hip hop values, enlisting the vocal talents of Talib Kweli, Mobb Depp’s Havoc, Monsta G, Freddie Gibbs, Blaison Maven, Jamall Bufford and plenty more.

Moving to New York was a motivated decision to become absorbed in the city’s rich hip hop history.

“I guess it was a deliberate move when I moved here, to be in the mix

with hip hop and other genres of music. New York is the hub, and I wanted to be a part of that. Just being in this environment, hearing other people’s music. And just being closer to that underground hip hop movement. I’m working with [record label] Duck Down, and that’s their area of expertise. It’s just got me back on that vibe of making rap beats for straight up hip hop – not for radio or the dancefloor. Just good stuff for the rap fans to listen to.”

Though the history of hip hop is both rich and expansive, P-Money has narrowed his scope to the classic era of East Coast rap. “It definitely harks back to the commonly referenced era of the ‘90s New York sound, pioneered by guys like Pete Rock and DJ Premier with Gang Starr. They’re the dudes that I always listen to. That samplebased stuff, chopping up records. That’s always a reference point for a lot of the stuff that I do, particularly with this album.”

All genres of electronic music are more susceptible to the follies of trend, hip hop not excluded. But Gratitude manages to avoid any current trend alignment – a deliberate move on P-Money’s behalf. “I’m a music fan, so I’m always aware, I like to stay in touch with what’s happening. This album I felt that it didn’t stick with any particular trend, but I felt that it’s cool music and there are people

electronic - urban - club life

“I really like to just play along with the machines, with no idea of what’s going to happen,” he says. “It’s very immediate. As soon as I try something new, I can say ‘this was an interesting move’ or ‘this was totally wrong, I should never do this again!’ All the improvising gives me knowledge I can use during the week in the studio.”

Babicz refers to improvising as “the best music school” he could have asked for. It adds a spontaneous quality to his music, and makes him more decisive in the studio. “One of the biggest things it has taught me is the ability to make decisions in the moment,” he says. “When I’m working on a track, I don’t need to change a dozen bass lines around and mess with a bunch of different hi-hats – I know right away what works and what I want.”

Indecisiveness, he says, is the biggest fault that many young producers have. “They’ll sit in the studio for months working on a track, and change little things here and little things there,” he says. “I would go mad if I had to sit on a track for such a long time.

It would be impossible.”

Electronic gear can be very fragile, and Babicz is very conscious of the need to keep his synths in good working order when he tours the world. “Keyboards get damaged all the time!” he says.

“That’s one of the reasons why I stopped carrying a lot of analogue gear in the past, but it was knocked around so many times that my technician told me, ‘If this gets damaged one more time, it’s going to get destroyed and I won’t be able to repair it’. I had to find new ways to do it. I’m very happy about the whole digital revolution, very much. We can do things now that were impossible on the stage, really complicated stuff. I just have two hands.”

Many producers get nostalgic for the good old days of analogue, but Babicz is defiantly not one of these, and embraces the possibilities of the digital revolution. “As a human, I’m always curious,” he says. “I want to move on and I want to learn. I try to use the best things from both worlds. There’s no difference for me – I either like things or I don’t like them.”

Robert Babicz plays alongside Marc Romboy at Brown Alley on Friday May 31. facebook.com/robertbabicz soundcloud.com/robbabicz local breakdance crew, which he joined after they put on a demonstration at his school. “They were the best crew in town,” he says, “and I started practising with them and started dancing together. I think three years [later] I had to quit it because I started working. I also did college – it became more heavy, more and more tasks, I had to quit it and then suddenly I found myself amongst the music, going to clubs and started to throw my small parties in the city with some friends. Nothing extra special but just for fun, with local DJs.” What he modestly calls “small parties” were where he first made contact with the DJs who would become the stable of Playperview, and where he first tried DJing himself. It seems like a sudden rise from there to travelling the world with his music. “Just for one year I was kind of under the radar,” he says, “and then I started to put my music up on Soundcloud, looking for some labels and then after that started releasing some stuff.

After a year and a half things got pretty big and happened quite fast, but not that fast.”

His own music is built around a nugget of the hip hop he used to listen to as a breakdancing kid – he namechecks Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, A Tribe Called Quest, Jungle Brothers, Grandmaster Flash and Jurassic 5 – both in the vocal samples he chooses and the breaks. “I would say that hip hop is my background because I’ve been listening to it such a long time, even before I started breakdancing. I think that the drums of hip hop really inspired me, the breaks inspired me. I like percussion, I like drum grooves, so yeah, definitely the hip hop rhythms inspire me from my position. Sometimes it sounds more hip hop-ish I would say, sometimes not, but definitely I’m always listening to hip hop and just chilling. Or jazz, some blues also. Definitely the percussion – drums inspire me.”

HNQO plays at Brown Alley on Friday June 7. facebook.com/hnqopage soundcloud.com/hnqo

out there that miss the sound, that still dig the sound, and they would really dig the record. I guess it was a deliberate move against the trends. I’m aware of what’s going on, but this is its own thing and hopefully it stands up on its own.”

One of the first tastes from Gratitude came in the form of The Hardest, a collaboration with iconic rap duo M.O.P. “With that particular song, when we first got in touch with M.O.P. to see if they were interested and had to send the track first and foremost so they could hear what I was pitching to them. Then they liked it and said they could do the track. I wanted to record in person, so we got together in a studio near where I live in Soho,” he reveals.

“They were down to do that, and they’d written the bones of it then finished the rest off in the studio. They’re absolute legends in my mind, I’ve been listening to their music since I was a kid. So it was interesting just as a fan to see how they work. I just wanted them to do what they do, they’re known as one of the hardest, most hardcore, rap duos of all time, and I wanted that on the song. And they definitely brought it.”

Despite being away from his homeland for the course of a year, P-Money has been keeping track of New Zealand’s hip hop scene.

“It’s as strong as ever. In some ways it’s enjoying a second renaissance, definitely in the underground side of things. There are artists who have embraced the current music industry model where they can record themselves and distribute it online without the need for any major label infrastructure,” he beams. “I’m watching these kids and some of them are rising to the surface and translating it into real albums that people can purchase. Home Brew is the perfect example, where they did their thing online then at clubs and venues around the country, then within a two year span they’ve had a huge album. There is a whole flock of kids coming up who have seen that example and thought, ‘Cool, we can do that ourselves.’ And that’s really encouraging and great to see.”

P-Money plays alongside David Dallas on Friday June 7 at The Espy. His latest album Gratitude is out now. facebook.com/pmoneynz soundcloud.com/p_money

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electronic - urban - club life

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club guide wednesday may 29

COQ ROQ - FEAT: AGENT 86 + DJS LADY NOIR + JOYBOT + KITI + MR THOM Lucky Coq, Windsor. 7:00pm.

COSMIC PIZZA - FEAT: NHJ Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm DUBSTEP GRIME DRUM & BASS - FEAT: DJ BADDUMS + DJ CARMEX Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

HALFWAYS Workshop, Melbourne. 8:00pm.

HOODRAPZ - FEAT: WEDNESDAY Workshop, Melbourne. 7:00pm.

LOST & FOUND - FEAT: DJ SPIDEY + DJ RUBY FROST Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8:00pm.

MO’ SOUL - FEAT: DJ VINCE PEACH & MISS GOLDIE Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

NEW GUERNICA WEDNESDAYS New Guernica, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm.

SOUL ARMY Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

THE DINNER SET Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 6:00pm.

thursday may 30

3181 THURSDAYS - FEAT: HANS DC + JAKE JUDD + NIKKI SARAFIAN + HEY SAM + JESSE YOUNG + JOHN DOE + SEAN RAULT Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 5:00pm.

BANG N MASH Word Events Warehouse & Lounge, Melbourne. 8:00pm.

BILLBOARD THURSDAYS - FEAT: MATT DEAN + MATTY GRANT + PHIL ROSS Billboard, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. $10.

CHI BEATS Chi Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm.

DJ KRONIC + MS BUTT Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm.

DO DROP IN - FEAT: DJ KITI + DJ LADY NOIR The Carlton Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

DON’T THINK I’M ALIVE THURSDAYS The Vineyard, St Kilda. 7:00pm.

FREE RANGE FUNK - FEAT: AGENT 86 + LEWIS CANCUT + WHO Lucky Coq, Windsor. 6:00pm.

GOOD EVENING - FEAT: DJ PEOPLE Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm.

GRAD PARTY THURSDAYS - FEAT: DJ ROWIE European Bier Cafe, Melbourne Cbd. 5:00pm.

LE DISCO TECH Pretty Please, St Kilda. 8:00pm.

LOVE STORY Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm.

MIDNIGHT EXPRESS - FEAT: DJS PREQUEL & EDD FISHER Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 11:00pm.

MOOD - FEAT: NUBODY Loop, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm.

RADIONICA Workshop, Melbourne. 8:00pm.

THE RITZ THURSDAYS - FEAT: NARI & MILANI + CARRICK DALTON & SAM COHEN + CAUC-ASIAN DJ’S + ED WILKS + JOSHUA GILILAND + KEN WALKER + LUCILLE CROFT + MAX KRUSE + TIM LIGHT + ZACK ROSE Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 8:00pm. $20.

TROCADERO Match Bar & Grill, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

friday may 31

BADABOOM FRIDAYS - FEAT: DJ ROWIE

European Bier Cafe, Melbourne Cbd. 4:00pm.

CANT SAY Platform One, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $10.

CHI FRIDAYS Chi Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

CQ FRIDAYS Cq, Melbourne. 8:00pm.

CRUCIAL SOCIAL ACADEMY - FEAT: DJ A13 + DJ JELLYFISHWORKSHOP, MELBOURNE. 8:00PM. discotheque - feat: elana musto + greg sara + scott t MATCH BAR & GRILL, MELBOURNE CBD. 7:00PM. FRIDAY NIGHT COMMERCIAL HOUSE DJS - FEAT: HIJACK + LIVNBEYNG + MAGIC HOUSE Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 8:30pm.

I LOVE OLD SCHOOL - FEAT: SHAGGZ & PUPPET + DJ TEY + MERV MAC Red Bennies, South Yarra. 10:00pm. $10.

MEET YOUR MATES FRIDAYS Libation, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.

PANORAMA - FEAT: DJS MATT RAD + MR GEORGE + PHATO A MANO + TOM MEAGHER Lucky Coq, Windsor. 8:00pm.

POPROCKS - FEAT: DR PHIL SMITH Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

REMEMBER ME The Motel, South Melbourne. 8:00pm.

RETRO SEXUAL One Twenty Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

SHUFFLE FRIDAY NIGHTS Bridie O’reilly’s Brunswick, Brunswick. 10:00pm.

SVELT + BISCOTTI + MANGELWURZEL 303, Northcote. 8:30pm. $10.

THE FOX FRIDAYS Fox Hotel, Collingwood. 7:00pm.

UPTOWN GROOVE Order Of Melbourne, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

WEEKENDER! Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

SHUFFLE FRIDAY NIGHTS Bridie O’reilly’s Brunswick, Brunswick. 11:00pm.

THE FOX FRIDAYS Fox Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.

UPTOWN GROOVE Order Of Melbourne, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

saturday june 1

VENICE MUSIC - FEAT: DJ ALI E Some Velvet Morning, Clifton Hill. 8:00pm.

BILLBOARD SATURDAYS - FEAT: FRAZER ADNAM SCOTT MCMAHON + JAMIE VLAHOS + MR MAGOO + ZIGGY Billboard, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $15.

CHI SATURDAYS Chi Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm CLUB FICTION - FEAT: KITTY ROCK & THE BAD LADIES Red Bennies, South Yarra. 2:00am.

DJ PLAZMA Idgaff Bar & Venue, Abbotsford. 8:00pm.

FIRST FLOOR SATURDAYS - FEAT: BILLY HOYLE + DJS DUCHESZ + MZRIZK + WASABI First Floor, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.

GLITCH THIS - FEAT: SATURDAY Workshop, Melbourne. 7:00pm.

HOT STEP Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 7:00pm.

LAB 22 Palace Theatre, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm.

MIXED DRINKS SATURDAYS

recommends

snaps bimbos

omar-s

One of Detroit’s most revered contemporary producers, Omar-S’ 2013 tour comes off the back of his latest release Thank You For Letting Me Be Myself. The techno and house stalwart was meant to return to Melbourne in 2011 for a show alongside Robert Babicz and Scuba but was forced to abandon the tour in the eleventh hour. Omar-S will play at The Liberty Social on Friday May 31 with support from the bearded adonis Tornado Wallace and Andee Frost.

Libation, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.

MOTEL SATURDAYS The Motel, South Melbourne. 8:00pm.

NEW GUERNICA SATURDAYS New Guernica, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm.

ONESIXFIVE - FEAT: DJ COURTNEY MILLS + DJ HOOPS + DJ OLLIE HOLMES + DJ JOSH PAOLA + DJ WILL CUMMINGS Onesixone, Prahran. 3:00am.

POISON APPLE Prince Bandroom, St Kilda. 8:00pm.

SATURDAY CONFIDENTIAL Galley Room, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

SATURDAYS - FEAT: ACTION SAM + DJ ROWIE European Bier Cafe, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm.

SATURDAYS @ LEVEL 2 - FEAT: DJ BOOGS + DJ CHESTWIG + DJ LUKE MCD + DJ MIKE HUNT + DJ ROWIE + DJ SPECIAL K Level 2 The Club, Northcote. 9:00pm.

SATURDAYS AT ONE TWENTY BAR One Twenty Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

SOUND EMPIRE - FEAT: DJ TATE STRAUSS + DJ JOE SOFO + DJ MATTY + DJ MISS SARAH + DJ PHIL ROSS Fusion, Southbank. 9:30pm. $25.

SOUTH SIDE SHOW - FEAT: EDD FISHER + KNAVE KNIXX Red Bennies, South Yarra. 8:00pm. $15.

STAR SATURDAYS Star Bar, South Melbourne. 8:00pm.

STRUT SATURDAYS - FEAT: COLLECTIVE + ANDREAS + DANNY MERX + HENRIQUE + JASON SERINI + MARK PELLEGRINI + MC JUNIOR + NICK VAN WILDER Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 8:00pm. $22.

SUNDAY NIGHTS - FEAT: DJ DAMION DE SILVA + DJ JAY J + DJ KEN WALKER + DJ LIGHTING Co., Southbank. 8:30pm.

TEMPERANCE SATURDAYS - FEAT: DJ MARCUS KNIGHT + DJ XANDER JAMES Temperance Hotel, South Yarra. 8:00pm.

TEXTILE - FEAT: DJS PACMAN + JEAN PAUL + MOONSHINE + TAH Lucky Coq, Windsor. 6:00pm.

THE FOX SATURDAYS Fox Hotel, Collingwood. 7:00pm.

THE HOUSE DEFROST - FEAT: DJ ANDEE FROST Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 11:00pm.

WHAT’S DOING? - FEAT: DJ CITIZEN.COM Workshop, Melbourne. 8:00pm.

WHY NOT? - FEAT: SATURDAY Pretty Please, St Kilda. 8:00pm.

sunday june 2

COSMIC TONIC Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 9:30pm.

DANGER - FEAT: GEORGE HYSTERIC & ROHAN BELL-TOWERS The Carlton Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

GUILTY PLEASURES Pretty Please, St Kilda. 8:00pm.

MOTEL SUNDAYS The Motel, South Melbourne. 8:00pm.

NO MORE-BANG-FOR-BUCK BURLESQUE SHOW! Red Bennies, South Yarra. 8:00pm.

REVOLVER SUNDAYS - FEAT: DJ BOOGS + DJ SPACEY SPACE + DJ RADIATOR + DJ SILVERSIX + DJ T-REK Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 6:30pm.

SOUTH SIDE HUSTLE - FEAT: ASKEW + BOOSHANK + DISCO HARRY + JUNJI + MISS BUTT + PAZ + PETER BAKER Lucky Coq, Windsor. 8:30pm.

SUNDAE SHAKE - FEAT: AGENT 86 + PHATO-A-MANO + TIGERFUNK Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 4:00pm.

SUNDAY SESSIONS - FEAT: DAN BOWDENA ND MAYFIELD + FOUNKSHUI Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 4:30pm.

SURRENDER - FEAT: DJ SERGEANT SLICK + DJ ADAM TRACE + DJ ADRIAN CHESSARI + DJ CHRIS OSTROM + DJ SEF Fusion, Southbank. 8:00pm.

THE SUNDAY SET - FEAT: DJS ANDYBLACK + HAGGIS Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 4:00pm.

monday june 3

IBIMBO - FEAT: LADY NOIR & KITI Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 6:00pm.

KOOL AID - FEAT: DJ MU-GEN Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

STIFF DRINK - FEAT: DJ MICHAEL KUCYK + DJ MICHAEL OZONE + DJ ROMAN WAFERS Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

TWERKERS CLUB - FEAT: DJ FLETCH Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:00pm.

tuesday june 4

BIMBO TUESDAYS - FEAT: ADAM ASKEW Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

COSMIC PIZZA Lucky Coq, Windsor. 8:00pm.

DJ JAGUAR E55, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

NEVER CHEER BEFORE YOU KNOW WHO’S WINNING - FEAT: REPETER FONDA Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm.

8

electronic - urban - club life

first floor