THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE
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THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE
THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE
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FOR MORE UP TO DATE NEWS GO TO BEAT.COM.AU
UPCOMING
MAY
ONTOUR MOUNT KIMBIE [UK] Thursday May 3, The Hi-Fi DIGITALISM [FRA] Friday May 4, The Forum ORBITAL [UK] Friday May 4, Billboard DERRICK MAY [USA] Friday May 4, Brown Alley AZAX SYNDROM [ISR], FREEDOM FIGHTS [ISR] Friday May 4, Royal Melbourne Hotel CHRIS LIBERATOR [UK], STERLING MOSS [UK] Friday May 4, The Liberty Social TILL VON SEIN [GER] Friday May 4, The Mercat JAMES ZABIELA [UK], ALEX NIGGEMAN [GER], GEORGE FITZGERALD [UK] Friday May 4, Billboard GROOVIN’ THE MOO: DIGITALISM [GER], SHAPESHIFTER [NZ] + MORE Saturday May 5, Prince of Wales Showgrounds, Bendigo ADRIAN LUX [SWE] Saturday May 5, Warehouse ATMOSPHERE [USA], EVIDENCE [USA] Thursday May 10, The Hi-Fi PARIAH [UK], BLAWAN [UK] Friday May 11, The Liberty Social DMX [USA] Friday May 11, Trak SILICONE SOUL [UK] Friday May 11, Onesixone ROBERT BABICZ [GER], LUSINE [USA], NADJA LIND [GER], KLARTRAUM [GER] Friday May 18, Brown Alley SAN SODA [BEL] Friday May 18, Revolver AJAPAI [JPN] Friday May 18, Brown Alley BILL BREWSTER [UK] Friday May 18, New Guernica DANNY BROWN [USA], M.E.D [USA] Thursday May 24, Prince Bandroom LAPALUX [UK], oOoOO [USA] + MORE Friday May 25, Revolt Artspace TREE OF LIFE: DICK TREVOR [UK], GREEN NUNS OF THE REVOLUTION [UK], MINDWAVE [ISR] + MORE Friday May 25 – Sunday May 27, TBA SHOWTEK [NED] Friday May 25, Chasers Nightclub LEVON VINCENT [USA] Friday June 1, The Liberty Social CRAZE [USA], CODES [USA] Friday June 1, Prince Bandroom AMON TOBIN [BRA] Tuesday June 5, The Palace Theatre GHOSTFACE KILLAH [USA], DOOM [USA], CHINO XL [USA] Saturday June 9, The Forum CHRIS LIEBLING [GER] Sunday June 10, Brown Alley BLOKE4D [UK], PROLIX [UK], AEPH [UK] + MORE Sunday June 10, Prince of Wales SWITCH [UK] Sunday June 10, Melbourne Hotel HYPE WILLIAMS [UK] Friday June 22, The Liberty Social ANGY KORE [ITA], PERFECT STRANGER [ISR], VIBE TRIBE [ISR], SESTO SENTO [ISR] Royal Melbourne Hotel, Friday June 22 LADYHAWKE [NZ] Tuesday July 17, Billboard VAKULA [UKR] Friday July 27, The Mercat
REAL TALK
I’ve always thought that R Kelly is the Orson Welles of our generation. But really, who doesn’t? “Girl you’re in the kitchen, cooking me a meal. Something makes me wanna’ come in there and get a feel.” I mean come on people, this is insightful lyrical genius from a higher form of life if I’ve ever seen it. Someone take down this man’s wisdom as scripture. Tyson Wray
Atmosphere and Evidence: Joining the Party Got your tickets for the explosive double bill that is Atmosphere and Evidence at The Hi-Fi yet? Hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Atmosphere has been a driving force in independent hip hop for 20 years. Rapper Slug (Sean Daley) and DJ/producer Ant (Anthony Davis) were the first to put Twin Cities hip hop on the map and became the co-founders of independent label Rhymesayers Entertainment. Big. Rounding off the evening will be the recently-announced support act, modern-day vigilante Eloquor. The Melbourne-based lad is a favourite around town, having earned his stripes performing alongside the likes of Pegz, Briggs, and the Hilltop Hoods. A veritable storyteller, his rhymes are equal measures cutting-edge, witty and honest, backed by fierce beats constructed with help from plenty of fellow superstars such as Suffa, Frank Dukes, Pokerbeats and Hattori Hanzo. Sounds good to us! Atmosphere, Evidence and Eloquor play The Hi-Fi on Thursday May 10.
Orbital: Gets Wonky Heads-up, raver children who’ve booked tickets to catch the legendary techno and house duo Orbital next week would do well to bear in mind the recently-announced venue change – Billboard is the new venue for the undoubtedly wonky beats that the Hartnoll brothers will be bringing to Melbourne. Friday May 4 – be there.
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oOoOO:
Alias of 22-year-old Essex beats fiend Stuart Howard, Lapalux is a name to keep your eyes on. Responsible for some seriously stellar releases on Pictures and his new home, Flying Lotus-owned Brainfeeder alongside brilliant reworks for Bonobo, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, and Crystal Fighters, Howard’s unique brand of twisted sampling skills and soulful, warm beats is proving irresistible. Joining him are Tri Angle’s confusingly-named secret weapon oOoOO – inspired by the overlap between indie and pop music’s reach, the LA-based chillwave/witch house producer’s spectral, ghostly productions takes cues from shoegaze, rave, pop and hip hop and combines them into something entirely unique and thrilling. With Melburnian Hiatus Kaiyote, the Uncomfortable Beats crew, and plenty of others in for the ride, this is one stellar lineup - catch them at Revolt Artspace on Friday May 25.
Launching in 2010, Rap City brought DJ Premier, The Beatnuts, Masta Ace and Edo G to Melbourne, and it’s returning in 2012 bigger than ever! Jesus Christ, talk about a comeback. Featuring an all-class lineup of rap royalty, this year’s headline slots have been claimed by none other than Wu-Tang’s Ghostface Killah, alongside East Coast hip hop king DOOM, and Bronx native Chino XL. Clear your motherfucking diaries. It all goes down at the Forum on Saturday June 9.
Kode9’s seminal dubstep and grime imprint Hyperdub can seriously do no wrong. Since its inception in 2004, they’ve not put a single foot wrong, home to some of the genre’s finest, including Burial, Zomby, Ikonika, and plenty of others - including the enigmatic cross-border, Berlin/London duo that is Hype Williams. Taking their name from a notorious hiphop music video creator, Hype Williams create music coloured by early dubstep, grime and postmodern culture, have released tunes by sticking USB sticks in apples in Brixton Market, and claim to avoid repetition in writing music by “changing dealers every two months”. With plenty of praise for their releases thus far, it’s certain that Hype Williams are making an impression – albeit one that’s shrouded in smoke and mirrors. Get hyped - Hype Williams play the Liberty Social on Friday June 22.
EDITORIALDEADLINE - 2PM FRIDAYS NO EXCEPTIONS
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UP TO DATE
Bill Brewster: An Education
With a firmly-cemented reputation as one of dance music’s key commentators and historians as well as an outstanding career as a DJ and producer over the past 30 years, Bill Brewster’s voice is one that has played an undeniable role in shaping the landscape of the contemporary dance music industry. As another writer once keenly noted: what Bill Brewster doesn’t know about disc jockeying is probably not worth knowing. Beginning his career as a DJ way back when in ‘86, he was one of the dudes responsible for founding the legendary Fabric, going on to play weekly for six years. Emphasising his musical diversity on the decks, one week he would come on after Sasha in the main room to finish the night, the next he would be sparring with Leo Zero in Room 3 playing mental disco records and Balearic biscuits. In addition to this enviable accolade, his books Last Night A DJ Saved My Life and The Record Players are two mustreads for anybody worth their salt in talking dance music. Ready to dig through his expansive record collection for a series of Australian club dates, get ready to be schooled as Bill Brewster plays New Guernica on Friday May 18.
Craze and Codes: Deeper
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Tokyo is probably not the first place you think of when it comes to deliciously vicious dubstep beats, but Japanese young-gun Ajapai is all about breaking out of the confines of conventionality. With a fondness for aggressively fun and fierce music that gets clubbers on their feet and flailing about wildly, it’s no wonder his debut release What Do You Hear? managed to take out third place on the Beatport chart, cementing his place as a figure to pay close attention to. Picked up by Rottun Records on the strength of his few releases, he also started up his own label Ajapai Entertainment, with a Beatport Annual Award to its name already, despite its relative youth. Having worked with Excision and Downlink on his latest release, and toured internationally playing festivals and clubs across Europe, Canada and the US, Ajapai’s dancefloor mayhem is well and truly tried and tested. Get in on the action: Ajapai plays Brown Alley on Friday May 18.
Rap City: Ghostly Doom
Hype Williams: The Hype Machine
Lapalux Ghostly
Ajapai: Turning Japanese
Jaytech: Trance Wizard
Anunjadeep favourite and Canberra success story Jaytech is a well-established name both here and abroad. Classically trained as a pianist and a perfectionist when it comes to programming, his emotionally-laden take on deep melodies and sunny electronic grooves are a guaranteed hit, whether in the world’s biggest stadiums or on your back-to-mine 6am soundtrack. Earning himself a cult following for his oustanding Anunjadeep mixes, carefullyconstructed production work or uplifting, intoxicating DJ sets, Jaytech is undoubedtly one of Australia’s finest exports. Heading back soon for a series of club dates, we’re sure you’ll be welcoming him back with open arms - catch him at Room680 on Saturday May 19.
Turntablist-master, multiple-DMC champion and undoubtedly the most talented DJ you’ll ever see in the flesh, Craze took out the DMC World Champion title three years running – an impressive achievement on its own, surely. Not enough for him, however, promptly teaming up with then-unknown A-Trak to form The Allies and take out the Team Championship together in 2000 and 2001. Those mad skills on the decks have earned him a place as Kanye West’s official tour DJ, a producer whose talents have been capitalised on by everyone from Ninja Tunes, OM, Cartel – running the full gamut of dance music, from rap and hip hop to drum and bass and raw booty house. Establishing his own label Slow Roast (sublabel of the much-adored Fool’s Gold) in 2010 was a move that allowed him to turn his keen instinct for killer beats into a way of nurturing the careers of other rising stars, including fellow touring act, Brooklyn-based Codes, who shot to fame last year on the back of his Codes House EP and remixes for Silver Medalion and Solidisco - reaching back to the golden days of hip hop and house music. Together, the duo are about to drop a collaborative effort Deeper together, and this tour will show y’all what they’re about. Catch them at the Prince Bandroom on Friday June 1.
THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE
5.
ATMOSPHERE
“But when I was younger I had no intention of making it to 40 man, I wanted to fucking party, live hard and burn out fast and shit. And now I’m kind of like, ‘Fuck, I think I want to make like 40 more children�.
FAMILY SIGN: LIFESTYLE CHANGE After building a career and a cult following by exploring his own foibles, Sean Daley, aka Slug, is largely at peace with himself as he approaches 40. The subjects that once defined the Minneapolis rapper – women, alcohol, and dependency issues, for example – have given way on recent albums to a more reflective and mature outlook. The turning point for both his music and his life came as he began working on what would become 2008’s When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold.
;IHRIWHE] RH
“CoQ RoQ� Mr Thom, Joybot
8LYVWHE] VH
“Free Range Funk� Nikki & Jake, Tiger Funk
“When I conceived that actual record, I didn’t want to make a record that was, like, ‘Oh, here’s another record of Sean complaining about his surroundings,’ you know? A part of me has really made some proactive decisions to change my surroundings so that I didn’t have those surroundings to complain about anymore,� he says. “And when I did that, the funny thing was, I started to notice other people’s tragedies, if that makes any sense. I wasn’t sitting there swimming in my own tragic moment as much anymore; instead I was starting
;IHRIWHE] RH
“Cosmic Pizza�
presented by NHJ 8LYVWHE] VH
“Tigerfunk (live)� Dave Pham
*VMHE] XL
“Panorama� Thom Meagher, Mr George, Matt Rad
7EXYVHE] XL
“Textile�
*VMHE] XL
“Juicy�
DJ Neil Armstrong (Jay Z’s tour DJ)
Agent 86, Ayna, Huw Joseph
DOWNSTAIRS
Greyskull ,Samari, Pakman UPSTAIRS
Kodiak Kid, Mr Moonshine, Dj B - Two
7YRHE] XL
7EXYVHE] XL
“Hot Step�
Adam Askew, Virginia Le, Katie Drover
“Roof Top Party� BAND
7YRHE] XL
last one, come celebrate the end of summer...
“The Sundae Shake�
“Zevon� “South Side Hustle�
Phato Amano, Agent 86, Tigerfunk
Adam Askew + Guest, Booshank
1SRHE] XL
“Struggle�
1SRHE] XL
“iBimbo�
Tiger Funk
8YIWHE] XL
“Cosmic Pizzas� NHJ plus guest
6.
8YIWHE] XL
“Curious Tales� Matt Radovich Andras Fox
COVER STORY
to build more compassion for other people, and so that took what I was writing somewhere else.â€? Of course, Daley’s skill at mining his “own tragic momentâ€? for pathos and self-deprecating humour is what initially drew many fans to Atmosphere – his twodecade-long partnership with producer Anthony Davis, aka Ant. It’s no coincidence that 2002’s God Loves Ugly – easily the group’s most sardonic work – was their breakout album. But over six studio albums, depending on how and what you count, and a myriad of EPs and mixtapes, Daley has evolved from a shit-talker rapper (1997’s Overcast) to a self-loathing Lothario (God Loves Ugly), and finally a wizened storyteller (When Life Gives You Lemons). Daley, who turns 40 in September, is now living a relatively charmed life with a happy marriage, two sons and a role in one of hip hop’s most prominent independent acts. “Personally, I welcome 40. I didn’t know that I’d make it to 40, and I’m not trying to sound like a rap clichĂŠ when I say that,â€? Daley says. “But when I was younger I had no intention of making it to 40 man, I wanted to fucking party, live hard and burn out fast and shit. And now I’m kind of like, ‘Fuck, I think I want to make like 40 more children’. “I’m fine with it because a few years ago I realised that if you practice good decision making – and when I say good decision making I mean less whiskey and more forethought – if you practice good decision making, things actually get better as you get older, and so I’m really looking forward to a continuation of that,â€? he adds. “As long as I’m taking care of myself and eating right and not wilding out, fucking drinking whiskey and doing coke off a stripper’s face, I think that things with life are just gonna get better and better. But who’s to say? Who knows what’s right around the corner? Maybe 40 will be great and then at 41 suddenly I’ll get the gout and they’ll have to cut off one of my feet. I dunno.â€? Daley speaks with the same forthright honesty that’s always been obvious in his music and, as his last comment shows, his sarcastic jocularity is never far away. He’s always been known as one of hip hop’s most upfront artists, resulting in his music, circa God Loves Ugly, often being tagged derisively as ‘emo rap’. But his lyrics have always been more ‘based on a true story’ than a factual retelling of his experiences. For example, it’s typical for new fans to feel a little slighted when they learn that Lucy Ford, a character present on many of Atmosphere’s early albums and the target of some of Daley’s most scornful lyrics, is not a real person. “Even back with the Lucy stuff; none of that shit was actually autobiographical but the point behind it was; like, I dealt with a situation that made me want to write a song but I’ve got to change a lot of the stuff to protect people and their reputations in my city. I can’t just throw somebody under the bus. I’m not allowed to embarrass anybody but myself. I’m not allowed to hurt anybody but myself, so, in that sense I wrote a whole bunch of songs that on the surface are not autobiographical, but underneath it, yes, very much so,â€? Daley says. “I think that I’ve been fortunate that I’ve always been able to do that with my records; my records are allowed to follow me wherever I go, as long as I continue to be real with how I am and with how I feel,â€? he says. “It’s like, if I’m going to shove a moral compass down your throat, well fuck, I want it to actually be my moral compass.â€? Atmosphere’s latest album, last year’s The Family Sign, was their most musical to date, with their touring lineup – guitarist Nate Collis and keyboardist Erick Anderson
– heavily involved in the studio. Although Daley says it gave the group more scope, it also made recording the album a more time consuming process. “Sometimes it can get more complicated; it can take longer, but not because what you’re doing is actually taking longer; it’s because now you’re adding elements into the process that you never even had before,� he says. “The funny thing is that we still use Ant’s drum programming, you know what I mean? Ant has been known now, for decades, as the guy with the snares that are way too loud, you know what I mean? And so we’re still making songs where the snares are way too loud but, holy shit, we’re spending all this time trying to figure out a synth-based sound,� he adds. “I really feel like on one hand it keeps the purity of what is Atmosphere in place but, on the other hand, it really gives Anthony that opportunity to evolve and to test the Quincy Jones in him.� On their upcoming tour, Atmosphere will perform with the same set up they used in the studio for The Family Sign. The live drummer, who Atmosphere has toured with previously, recently left the live band to return to his native Pittsburgh, and the group decided to rely on Ant’s studio drums instead (“I missed the boom bap feel, I guess,� Daley notes). As punters who have caught previous tours would be aware, their shows are heavy on fan favourites, with sets more likely to include B-sides released solely on vinyl-only EPs like God’s Bathroom Floor than a recent single. “I’ve learned that if you don’t play some selections from all over the place, the odds of you getting beat up by the audience increase greatly,� Daley says. “I feel like that’s always been one of the things that we do, is we do pick songs off different records, and not just focus on one album. I guess as the owner of a record label I’m supposed to probably just make sure to focus on the new stuff and try and get people to buy the new record, but people don’t buy records anymore, so who cares? Fuck it, I’m going to perform all Slick Rick songs.� Outside Atmosphere, Daley has remained prolific – most notably releasing three albums with Los Angeles rapper Murs under the banner Felt. He has also helped build his label Rhymesayers Entertainment into one of America’s biggest independent hip hop labels, currently home to the likes of acclaimed producer Jake One and Dilated People’s Evidence, Atmosphere’s co-headline on their upcoming tour. He says that he’s excited about the coming year, which will see releases from Aesop Rock, Brother Ali, I Self Devine and P.O.S. On his musical front though, a year on from the release of The Family Sign, Daley says he has a number of projects on the go but none are at a stage where he’s keen to discuss them. “I’ve got my hands in so many different pots right now that I have no idea which one of these dinners is going to finish first. I don’t ever quit; there’s always something a-brewing. I don’t really like to talk about something until it’s closer to arising because I don’t like to get my own hopes up high; you never know what might fall through, so, there’s no need for me to go into my collaboration with Radiohead just yet,� he deadpans. “I’m doing a lot of dumb shit and hopefully some of it will come out some day.� Joshua Hayes Atmosphere [USA] plays alongside Evidence [USA] and Eloquor [AUS] at The Hi-Fi on Thursday May 10.
THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE
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WEDNESDAY2ND 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
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
WEDNESDAYS AT CO. Don’t miss Melbourne’s biggest mid-week party night Wednesdays at Co.! Featuring Premier DJ Petar Tolich and Scotty E spinning all your favourite 90’s to current party anthems! Co., Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
WEDNESDAY AT LOUNGE Enter the middle of the week; for some it’s the beginning of the weekend, for others it’s a break from study, for those of us who are travelling, it probably has no real significance (unless you’re wanting to party with the hot European girls from the hostel...because any day is simply another day when you’re travelling). Humpday Animals is your midweek stomping ground, featuring DJs Danny Silver, Manchild & Mu-Gen. Free entry. Lounge, 243 Swanston Street, Melbourne
WEDNESDAYS AT THE ORDER Deep, dark, minimal dubstep and drum and bass. The Order of Melbourne, 2/401 Swanston Street, Melbourne
THURSDAY3RD BILLBOARD THURSDAYS Billboard Thursdays are all about regular themed nights, drink specials, promotions and giveaways. Every week, join residents DJs and regular guests playing commercial house, electro and R&B. Billboard, 170 Russell Street, Melbourne CBD
DUBSTEP THURSDAYS It’s Dubstep, it’s Eurotrash, it’s new, it’s the vibe, it’s Thursdays, it’s weekly and it’s free. So get down to Eurotrash and get your wobble on. Eurotrash Bar, 18 Corrs Lane, Off Chinatown, Melbourne CBD
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
PAPPARAZZI Paparazzi Fridays present DJs Nikkos, Joe Sofo and Kitty Kat bringing you the biggest anthems and club classics all night long. Co., Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
SLOW HOUSE THURSDAYS Slow House Thursdays is just what Brunswick has been missing. Get down to the latest Thursday spot at Noise Bar, find a space with your bros and get into the as DJs Same O, David Bass and James Hurt spin bass laced tunes ‘til the early hours of the morning. Noise Bar, 291 Albert Street, Brunswick
WONDERLUST Fate, karma, the yin and the yang, the balance between chaos and order or divine intervention? A new spiritual high has emerged from the cosmic energies of the universe and it’s called Wonderlust! As luck would have it you can come and experience the effects of this strange new phenomena every Thursday night at The Carlton! Carlton Club, 193 Bourke Street, Melbourne
FRIDAY4TH
Start your weekend with Brian McFadden making a celebrity guest appearance, hit the DJ decks and spinning his top 10 tunes. The Freedom Pass will also give you a choice of 5 huge rooms of entertainment and 4 different styles of music. Featuring Joe Sofo, Kitty Kat, Nikkos and MC Brodie Young. Fusion, Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
FRIDAY NIGHT LOFT PARTY Kitty Schmidt couldn’t find quality dance music in Fitzroy so she’s decided to open up her bedroom doors. Living above Melbourne’s stalwart lesbian/gay Libation Bar, she’s now throwing a monthly party in her boudoir. Come into her renovated upstairs loft, cocktail bar, dance floor and smoking terrace. With quirky house, deep disco and erotic electronica being spun by Marvin Roland, Mr. Pyz and Kitty Schmidt DJs. Libation, 302 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
This Friday we are blessed with Tigerfunk’s jizz-style boogie! The night will travel through various digestible genres and will feature the sporadic guerrilla tentacles of Ezra and his squad of freakishly talented live artists at Sonic Graffiti & the Transience - Musical revelry with an eye for the urbane urban sentients. Special guest is Mr. Moonshine. Expect house music all night long, delivered Tigerfunk style. Lounge, 243 Swanston Street, Melbourne
JAMES ZABIELA James Zabiela’s last sighting in Melbourne wasn’t too long ago - and let me tell you, it was one fierce gig. Packing out Brown Alley wall-to-wall, his signature mashup of everything from breakbeats, house, drum and bass, techno, and everything in between. The key to Zabiela’s appeal is in his eclectic, anything-goes take on both DJing and production - taking tracks and layering and warping them in completely new and novel ways with the help of two Pioneer CDJ-2000s, a Pioneer EFX-1000, Korg Kaossilator, MIDI controller and a laptop, Zabiela’s shows are always a surprise. Quickly picked up by Sasha’s Excession agency at the beginning of his career, the past few years have seen him release mixes for Renaissance and drop remixes for everyone from Royksopp, Ladytron and Spooky. Badass. This time, James Zabiela will be hitting Melbourne with friends Alex Niggemann whose tracks have been released through influential labels such as Soulfooled, Tsuba, and Poker Flat (the latter on which his debut album is set to be released in a few months), as well as Hotflush signee George Fitzgerald. Billboard, 170 Russell Street, Melbourne
JUICY PRESENTS ARMSTRONG
DJ
NEIL
With a commitment to bringing you Melbourne’s best DJs on the decks week in and week out, Juicy is proud to announce our first international guest Neil Armstrong! Carrying the tags of turntablist, mixtape king, party rocker, Jay Z’s tour DJ and cultural icon, Neil Armstrong is a man whose resume speaks for itself. From manning the decks in front of 100,000 people at Glastonbury to rocking venues and clubs all over the world, he is a DJ guaranteed to get the party started from the word go. Bimbo Deluxe, Cnr Rose St and Brunswick St, Fitzroy
ORBITAL Last seen in Australia just over a year or so ago, the English dance institution known as Orbital (made up of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll) were last seen here roadtesting their live show out on a sea of blissed-out raver kids reliving the heady days of early nineties dance. Having been making some of the most groundbreaking dance music since their inception almost 25 years ago with tracks like ‘Halcyon’ undoubtedly part of dance music’s canon, Orbital’s status as one of the most influential acts of all time was recently recognised with an inclusion in the top 10 of a recent poll by Mixmag on the Greatest Dance Acts of All Time - no mean feat! It’s been a busy few weeks for the boys, having just announced their first new studio album in eight depressingly long years, titled Wonky – a reference to the delightfully left-field approach the duo have always taken during their immense career. Promising a customary stunning audiovisual live show that will feature classics from throughout their career, as well as first live airings of the new album – one perfect evening. Billboard, 170 Russell Street Melbourne
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
CLUB SODA Taking place each and every Saturday night in Melbourne’s CBD on the corner of Lonsdale St and King St, Club Soda plays host to a fresh, new concept – local/national/international DJs weekly, un-paralleled entertainment, performances, and disco tomfoolery. Don’t let the bubbly name fool you, Club Soda is your weekend’s thirst quencher – changing people going out for convenience, whilst not leaving the sour taste of an empty wallet on Sunday morning. Our doors open for you every Saturday at 9.30pm, and stay open until you should go home. Brown Alley, Cnr King & Lonsdale St, CBD
Head to Co. this Saturday night for nonstop dance music that will electrify the dance floor, with resident DJs Matty G, Dean T and Joe Sofo, with Marcus Knight and his old skool beats in the side room. Arrive, be seen and be talked about for the rest of the week. Envy much? Co., Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
EDEN SATURDAYS Stunning new venue in the heart of the city – one BIG Party! We bring you the best Top 40 dance, house & R&B in a state of the art venue you have to see! Eden, 163 Russell St, CBD
EUROTRASH HOUSE PARTY Put your hands in the air with some of Melbourne’s best party DJs, including including Mu-Gen, Lace em’ Tight and more. Eurotrash Bar, 18 Corrs Lane, Off Chinatown, Melbourne CBD
FIRST FLOOR SATURDAYS 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
HOMECOMING In the grand tradition of past Saturday nights at the Prince of Wales, it will regain it’s rightful place on the pantheon of Australian dance music playing host to the best and most exciting EDM locally, nationally and internationally. Local residents include Generik, Oskar, Swick, Tranter, M.A.F.I.A., Streetparty DJs and Clip Art, and scheduled guests The Aston Shuffle, Tonite Only, The Swiss, Luke Million, Parachute Youth, Louis La Roche, Alvin Risk and more. In addition, Homecoming has prepared a veritable roster of exciting drinks and cocktails to fuel the fun, including Fresh coconut cocktails, Dr. Pepper, Electric Lemonade, Tecate, Thaistyle Buckets and Bubble Cup cocktails. Prince Bandroom, 29 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
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 LOUNGE
The weekend starts here! Get on down for after work drinks from 5pm with DJs Marcus Knight, Mark Pellegrini, Nick Van Wilder & DJ Anferny getting your weekend started right. 5pm til 3am. CQ, 113 Queen St, Melbourne
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
FIRST FLOOR FRIDAYS
TEKNO MULISHA
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
For half a decade now, Tekno Mulisha have been bringing you some of the best underground techno events Melbourne has to offer and this one will be no exception as they bring you the Australian leg of the Stay Up Forever 100 Tour to help celebrate their 100th release milestone. For the Oz leg of the tour, they’ll be ESSENTIALS
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
WEEKEND The brain child of the creative kids at 360 Agency and Seven Nightclub. The Weekend is here to put a smile on your dial every Saturday night. We want you to join the family. Dancing from 10pm weekly. Seven, 52 Albert Rd, South Melbourne
SUNDAY6TH 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 & 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
MONDAY7TH 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
TUESDAY8TH 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
DJ Profile: Neil Armstrong
EYEM at Lounge features residents Boogs, Hey Sam, Who, & Chief and will host Melbourne’s top purveyors of club music, showcasing both local and international DJs playing the most upfront club music. Expect nothing but excellent house music all night long. And remember, clubbing happens in the EYEM. Lounge, 243 Swanston Street, Melbourne
PRINCES OF THE NIGHT This Saturday at Fusion bring you the ultimate sounds from Femme with Lady Lauryn who will definitely ensure you have a brilliant weekend. Along with top DJs Tate Strauss, Miss Sarah, DJ Nova and Johnny M, and not forgetting the entertainment for the night. Fusion, Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
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 40s. One Twenty Bar, 120 Johnston St, Fitzroy
STAR SATURDAYS
RETRO SEXUAL FRIDAY
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ENVY FRIDAYS AT LOUNGE
CQ FRIDAYS
FREEDOM PASS
bringing you two of the UKs most prolific acid techno producers: Chris Liberator and Sterling Moss! Alongside Chris and Sterling will be some of Melbourne’s heavy hitters and TM regulars in the hard techno/acid techno genres. Add to this, joining forces with TM are usual allies Destroy Ordinary as well as local support. The Liberty Social, Lingham Lane, Melbourne
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
What was the first ever tune you bought? Man, can’t remember that far back. Possibly a record by Queen. Play the game. What’s the most played tune in your box? Right now, I’d say probably Kanye West - Tell Me Nothin Which toy or game best describes you and why? Blaster – The autobot transformer boombox. Pretty self explanatory. I got the music. What do you dislike the most about DJing? Late nights, long hours. Work doesn’t stop when people leave the club. I have to prepare to get the next batch of gigs. …and like the most? Making mixtapes, for sure. That’s my pure creative outlet Favourite DJs/influences and why? My old turntablist buddies the X-Men and my crewmates the 5th Platoon. Mostly for loyalty and nostalgia. In your opinion, what is the worst dance track ever produced and why? Laffy Taffy. That got to be one of the worst songs ever. What’s your favourite saying? I break bread, ribs, hundred dollar bills.
THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE
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MOUNT KIMBIE UPSCALE: CARBON COPIES There is beauty in the banal; magic in the mundane. No-one knows this better than Dominic Maker and Kai Campos, better known to the world as Mount Kimbie. Crafting evocative, hypnotic beat-tapestries of everyday clicks, clacks and ambient textures, the London duo remind us of the hidden richness of our day-to-day lives. Despite their grounding in the quotienne, there’s something slightly mysterious about Mount Kimbie. The name itself evocates some far-off, unscalable mountain peak - a cloud-shrouded oasis of esoteric seclusion. This impression was further confirmed to me by the only contact I had with the pair: a brief email exchange with Maker. Most of his answers raised more questions than they answered. For example, I asked about the origin of the name Mount Kimbie: is it actually a mountain somewhere? “Unfortunately, it is a fictional title that has a very monotonous backstory,” says Maker. “It was tattooed on the left collarbone of a druid we met near Shepton Mallet, Somerset.” Evidently, tattooed druids are a pretty commonplace affair over there. Dominic adds: “The common pronunciation of the name is wrong,” yet infuriatingly offers no clues on how to properly say it. He leaves me with a final, mystifyingly point: “If you write Mount Kimbie on your left hand and look at it in a spherical mirror through white ‘Kanye West’ sunglasses, you will see the hidden secrets within the name.” Hidden secrets! Is there any truth to this? Readers, I’ll let you know as soon as Kanye replies to my emails. In the meantime I’ve filed the matter in Unsolved Mysteries, along with the JFK assassination, quantum entanglement and how magnets work. Back to Mount Kimbie. The two first started making music in 2007, says Maker. “We worked on a couple of tracks together in our university halls, and then continued to write together when we moved to separate parts of London.” The two had played in bands prior to this; Maker and a guitarist and Kai as a drummer. Clubbing was another late influence. “Our musical backgrounds
are a real mixture, to be honest,” Maker shares. He goes on to describe influences as varied as Wu Lyf, Zola Jesus and Congo dance-troupe Konono No. 1, as well as experimental UK producers such as Actress and Shed. Then there are non-musical influences such as Japanese comic-book wizard Katsuhiro Otomo, as well Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and FIFA. Wait, FIFA? Another one for Unsolved Mysteries, perhaps. After a string of EPs and remixes on Paul Rose’s label Hotflush Recordings (home to genre-defying producers such Joy Orbison, Sepalcure, Untold and Rose’s alias, Scuba) Mount Kimbie released their debut album Crooks and Lovers in mid-2010. Much of the album is composed of field recordsings, and speaks of the everyday world of sound. “These sounds come from everyday life and from selective sampling,” tells Maker. It’s evident from the album cover itself: a tracksuit-clad, ample-bottomed black woman walking past a construction site. “The cover shows a local woman walking down the high street in Peckham, South London - where I live,” answers Maker. “We wanted the artwork to have a personal feel to it, a sense of where the majority of album was written.” Their peers on Hotflush, as well artists on as other forwardthinking UK labels such as Hyperdub and Tectonic, are part of a wide spectrum of producers and DJs who critics are finding increasingly hard to pigeonhole to genres. Yet Mount Kimbie themselves are clearly unfazed by the endless chin-scratching and genres debates over post-this and prog-that. When I ask Maker how he would describe the duo’s music to the average man on the street, he replies with refreshing simplicity, “I would say that it was electronic music that is quite ambient and sounds quite poppy.” Quite poppy? While it’s doubtful that many fans would think of them this way, it’s unquestionable that there’s something very playful in the duo’s music. Maybe it’s their blissed-out, juddering beats - like the happy, stumble-drunk momentum of Before I Move Off, or their own take on post-Burial dubstep’s done-to-death pitch shifted vocal loops, which somehow retains its own fresh, sweet flavour. The meandering, chopped-up vocals on
“If you write Mount Kimbie on your left hand and look at it in a spherical mirror through white ‘Kanye West’ sunglasses, you will see the hidden secrets within the name.”
10.
FEATURES
Maybes and Mayor are like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle rearranged in new, deliciously nonsensical ways, yet somehow concealing some rich sense of meaning. Even at their most experimental, Mount Kimbie’s sound is one propelled by gentle whimsy and naïve artistic curiosity. It’s clear from the first listen that this isn’t music made for the club. Yet neither is it armchair techno to drift off to; Mount Kimbie occupy the space between. It’s reflected in their live show, something the duo are continually developing and refining. Maker describes their first show, held in a church in Oslo. “They filled the whole church with smoke and had yellow light coming through stained glass windows onto the stage. It looked epic.” A fitting beginning indeed; the duo now command
a small but devoted following of believers around the world. Sadly, for those praying for another album, there’s no plans for a release in the immediate future. “We’re probably going to release an EP this year, and another album next summer. We’ve been on the road for ages and have only just started to sit down and write again.” With his characteristic sense of understatement, Maker modestly adds: “It’s sounding good so far.” Morgan Richards Mount Kimbie [UK] play The Hi-Fi on Thursday May 3.
SPOONBILL QUIRKY: TUNESROOM Jim Moynihan is your typical happy-go-lucky musician; a humble bloke kicking along, enjoying what he does and copping his due props along the way. “I started being influenced by my brother who played in bands as a kid,” he says. “My brother was five years older than me. We lived in the country, a little past Hurtsbridge. He rehearsed with his band and I was around the scene with those sorts of musicians from a young age.” It was the drums that seemed to capture his attention though and Jim developed a sort of liking for drums and rhythm. “So then I went to play in a few bands myself and then moved into using samplers with more traditional band formats,” he explains. Somewhere in between, he completed a degree in Industrial Design and began freelancing as a product and sound designer on a broad spectrum of commercial and art-based projects that saw him exhibit his conceptual ideas in museums around the world. He won a wide range of audio production awards including the First Place and People’s Choice Award, Electrovision 2004, and Best Sound Design, 2003 in the 15/15 International Film Festival. “From there, things progressed and I started writing and recording my own music. I started sampling friends and things but also creating grooves out of live recordings; live fragments and tiny snippets to create new lines and grooves. I was doing it for my own enjoyment. I never really wanted to release anything. It was just the process I enjoyed. Then after honing my skills and people twisting my arm to release things, by 2005 I released my first album under the name Spoonbill.” More albums and EPs followed. Yet he admits it was a slow if not even trajectory as things progressed, but feedback started coming from people that mattered, around the world. Jim continues with his take: “well the scene and the style made its way underground, some people took notice and things improved more and more.” Today, his music has evolved but it is still edit-heavy, glitch type electronica with a jazzy angle but also influenced by hip hop and big beat. “Sure, it has definitely changed over the years as technology
has changed and my influences have changed,” chimes Jim. “So now it touches on this glitch-hop sound, which is popular in the US. Overall, it loosely brushes on different genres like IDM and broken beat I suppose, but it’s bouncy and quirky and comical at times.” Clearly then, his music is anything but easy to define - and my sneaking suspicion is that is exactly the way he likes it. “I used to call it wonky before that was a genre,” he says laughing. “That sound was popularised by Flying Lotus and that sort of vibe. It’s definitely abstract but it’s pretty fat and chunky as well.” Likewise, Astro Archipelago is his latest threetrack EP and one he considers different to his previous releases. “It’s a 15 minute bunch of tracks that I wrote for a video game actually! It came up after this mob got onto me to use a depth camera which connects to the Xbox – so we developed this fun game which is basically a music thing where the music is all pre-composed in tiny fragments and then arranged in terms of how you perform. It’s a linear composition of a dynamically generated soundscapes, if you know what I mean?” To be honest, I’m not entirely sure what it means but it does sound cool. Regardless, Jim is prepping for a wicked gig with partnerin-crime Dub FX, another local wonder kid who has amazing talent. Jim sums up: “well the idea for the gig came about with Dub FX who I met in Canada last August where we were doing some gigs together. He was a guest musician working with someone I knew over there, so we decided we wanted to do a show at Hi-Fi Bar in Melbourne, so that got the wheels in motion.” Jim comments that maybe it is really his first main event since he’s become quite popular in Melbourne. It’s surprising that it has taken this long for the world to take up and stand notice – but having these two on a lineup will be a masterstroke. But wait, there’s more. “There is another Melbourne producer doing an EP launch as well as me, so there will be a few of us doing some pretty cool stuff on the night. You will hear everything from funky and disco to glitch
“I started sampling friends and things but also creating grooves out of live recordings; live fragments and tiny snippets to create new lines and grooves. I was doing it for my own enjoyment. I never really wanted to release anything. It was just the process I enjoyed.”
and proper electronic sounds. There should really be something for everyone. There is a lot of talent coming out on the night and the line-up is great. To see all of this internationally recognised talent on one bill is fantastic. It’s innovative music and I think it will really be a dancing as well as listening event. Other than the ear candy, there will also be a lot of visual
awesomeness as well.” Sounds like a hoot. RK Spoonbill [AUS] performs with Dub FX [AUS] at The Hi-Fi on Saturday May 5.
DUB FX LOVE: SOMEONE Benjamin Standford isn’t famous enough. The guy is a bona fide superstar. YouTube paints the picture and seeing this guy perform changes your perception of what a man can do with a microphone and some kit, but he’s keeping busy and he’ll get his dues soon enough, as he suggests from his home base on Olinda, on the crisp, mountainous outskirts of Melbourne. So how did life in music begin for this superhero? “I started off playing in loads of different bands all over Melbourne; then I decided to go travelling and had always dreamt of busking so I combined the two. I started making music with a guitar and a backing track, then over time I started using the loop station and the sound just grew and changed while I was on my travels. I was never looking for fame or money, which in my opinion is why those things came to me. I think folks on the street saw that it was something pure and raw and that’s why they bought my CDs or filmed me and put me on YouTube.” After about a year of doing this, Standford saw the potential in what he was up to so kept at it – and this is where it has brought him. Interestingly, he answers with this when I ask why he isn’t more famous? “The reason I think is that no major label has invested interest. Therefore the only thing pushing me forward is word of mouth or word of mouse! “I’ve also just spent some time building my studio which took a lot longer than I thought. The plan was to finish a new album before this tour began but it doesn’t look likely. The songs are there but I just don’t have the time to smash them all out, mix, tweak and finalise them. I’m also working on some new collaborations and a live CD and DVD. I love collaborating actually. For live stuff, I love working with solo musicians. I just made a new video in India with a guy called Mahesh and Cade – it’s
on YouTube as well. In the studio, I still work with Sirius and another guy called Shadow Breaker. Those two are pretty much brothers. I have some other Melbourne musicians I love working with also and there is plenty more to come. Another thing I’m super excited to be working on is a collaboration with Stamina MC!” Which says a little about just how innovative Standford is armed with his gear. “I had a vision of what was to come very early on,” he says. “I could see people getting that crazy look in their eye when I was busking in the rain in all those tiny cities all over Europe.” Which begs the question, why do people like his music? He reckons he has the answer: “people don’t necessarily want to see talent, they want truth. It’s me creating art; I don’t think too carefully about how I structure my songs but I do try to make my chorus catchy and respect the art of making music.” And as he said, there is talk of an album to follow up Everything’s A Ripple as well as his original release, Live in the Street. Then of course there was the 2010 magnum opus titled A Crossworlds, with partner-in-crime Sirius. So there is plenty to come from this champion of the dirty beat and heavy bass line, the puzzle seemingly coming together, as it were. “I had a vision of what was to come very early on. Why do peeps like my music? I think it comes from doing something you connect with. If Ricky Martin hated the music he made he would never had been successful. The Beatles and Michael Jackson are huge influences for me. But I think that if I hadn’t done so much street performing for so many years, those videos wouldn’t have got so much rotation.” Finally too, he adds that he is looking forward to his forthcoming performances. “I will be performing with my fiancé Flower Fairy; it will all be live looping, beat-boxing, dirty beats and heavy bass lines. It will
“I could see people getting that crazy look in their eye when I was busking in the rain in all those tiny cities all over Europe.”
be rounded off with some soothing melodies and conscious lyrics! There will also be a special jungle and drum and bass set at the end of the show for good measure!” So stop sitting around and understand why one of Australia’s most underrated artists is on the cusp of hitting the big time. You read about it here.
Dub FX [AUS] plays The Hi-Fi alongside Spoonbill [AUS] on Saturday May 5.
RK
FEATURES
11.
PURPLEEMERALD BIMBOS
ONETWENTYBAR LUCKYCOQ
STRIKE
FIRSTFLOOR
WORKSHOP
SCENEATABODE STARBAR
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100% CLUB PICS
KHOKOLATKOATEDATKHOKOLATBAR BE.ATCO.
RHYTHMALISMATFUSION
FAKTORYATKHOKOLATBAR
LIFEATREDLOVE
100% URBAN PICS
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DJ Profile: Ripz
WEDNESDAY2ND COMPRESSION SESSION Reggae at E55 every Wednesday night. Resident selectors play stricly vinyl. Free entry. 8pm. E55, 55 Elizabeth St, Melbourne CBD
JESS HARLEN Jess Harlen’s first taste of success in the music industry came at the tender age of 16, recording with the Kool Skools interstate project where her first-ever original song managed to score Best Female Vocalist and Best Acoustic Song in Queensland that year. Spurred on by the warm reception to her talents, Harlen made the move down to Melbourne in ‘06 and hasn’t looked back, releasing a number of successful EPs on her own, working with Muph & Plutonic and Blue King Brown, and dropping her critically-acclaimed debut album Neon Heartache in 2010, marking an exciting journey into soul, blues, roots and subtle hip hop beats. This year’s follow-up effort, Park Yard Slang, continues to develop Harlen’s artistic vision: full of cross-genre explorations and Harlen’s signature soulful vocals. Now that you’ve had enough time to revel in the warm and lively sounds of Park Yard Slang. The Toff, 2/252 Swanston Street, Melbourne
THURSDAY3RD 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
FRIDAY4TH 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 RnB 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. 10pm-5am La Di Da, 577 Little Bourke St, 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
SATURDAY5TH 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 RnB & Ol’Skool sounds strictly for the urban elite. Khokolat Bar, Basement, 43 Hardware La, Melbourne
UPCOMING DMX Divine master of the unknown, the multi-platinum award winning Earl Simmons - better known through his stage name DMX, has emerged as one of hardcore rap’s reigning kings. Toeing the line between the sacred and the profane, Simmons’ narratives present a compelling account of both spiritual anguish and everyday life, Simmons has contributed an untold number of chart-topping singles and no less than six wildly successful fulllength albums and there is little doubt that upcoming release Undisputed will be similarly successful upon its release in a matter of months, featuring the likes of Busta Rhymes, Tyrese, Jennifer Hudson, and production from Deezle, and Swizz Beatz. Friday May 11, Trak, 445 Toorak Road, Toorak
DANNY BROWN AND M.E.D Bubbling up for years before last year’s XXX, Danny Brown caught much of the hip hop world’s attention with his LP The Hybrid but had previously appeared on records with as diverse a bunch of characters as fellow Motor City bad man Guilty Simpson and G Unit’s Tony Yayo. M.E.D triumphantly returned in 2011 with his second LP Classic, flanked by the single Where I’m From with Aloe Blacc. An emcee adored by producers like Just Blaze, J Dilla and Madlib, M.E.D has appeared alongside
OBESE: LOCAL SLANG actually. We took a different writing angle for this one too; we started a lot of tracks in the studio, we had a lot of old beats where I’d written melodies and done some arrangements but there was also acoustic songs that I took into the studio – so overall, it’s a bit of mish mash but in a good way, I’d have to say!” Indeed, she proudly proclaims that there is definitely a new direction and philosophy behind album two. “What we did was more beat based – we were really playing around with production ideas rather than just acoustics and song writing, which is what we did with the last album. We’d start with a drum track or something else but overall, I do feel like we approached it differently and I did things I was always afraid to do previously. We also wanted to make it more edgy and original and we have a real love for all kinds of different genres. We would sit around and listen to old soul records and we’d get into the mood of the music we loved and that directed what we wanted to do. The music now really takes bits and pieces of so many different genres – basically it is an extension of what we were writing last time - it wasn’t us saying ‘let’s just do a hip hop or soul album’ for the sake of it. There’s a chain-gang sound, some neo-soul sounding stuff – I don’t even know if that’s a word but it swims around if you know what I mean?” Finally, she humbly proclaims that band is sounding the best it ever has. “We’ve got a new drummer and our bass player is an entity unto herself – she’s the M.D of the whole thing and has come up with some great arrangements. In one song she’s playing bass, synth bass and then triggering samples from other equipment – while singing! There are a lot of new layers in the live show and it turns it into this pretty bass heavy, good-feeling live show. We’re having a big launch in Melbourne and we’re putting some subs into the club so we’re looking forward to a big, but intimate show.”
“The music now really takes bits and pieces of so many different genres – basically it is an extension of what we were writing last time - it wasn’t us saying ‘let’s just do a hip hop or soul album’ for the sake of it. There’s a chain-gang sound, some neo-soul sounding stuff – I don’t even know if that’s a word but it swims around if you know what I mean?”
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What was the first ever tune you bought? Wreckx-N-Effect – Rump Shaker What’s the most played tune in your box? Would have to be a toss up between 2Pac – Cali Love and Notorious BIG – Juicy.
ATMOSPHERE AND EVIDENCE
JESS HARLEN Obese is still one of the heavyweight champions of the local hip hop scene, punching out plenty of success stories over the years. No less, Jess Harlen is riding the wave with her second release on the imprint in as many years. “I’ve recently been on couple of tours overseas with Blue King Brown – that was in Europe and Canada,” she says. “Then I spent a few months in Boston where I wanted to audition to get into the Berkeley Academy of Music and then came back in Australia.” That was in the last four months or so and in there somewhere she found the time to complete her second album, Park Yard Slang. “Other than that, I’ve totally been working my ass off being a self managed independent artist!” That means doing everything from artwork to rehearsing the band – and that keeps her fairly busy. Modestly, she admits she did get into Berkeley but right now, busting out an album and getting some Benjamins together is her goal. “I do need to find some way to pay for it all; I’m heading back to the USA in May for the rest of the year and from there, want to focus on playing shows and stuff. I guess they’ve got more of a market for this sort of music and I really want to try to make a bit of a mark there if everything works out.” Otherwise, Jess is living between here and there but coming home to Australia is easy and frequent. And regardless of how much time she spends overseas, she doesn’t feel like she’s away permanently. “Of course travelling is a big part of music for me, and since I’ve toured so much and because I’ve been lucky enough to be able to visit so many places, you sort of get an idea about where to spread your message. Ultimately, I’d love to take the band overseas; that’s why I want to pursue this in a successful way, working with guys like Plutonic is so satisfying and fulfilling it doesn’t feel like a job. For me it’s like a continual wish that people will find a way to communicate in a honest way whether it’s being heart broken or warm or whatever – I want to put some of those feelings back into the pond.” Plutonic and Jess went back into the studio recently to work on the follow up to Neon Heartache as part of their two album contract with Obese Records. “We started writing when we finished the first album in 2010
the aforementioned as well as Oh No, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Odd Future member Hodgy Beats, Kurupt, Karriem Riggins, Talib Kweli and many many more. Thursday May 24, Prince Bandroom, 29 Fitzroy St, St Kilda
RK Jess Harlen [AUS] plays Toff In Town on Wednesday May 2 and The Laundry on Saturday May 12. Park Yard Slang is out now through Obese. URBAN
Hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Atmosphere has been a driving force in independent hip hop for 20 years. Rapper Slug (Sean Daley) and DJ/producer Ant (Anthony Davis) were the first to put Twin Cities hip hop on the map and became the co-founders of independent label Rhymesayers Entertainment. Frequently touted as emo rap, Slug’s brutally honest, poetic musings are often extremely personal and socially mindful, managing to traverse topics such as relationships, love, and the trappings of modern society to the soundtrack of melodic blend of blues, soul and gospel samples with vintage analogue synths. Joining Atmosphere will be Grammywinning rapper and producer Michael “Evidence” Perretta. Having spent the better part of his career touring the globe and selling an impressive number of records, he’s produced tracks for the Beastie Boys, Linkin Park, Defari, Planet Asia and more, including co-production on Kanye West’s debut The College Dropout, which earned him his Grammy. Additionally, 2011 saw the release of his longawaited sophmomore album Cats and Dogs, which featured appearances from hot names The Alchemist, DJ Premier, Statik Selektah and loads more. Thursday May 10, The Hi-Fi, 125 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Which toy or game best describes you and why? Street Fighter II as it’s an oldie but goodie like some of the tracks I drop. What do you dislike the most about DJing? Nothing! Big ups to all the DJs doing their thing! …and like the most? Sharing my music and rocking a club/venue at full capacity with the crowd on that feel good vibe. Favourite DJs/influences and why? I have grown up listening to R&B and hip hop from the ‘90s ‘til now and have and still been influenced by DJs such as Q-Bert, Reminise, Manchoo, Jam, Smooth, Rock-Unit, The Club Joint Allstars and many more. In your opinion, what is the worst dance track ever produced and why? I’m sure I’m not alone on this one? Aqua – Barbie Girl, thumbs up if you still listen to this in 2012! Two years from now, where do you wanna be? Taking what I love to the next level, sound production and audio engineering. What’s your favourite saying? Everybody put your hands in the ayer!
GOLDEN ERA RECORDS & PREMIER ARTISTS PRESENT
THURSDAY 10TH MAY WHEELERS HILL HOTEL
FRIDAY 11TH MAY PIER LIVE, FRANKSTON
SUPPORTED BY BRIGGS, MAUNDZ with CRATE CARTEL and BACKYARD FUNK
Tickets available from Ticketmaster
THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE
15.
WHERE TO NEXT? th
29 Apartment 29 Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9078 8922
Cornish Arms 163 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
303 303 High Street, Northcote
CQ 113 Queen St, Melb, 8601 2738
Abode 374 St.Kilda Rd, St.Kilda
Croft Institute 21 Croft Alley, Melb, 9671 4399
Albert Park Hotel Cnr Montague & Dundas Pl, Albert Park, 9690 5459
Cruzao Arepa Bar 365 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9417 7871
Alia Lvl 1, 83-87 Smith St, Fitzroy, 9486 0999
Cushion 99 Fitzroy St, St.Kilda, 9534 7575
Alumbra Shed 9, Central Pier, 161 Harbour Espl, Docklands, 8623 9666
Damask 1/347 Burnswick St, Fitzroy, 9417 4578
Back Bar 67 Green St, Windsor, 9529 7899
The Drunken Poet 65 Peel Street, West Melbourne, 9348 9797
Bar Open 317 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9415 9601
Der Raum 438 Church St, Richmond, 9428 0055
Baroq House 9-13 Drewery Ln, Melb, 8080 5680
Ding Dong Lounge Lvl 1, 18 Market Ln, Melb, 9662 1020
Bendigo Hotel 125 Johnston St, Collingwood 9417 3415
Dizzy’s Jazz Club 381 Burnley St, Richmond, 9428 1233
Bertha Brown 562 Flinders Street, 9629 1207
Double Happiness 21 Liverpool St, Melb, 9650 4488
Big Mouth 168 Acland St, St.Kilda, 9534 4611
E:55 55 Elizabeth St, Melb, 9620 3899
Billboard 170 Russell St, Melb, 9639 4000
East Brunswick Club 280 Lygon St, East Brunswick, 9388 2777
Bimbo Deluxe 376 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 8600
Edinburgh Castle 681 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Birmingham Hotel Cnr Smith & Johnston St, Fitzroy
Electric Ladyland Lvl 1, 265 Chapel St, Prahran, 9521 5757
Black Cat 252 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 6230
Elwood Lounge 49-51 Glenhuntly Rd, Elwood, 9525 6788
Blue Bar 330 Chapel St, Prahran, 9529 6499
Empress 714 Nicholson St, Nth Fitzroy, 9489 8605
Blue Tile Lounge 95 Smith St, Fitzroy
Espy 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda, 9534 0211
Boutique 134 Greville St, Prahran, 9525 2322
Eurotrash 18 Corrs Ln, Melb, 9654 4411
Brown Alley King Street, Melb,9670 8599
Eve 334 City Rd, Southbank, 9696 7388
Brunswick Hotel 140 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, 9387 6637
Evelyn 351 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 5500
Builders Arms 211 Gertrude St, Fitzroy
Ferntree Gully Hotel 1130 Burwood Hwy, Ferntree Gully, 9758 6544
Cabinet Bar 11 Rainbow Alley, Melbourne, 9654 0915
Festival Hall 300 Dudley St, West Melbourne, 9329 9699
Caravan Music Club 95 Drummond St, Oakleigh
First Floor 393 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 6380
Caseys Nightclub 660A Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn, 9810 0030
Forum Theatre 154 Flinders St, Melb, 9299 9800
Caz Reitops Dirty Secrets 80 Smith St, Collingwood, 9415 8876
The Fox Hotel 351 Wellington Street, Collingwood, 9416 4957
CBD Club 12-14 McKillop St, Melb, 9670 3638
Fusion Lvl 3, Crown Complex, Southbank, 9292 5750
Chaise Lounge Basement, 105 Queen St, Melb, 9670 6120
The Gallery Room 1/510 Flinders St, Melbourne, 9629 1350
Chandelier Room 91 Cochranes Rd, Moorabbin, 9532 2288
Gem Bar & Dining 289 Wellingston St, Collingwood, 9419 5170
Chelsea Heights Hotel Cnr Springvale & Wells Rd,
George Basement, 127 Fitzroy St, 9534 8822
Chelsea Heights, 9773 4453
Gertrude’s Brown Couch 30 Gertrude St, Fitzroy, 9417 6420
Cherry Bar AC/DC Ln, Melb, 9639 8122
Grace Darling Hotel 114 Smith St, Collingwood, 9416 0055
Chi Lounge 195 Lt Bourke St, Melbourne, 9662 2688
Grandview Hotel Cnr Heidelberg Rd & Station St, Fairfield, 9489 8061
Co. Lvl 3, Crown Complex, 9292 5750
Great Britain Hotel 447 Church St, Richmond, 9429 5066
Colonial Hotel (Brown Alley) Cnr King & Lonsdale St, Melb, 9670 8599
Grind N Groove 274 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville
Commercial Club Hotel 344 Nicholson St, Fitzroy, 9419 1522
Grumpy’s Green 125 Smith St, Collingwood, 9416 1944
Cookie Lvl 1, 252 Swanston St, Melb, 9663 7660
Gypsy Bar 334 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 0548
Corner Hotel 57 Swan St, Richmond, 9427 9198
HiFi 125 Swanston St, Melb, 1300 843 4434
WANT TO WORK IN AN INDUSTRY YOU LOVE?
Highlander 11a Highlander Lane, Melb, 9620 2227
The Retreat Hotel 280 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, 9380 4090
Hoo Haa 105 Chapel St, Windsor, 9529 6900
Revolt Elizabeth St, Kensington, 03 9376 2115
Horse Bazaar 397 Little Lonsdale St, Melb, 9670 2329
Revolver Upstairs 229 Chapel St, Prahran, 9521 5985
Iddy Biddy 47 Blessington St, St Kilda, 9534 4484
Rochester Castle Hotel 202 Johnston St, Fitzroy, 9415 7555
Jett Black 177 Greville St, Prahran
Rooftop Cider Bar, Cnr Swanston & Flinders St, Melbourne, 9650 3884
John Curtin Hotel 29 Lygon St, Melb, 9663 6350
Room 680 Level 1, 680 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn, 9818 0680
Khokolat Bar 43 Hardware Lane, Melbourne, 039642 1142
Roxanne Parlour Lvl 3, 2 Coverlid Pl, Melb
La Di Da 577 Lt Bourke St, Melb, 9670 7680
Royal Derby 446 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9417 2321
Labour In Vain 197A Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9417 5955
Roal Melbourne Hotel 629 Bourke St, 9629 2400
Lomond Hotel 225 Nicholson St, East Brunswick
Ruby’s Lounge 1648 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave, 9754 7445
Longroom 162 Collins St, Melbourne, 9663 9226
Saint Hotel 54 Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9593 8333
Loop 23 Meyers Pl, Melb, 9654 0500
Sandbelt Live Cnr South & Bignell Rd, Moorabbin, 9555 6899
Lounge 243 Swanston St, Melb, 9663 2916
Scarlett Lounge 174 Burnley St, Richmond, 9428 0230
The Lounge Pit 386-388 Brunswick St, Fitzroy 9415 6142
Seven Nightclub 52 Albert Rd, South Melb, 9690 7877
Love Machine Cnr Lt Chapel & Malvern Rd, Prahran, 9533 8837
Spensers Live 419 Spencer St, West Melb, 03 9329 8821
Lucky Coq 179 Chapel St, Windsor, 9525 1288
Spot 133 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, 9388 0222
The LuWOW 62-70 Johnston St, Fitzroy, 9417 5447
Standard Hotel 293 Fitzroy St, Fitzroy, 9419 4793
Mercat Cross Lvl 1, 456 Queen St, Melb, 9348 9998
Star Bar 160 Clarendon St, South Melb, 9810 0054
Mink 2 Acland St, St Kilda, 9536 1199
Station 59 59 Church St, Richmond, 9427 8797
Miss Libertine 34 Franklin St, Melb, 9663 6855
Stolberg Beer Café 197 Plenty Rd, Preston, 9495 1444
Misty 3-5 Hosier Ln, Melb, 9663 9202
Sub Lounge & Restaurant 168 Elizabeth St Melb, 0411 800 198
Mockingbird Bar 129 Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9534 0000
Sugar Bar (Hotel Urban) 35 Fitztroy St, St Kilda, 8530 8888
Musicland 1359A Sydney Rd, Fawkner, 9359 0006
Temperance Hotel 426 Chapel St, South Yarra, 9827 7401
Neverland 32-48 Johnson St, South Melb, 9646 5544
Thornbury Theatre 859 High St, Thornbury, 9484 9813
New Guernica Lvl 2, Hub Arcade, 318-322 Lt Collins St, Melb, 9650 4464
Tiki Lounge 327 Swan St, Richmond, 9428 4336
Night Cat 141 Johnston St, Fitzroy, 9417 0090
Toff In Town Lvl 2, 252 Swanston St, Melb, 9639 8770
Night Cat 279 Flinders Ln, Melb, 9654 0444
Tony Starr’s Kitten Club 267 Lt Collins St, Melb, 9650 2448
Noise Bar 291 Albert St, Brunswick, 9380 1493
The Tote Hotel 67 Johnson St, Collingwood, 9419 5320
Northcote Social Club 301 High St, Northcote, 9489 3917
Town Hall Hotel 33 Errol St, North Melbourne, 9328 1983
Old Bar 74 Johnston St, Fitzroy, 9417 4155
Trak Lounge 445 Toorak Rd, Toorak, 9826 9000
One Twenty Bar 120 Johnston St, Fitzroy
Tramp 20 King St, Melb
Onesixone 161 High St, Prahran, 9533 8433
Transport Hotel Federation Square, Melb, 9654 8808
Order Of Melbourne level 2, 401 Swanston St, Melb, 9663 6707
Trunk 275 Exhibition St, Melbourne, 9663 7994
Palace Hotel 893 Burke Rd, Camberwell
Tyranny Of Distance 147 Union St, Windsor, 9525 1005
Palace Theatre 20-30 Bourke St, Melb, 9650 0180
Two of Hearts 149 Commercial Road, Prahran
Palais 111 Main Rd, Hepburn Springs, 5348 4849
Union Hotel Brunswick 109 Union St, Brunswick, 9388 2235
Palais Theatre Lower Esplanade, St Kilda, 9525 3240
Veludo 175 Acland St, St Kilda, 9534 4456
Papa Goose 91 Flinders Ln, Melbourne, 9663 2800
Victoria Hotel 380 Victoria St, Brunswick, 9388 0830
Penny Black 420 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, 9380 8667
Wah Wah Lounge Lvl 1, 185 Lonsdale St, Melb
Pier Live Hotel 508 Nepean Hwy, Frankston, 9783 9800
Wesley Anne 250 High St, Northcote, 9482 1333
Pony 68-70 Lt Collins St, Melb, 9662 1026
Westernport Hotel 161 Marine Pde, San Remo, 5678 5205
Portland Hotel Cnr Lt Collins & Russell St, Melb, 9810 0064
Willow Bar 222 High Street, Northcote, 9481 1222
The Prague Hotel, 911 High St, Northcote, 9495 0000
Windsor Castle 89 Albert St, Windsor, 9525 0239
Pretty Please 61c Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9534 4484
Workers Club 51 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9415 8889
Prince Bandroom 29 Fitztory St, St Kilda, 9536 1168
Workshop Lvl 1, 413 Elizabeth St, Melb, 9326 4365
Prince Of Wales 29 Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9536 1168
Yah Yah’s 99 Smith St, Fitzroy, 9419 4920
Public Bar 238 Victoria St, North Melb, 9329 6522
The Vine 59 Wellington St, Collingwood, 9417 2434
Purple Emerald Lounge Bar 349 High St, Northcote, 9482 7007 Railway Hotel 280 Ferrars St, South Melb, 9690 5092 Red Bennies 371 Chapel St, South Yarra, 9826 2689 RedLove Lvl 1, 401 Swanston St, Melb, 9639 3722 Retreat Hotel 226 Nicholson St, Abbotsford, 9417 2693
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16.
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