Audiation Magazine AM012 Print | Page 45

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though when I was 18 studying Jazz at university. I serendipitously started chatting with some strangers at the Adelaide Uni-Bar when I met my first electronic music producer; we soon began working on some trip-hop tracks. That was the defining point where my love for electronic music began. It was getting involved with those preserving the 90’s rave community though that really cemented my passion.

Throughout your life, who has inspired you as an artist?

That’s actually a really tricky question to answer because it changes so often! However there are bands, sounds, genres, songs that you always return to. I was in love with all kinds of music when I was growing up. I still absolutely adore (the late) Melanie Thornton from La Bouche, she really was taken before her time. Progressing into my mid-teens and liking a lot of alternative rock and metal (surprising for some I know!) I remember picking up ‘Kid A’ from a CD store after liking the quirkiness of the artwork and remembering loving the song ‘Paranoid Android’ from about age 10, so I thought I would give it a go. Listening to ‘Everything in its right place’ for the first time was like being taken to another world. Such a powerful track and album, I wish I could borrow Thom Yorke’s brain for a day! There were however three key sounds that really captured me. First of all it was the 90’s Acid House and Rave and Break-beat sounds. The depth and soul of the music combined with the most amazing vibes, I’m still not over it! Take me back to 1993 any day of the week! I also continued to fall in love with anything Trip-Hop and Drum and Bass. This is ultimately what brought me to Bristol from Australia five years ago.

How does the music scene in Australia compare to other countries you’ve worked in?

When I first started going out age 18, it really was more of an underground scene. Like what’s happened in the US, only recently, Australia has made the migration from guitars and bands to synths and DJs. The scene here is really diverse which is fantastic. Of course with heavy consumer interest comes having to filter through terrible EDM productions and venues playing terrible music. However there are so many Australian’s making moves internationally which is great to see. Unfortunately with such a small population here and fewer opportunities for artists to thrive, many do migrate overseas. That said I love travel and can’t wait to make a move to the Northern Hemisphere again myself in the next year or two.

You’ve travelled around the world and recorded with many celebrated artists. What are some of the highlights for you and the favourite places that you’ve made music in?

Working with Roni Size in Bristol was quite amazing. At first when the opportunity arose I didn’t actually believe it was real, coming from the other side of the planet it seemed crazy! He’s now a great friend and good inspiration to keep doing what you love. I’ve worked in some nifty studios in my time, but sometimes it’s just being camped up in someone’s tiny makeshift space that brings out that creativity. Some of my favourite releases are with people I’ve never met thanks to the internet! I think you just have to make creativity work for you the best way you can.

Last year you launched your own record label, Turn The Night. What was the objective behind creating that imprint?

There were a few incentives actually. The main one being that as an artist I hate being pigeonholed into a genre or sound