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It's been two years since your debut track won best single at Breakspoll - how do you feel things have changed for you since then?

I have calmed down a bit since then. I have settled into a nice groove of writing tunes and playing regular gigs and it's not so much of a novelty although I still love every minute of it. I have now become full partner in Title Fight and started Fight Club with Klaus Hill and expanded the styles of music I write to be more in keeping with what I play and listen to.

I have a strong background with house and techno and want my releases to reflect that. It does mean a few less breaks records being released by me but my output is pretty fast so I'm not too bothered by that. For example it's Jan 25th and I've almost finished four projects. Having done some projects in this new direction has gained me a lot of exposure and I'm just done remixes for John Acquaviva, Elite Force, Dave Aude and a few more big ones in the pipeline.


How long had you been producing before Hold You came out?

About five years and although I was also working as a head chef in an extremely busy restaurant I always managed to find time to write music to the dismay of my girlfriend at the time. I think I had only written a handful of breaks tunes before I did Hold You. Everything before that was techno, tech house or just experimental kind of stuff. I have a few interesting soundscape things I was into for a while... somewhere... hmm actually I may have lost them with my last HDD crash. Bummer.


You produced the track entirely on a Yamaha RS7000 - does that still feature as part of your setup today? What other kit do you use to support it?

I don't use it anymore. Great machine but it's started to become a bit outdated. For a start it backs up to either smart media which has become all but defunct (not to mention extremely unreliable) or scsi which is almost impossible to find good working units in Australia of the same spec. I did quite a few releases on that thing. Most people do a double take when I tell them ha-ha. It's not the most advanced piece of technology but it's a solid workhorse and you can go pretty deep with it.

I've always believed that limiting your options breeds creativity. Madox and I adopted this technique when we did the b-side (Distorted Mind) for our Mantra release. We did pretty much the entire track using a vst drum machine. It was a lot of fun and we came up with something neither of us was expecting. It's the first track on my Jan 08 showcase mix which I'll send with this interview. I used to have a pretty decent setup running from the RS7000...

1x Akai S6000 Sampler
1 x Emu E6400 Ultra Sampler
1 x Mackie 32 8 buss console
1 x Roland Jupiter 6
1 x Roland JP800
1 x Roland XV3080
1 x Access Virus C (now upgraded to the Ti)
1 x Waldorf Pulse
1 x SSL4000 G Series Stereo Mix Buss Compressor - clone I had built
1 x Ensoniq DP4+ effects unit
1 x Frostwave Funk A Duck envelope filter

.. plus I had a few other effects units, rack synths and compressors. I have sold most of that stuff now and work within the box on my PC in Sonar. I'm hoping to get a Macbook later in the year and start learning Logic as everyone I collaborate with uses it and it's starting to make sense that I do too.


How would you describe the music that you play?

Oh god, this is the part where I get so up my own arse saying how it's thunderous, head caving, floor filling, peak time, bad arse, etc. I don't know, I just write tunes that I would like to dance to. People seem to be down with that so I just keep on doing what I'm doing. I guess my sound is a lot more varied these days though. I've done everything from minimal tech to almost tearout (I did say almost!) and loads of stuff in between. I like it like that; I think I would get bored otherwise.


Several internet based discussion websites seem to be a bit closed minded about breaks music - do you think there more to musical life than just boom tsh boom-boom tsh?

Yeah for sure. I wouldn't call myself a breaks dj or producer but I definitely write and play it. I just like good music and if it fits into my set or makes me happy when I'm writing it then that's what people are going to hear. I can guarantee that when you hear a set of mine that I am 100% into the music I'm playing.... well until I sell out for the big score that is ha-ha. There's nothing wrong with purists though, they help keep a scene alive with their passion but it can occasionally get out of hand.


It has been said that the breaks scene, particularly within the UK, is very reminiscent of the 'closed shop' attitude that perpetuated jungle through the early 90s. What are your thoughts on that, and how would you like to see the scene change?

I was never into jungle so I don't have anything to base my answer on sorry! As for the second question, I think the scene is becoming more accepting of new sounds as time goes on which is great. Labels like Lot49, U&A Recordings and of course Title Fight have all embraced a variety of genres which to me is forward thinking.

People use the term tech funk which embodies a sound that exists across a range of genres rather than being a genre itself. It's apt for where I'm at in my career and many other 'breaks dj's' are embracing it as well. Shack (Elite Force) said it's an inclusive sound, not exclusive sounds. Pretty much sums it up.


If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be and why?

There are so many people I'd like to work with. There's a strong possibility of me working with John Acquaviva when he tours Australia. I'm also going to be working with Meat Katie and Madox again whilst touring the UK in Feb/march. As for a wish list, I'm really liking Myles Dyson, Format B, Pete Jeurgens, Elite Force, Twocker... so any of those guys would be more than welcome in my studio.

And what about David Hasselhoff? Do you think you could work some magic with him?

Who couldn't work with the Hoff? Say what you want about him, he's a lovable dimwit isn't he? And hot. Dayam.


What's on the cards for the rest of 2008 for you?

Working like a man possessed this year. I have a lot of big commitments to projects coming up so I have stopped drinking and partying for the time being and I'm going head first into studio work. It's amazing how boring clubs can be when you're sober hehe. I still manage to make my own fun though, even if it's by making fun of the drunk people. I have earned it considering how many time people have made fun of me whilst I've been drunk. Have you seen the pictures of me podium dancing in china? Oh deary me....


Being an Aussie, I've got to ask - preferred barbie food and drink?

You're also asking a chef so this could be a very long and intense answer but I'll keep it simple. Funnily enough, garlic prawns ARE AWESOME on the BBQ! Yeah I know, laugh it up. I do a mean whole scotch fillet too. At a BBQ you want a good sessioning beer, nothing too heavy so my choice would be Cascade Pale Ale or Cristal which is a very nice, simple Cuban beer. You can really slam 'em down.


Do you have a party trick; juggling, burping the national anthem, that sort of thing?

I can wiggle my eyes which gets a "cooool" reaction from the blokes and a "eewwww grossss" reaction from the ladies. I can also make a damn fine caprinha which gets a different reaction from the ladies.


Finally, if you could some yourself up in one word, what would it be?

Vodka