How often do you find yourself playing in Australia?
Well, I’ve actually only played a couple of times. I'm super keen to get over a lot more, as Australia is just so close. Going and playing in Europe is fantastic, but it is a long way from this neck of the woods and the trips do take it out of you. Some great gigs just over the ditch could be just what the doctor ordered.
What have you been up to recently? Can we expect another Poker Flat 12" anytime soon?
I'm happy to report I’ve been going through one my most prolific music-writing spurts in a good long while. It's perfect timing, really, as I’m working very hard on an album for Poker Flat. I'm leaving the 12”s for a bit and just focusing on and enjoying what I can get out of a (what will be my first) full length. Lots of new material, some going in a different direction, and some getting back to the quite deep sounds of my earlier material on Nurture. I'm also having lots of fun at the moment, working on a remix of a track from Luna City Express’ new album to come out on Moon Harbour.
You've lived in New Zealand for the entire length of your career, right? What has kept you there all these years? The lifestyle?
Well, I’ve had a few years away living in Tokyo and London, so definitely not my whole career, but I’ve been back here for five years now. Yep, the lifestyle and nature certainly keeps me here! The access to nature here is sublime, and I love getting to take visiting DJ colleagues out to some great spots and show them what we have here. Again, the Europe tours are great and get me my required fill of partying, and I know I always get to come back here when I’m done, chill out and work on music at my own pace.
You're playing the Sydney show with fellow countryman Matt Drake. What can you tell us about him?
Matt is a criminally good DJ, and one of those select few who time-in and time-out completely outclasses the preceding or following "international" DJ. It takes a lot to get me dancing, which, for me, is basically my barometer of whether the music rocks or not – Matt gets me each time, so I’m super excited he’s getting to ply his trade on the Aussies.
Are there any New Zealand names currently on the rise that we should be looking out for?
Without a doubt, keep those ears cocked for
Simon Beeston (Simons clearly rule), who is doing a lot of his releasing now on
Tom Clark’s Highgrade records. He’s based in Berlin now, and has a new 12” on Highgrade coming soon, and a track on a Freak n’ Chic / Highgrade split 12”. He's a top producer and DJ.