BIO

Touring top billing dj set along-side the likes of Richie Hawtin and Green Velvet (at the massive EXIT Festival, Serbia) Jeff Mills (Tribal Sessions in Leeds), Jesse Rose, Dixon and Sebo K (for Jesse’s “Made to Play” monthly at Berlin’s legendary Panorama Bar), M.A.N.D.Y (Watergate, Berlin), Ewan Pearson and Will Saul (SONAR, Barcelona) to remix work from New Order, to techno superstars Booka Shade (voted best act and best record label, Get Physical, in dance bible IDJ last year), there’s much that can be said for this genre-mashing producer. If the increasingly demanding international schedule of weren’t enough (try playing Germany and then Kuala Lumpur in the space of 4 days!), a continuing string of highly successful 12″s on labels and remixes have well and truly solidified deepchild’s reputation as a serious ‘contender’ in the saturated international dance-music community.

London, Tokyo, Berlin, SanFrancisco, Seattle, California, Vancouver, Prague, Cologne, Manchester, Leeds, Serbia,  and more all feature in a yearly extensive dj/live touring schedule, with residencies in homeland of Sydney (AU) at Bread and Butter and KINK fleshing out time between quarterly European tours and a busy studio schedule. When not turning the dials in his studio in Bondi, Sydney, deepchild bunkers down for extended production duties in his unofficial ’second homes’ of various studios in Berlin and Edinburgh.

From ‘big-label’ original releases for labels like US Om Records, remix work for legendary producers New Order and Booka Shade (Get Physical), deeper cuts for Freerange Records (UK) and Affin (German), and serious tech-weapons for BEEF, Dieb Audio and New York’s own MDEX Records, a steady stream of bouncy, crunked-up tech-house sounds have insured deepchild has remained one of Australia’s most in-demand producers. Hipp-e, Robert Babicz, Tigerstripes, Jimpster and Luomo have all leant their remix credits to deepchild 12″s….

The journey has been a long and sonically expansive one. Recent dj support from the likes of Troy Peirce (MINUS), Justin Martin (Dirtybird), Matthias Tanzman (Moon Harbour) and Hipp-e, sits solidly against the proclamations of respected music journal, The Wire, who went as far as to proclaim that this sound was “as sexy and addictive as new-dub electronica gets”. From quirky, stripped-back techno to deep dub explorations, deepchild has proven a robust producer and highly respected dj and live-performer.

When Stereo-Heaven (the biggest dj store in Essen, Germany) found that their biggest selling tech-house record was infact written in a small share-house studio in Sydney’s Inner-West (deepchild’s “No Disgrace”, on Future Classic), they took the time to make special mention of what is indicative of deepchild’s head-turning appeal:

“over here in my hometown in Germany, we really love “no disgrace”!! it’s also by far the best selling record in our new local shop, too…from deep or tech house to minimal djs, hiphop and electronica fans - everybody is into that 3-tracker…really an amazing 12″ you’ve created!”

Freerange Record’s ‘tech-house institution’, Milton Jackson, phrased is rather more succinctly, “Oh My God. I think you are my new hero”.

INTERVIEW

What made you want to start DJing?
I resisted the temptation to become a ‘dj’ for years and years, to be honest. I’d always been reticent to associate myself with the exclusive ‘boys club’ that dj-culture represented to me  - an ugly distillation of narcicism in its most abhorrent and creatively vacuous sense. My first love within electronic music was not so much the club experience as the sounds of experimentally left-field, often unknown producers. I became fascinated by the notion that there could be a ‘faceless’ music-culture, where the beat was, ultimately, the feature element - a notion inherently subversive and somehow democratic. Ultimately, the irony became that, within Australia, it was next to impossible to support myself from live performance alone. So…I taught myself to dj, very much with a sober distance from what I assumed populist ‘dj culture’ to represent. As destiny would dictate, I’ve developed a real love for the club-space, the experience of djing, and the lessons it’s constantly taught me about becoming a better producer.

What did you want to be when you were younger?
I’m not sure I had much idea; the whole slide into techno-culture has felt curiously un pre-meditated! Most of my teens and 20’s Id been fairly pre-occupied (obsessed?!) with experiments in digital media, design and jazz-guitar experimentation.  I certainly knew what i DIDN’T want to be a part (a socio-politially indifferent consumer-culture) and so found myself working for everyone from various charities, design agencies and even the Anglican Church! Ulimately, the wider electronic-music community became a very unique ’space’ where I could discover so much more than ‘music’ itself. I found a home. I couldn’t have imagined this as a young-person, especially as a rather conservative and intellectually ‘overdriven’ one.  I’ve ended up swimming in the waters which sustain me, as obstuse as they might have seemed from a distance.

What is your favourite venue to play at?
A toss-up between Panoramabar or Watergate in Berlin, and Sankeys in Manchester - PBar’s legendary status is well earned. It’s totally unique, sprawling and neo-industrial, with a sound-system to die for, and a clientelle passionate about new music experience, rather than anthemic cliche. Watergate is more intimate, gorgeous, and once-more sounds fantastic - dear to me also as it was my first club-gig in Berlin. Sankey’s is what the UK northerner’s would call “Proper” -  loud as bollix, warm, friendly and no-frills. Manchester crowd’s are great fun; enthusiastic and ‘up for it’, as they say.

What was your worst gig?
There;s a list of these almost as long as the ‘good ones’, I’m afraid! The wider techno-community has been tremendously forgiving to me over the years, particularly my formative ones. It would doubtlessly be one of numerous mid-90s shows where I was non/under-paid, performing live in a pub venue someplace in Sydney…dissinterested punters and ascerbic red-neck sound-engineers with failed rock-careers weighing heavily on their enebriated shoulders as my company. I pity my girlfriends at the time whom I dragged out to bear witness…sigh.

Favorite DJ gadget?
Roland SH-101 analogue monosyth, circa 1982 - STILL the most flexible, underrated analog synth created. Gorgeous looking too. Bass-squelch never belched so satisfyingly!

Vinyl, CD’s or Laptop?
Vinyl for back-room classics and dusty soul throwdowns. CDs for main-room regular slots. Laptop+drum-machine+synth arsenal for live shows.

Is there anywhere you want to DJ that you haven’t?
Warehouse Project in Manchester - just returned from playing their official after-party this weekend. The WP is massive, throbbing, ecstatic, reminiscent of the best elements of mid-90s rave experience. Brilliant. Cocoon would also be ace, methinks. To be honest, every show is it’s own unique reward - for me, it’s about those present, rather than any venue’s perceived righteousness…even the smaller / supposedly ‘inconsequential’ venues can have their own unique flavour.

What inspires the music that you make?
Celebration. Thanks-giving. The desire to make people happy. The intrigue of repetition, minimalism and it’s primal narrative. Kicks, snares, prayers…

If you could anyone else in the world for a day, who would it be?
A child again, newborn without preconception or fear.

What is your guilty pleasure?
My life! The grace of others…ever present.

Where can your fans see you play regularly?
At the moment, it’s a little difficult - I’m in the half-year I generally spend playing outside Australia. When I’m home (generally for the Australian summer) I can be found djing, fairly regularly, at the Bunker in Kings Cross - small, intimate, home to some of the city’s more special techno-parties.

What are you plans for the future?
I’ve just been fortunate enough to dj in Tokyo and the US west-coast for the first time. I’m planning on returing more long-term to the US, explore and perform in new territories. Production and remix work keeps chuggin’ along steadily, and I’m thankful to remain enraptured by beat-driven music. I’m about to do a rather ‘dub-steppy’ 12″for a label called Sub Continental Dub, which marks an official sort of ‘return’ to the dubbier sounds I grew up producing in the 90s. I’m excited about what I might rediscover.

Is there another DJ you would like to work with?
DJs, not so much - MCs and producers, for sure. Mos Def, Common, Tikiman, Madlib, Dr Octagon would be dope. Burial would be fantastic…Mad Mike…Sly and Robbie…

Who is leading the tech house and techno scene at the moment?
The moment there becomes a singular, centralised, ‘leader’ is the moment that the culture dies, for me. The notion makes no sense to me. We’re strongest as complementary elements in a culture that’s inherently symbiotic, inter-dependent.

Finally, what is your song of the month?
“It’s a Pity” (LuLu Rouge Bootleg) by Tania Stephens. A brillant, skank-tastic rework by the lesser-known collab/side-project of Trentemoller, LuLu Rouge.

Link to Deepchild’s brand new mix - Click here

BIO

DJUMA SOUNDSYSTEM are the electronic outlett for Norwegian DJ
Mikkas and the Dane Lars B - the duo behind the modern classic “Les Djinns”,
a mix of lush arabic drumming and house, with a sweet light and melancollic
melody thrown in for good meassure. The result is a mindblowing tune that is
impossible to put down as just one genre….Djuma Soundsystem was born.
Their warm and groovy approach to electronic beats has received no less
than extraordinary reviews. Djuma Soundsystem prides them selves on
engaging the crowd’s interest with their bass-line driven warm sounds.

INTERVIEW

What made you want to start DJing?
I have always loved music, I don’t know what drew me to music in the
first place,  but my mother tells me that when I was two years old, I
would sit quietly with my head in a speaker listening to the radio,
she was afraid I was going to be deaf and dragged me away but two
minutes later she would find me there again.
Lars

I never had any choice; there was just always music inside my head. I
was never musical in any sense, but I always hoped that one day I
would be able to get it out. Djing was a good place to start.
Mikkas

What did you want to be when you were younger?
We always wanted to do music.

What is your favourite venue to play at?
There are a few around the world, we love playing at Hard Pop in
Juarez (Mexico), See Sound Lounge in Seatle (USA), Studio Martin in
Bucharest (Romania) and Villa in Oslo (Norway) just to name a few.

What was your worst gig?
It has been a while since we have had a truly awefull gig, but I think
our worst gig was in a small town in Belgium that shall remain
anonymous. Right before we were set to play they had a band playing
cover versions of old disco hits and a porn star miming to euro dance
versions of ABBA songs…. When we got on stage we cleared the arena
in 10 minutes.

Favorite DJ gadget?
The Pioneer DJM 800 mixer, we love the sound and the effects.

Vinyl, CD’s or Laptop?
All of the above.

Is there anywhere you want to DJ that you haven’t?
We would love to go to Brazil, we were supposed to go there twice,
but everytime something f**ks up.

What inspires the music that you make?
Food, love, life and DJing.

If you could be anyone else in the world for a day, who would it be?
I wouldn’t mind being a girl for a day.

What is your guilty pleasure?
I have got this fetish, whenever I’m real drunk in and in a small town
somewhere, I will go to the local disco and ask the dj for anything by
Scooter!
Lars

I love Bluebeat - Jamaican pop songs from the 60’s. - It’s very
simple, and almost too catchy.
Mikkas

Where can your fans see you play regularly?
We have got a residency at See Sound Lounge in Seattle so you should be
able to catch us there at least a couple of times a year 

What are you plans for the future?
We hope our new singles will get noticed in this big media landscape,
and hope to get to meet some more nice people around the globe, most
people that are into electronic music are nice people.

Is there another DJ you would like to work with?
We would love to work with Riva Star, and it looks like we will soon.

Who is leading the tech house and techno scene at the moment?
We are always impressed by Bodzin and Romboy, their new album is
amazing, - dark, groovy, melodic and quirky, they have got the “magic
touch”! We really love everything they do together.

Finally, what is your song of the month?
The dOP remix of our track Bipolar is amazing!!

Link to Djuma Soundsystem’s brand new mix - Click here

BIO

Jozef K is a freshly appointed resident for the prestigious UK club night, Tribal Sessions held at Sankeys of Manchester. Jozef K has performed alongside an abundance of internationally famous DJs; Trentemoller, Josh Wink, Layo & Bushwacka, Nic Fanciulli and Adam Beyer, playing to crowds of 1000 people. Other activity for Jozef K is his exclusive mix for the ‘Proton Radio’ site; the most listened to dance music website on the internet. He has also thrown parties at various venues across Manchester under 2 separate projects ‘Uber Disco’ and ‘Forward’, bookings include Manuel Tur, Milton Jackson and Worthy and has played various venues across the UK; from Carlisle to London. Expect big things from this talented young DJ!

INTERVIEW

What made you want to start DJing?
I’m passionate about music. DJing allows me to share that passion with whoever is on the dancefloor.

What did you want to be when you were younger?
Join the R.A.F., be a barrister, Sound Technician.

What is your favourite venue to play at?
The packed-out Sankeys basement!

What was your worst gig?
In the bar at Sankeys, none of my CDs would work, had to mix with a mates tunes that I knew very little of for 3 hours!

Favourite DJ gadget?
Mini-Jack to ¼ inch Jack adapter.
Cant plug your headphones in without one of those bad boys as I learnt last night, had the sound tech running around like a madman before my set.

Vinyl, CD’s or Laptop?
CDs.

Is there anywhere you want to DJ that you haven’t already?
Club underground Ibiza.

What inspires the music that you make?
The dubstep artist Burial.

If you could be anyone else in the world for a day, who would it be?
Sachin Tendulkar.

What is your guilty pleasure?
Cheese and lots of it.

Where can your fans see you play regularly?
Tribal Sessions, recently appointed with residency.

What are you plans for the future?
Buy loads of production software and make some pearling house tracks.

Is there another DJ you would like to work with?
Manuel Tur, will be doing so at the forward party 5th June @ Spektrum.

Who is leading the tech house and techno scene at the moment?
Probably Steve Bug, his label Poker Flat is top of the pack for me in the tech house world at the minute.

Finally, what is your song of the month?
Hang Around (Karizma Kaytronic Dub Remix) – Ben Westbeech.

Link to Jozef K’s brand new mix - Click here