2020 Vision NYD Byron Bay
Billinudgel Hotel | Wednesday, 1 Jan | 1pm–11pm | $38
POB’S an old club-head who’s been hanging out behind the decks for over two decades and he still totally loves it… he gets his kicks dancing while he plays, engaging and creating a dialogue with the dance floor.
How did you get into DJing?
I’ve always collected records and made mixtapes since I was a kid, not necessarily dance music, but I loved a flow and a journey in music. After experiencing The Shaman live and loaded in the UK, in about 1990, I was turned onto the electronic sound. Then came a move to Brighton, UK in ‘92 where The Zap Club with Eric Powell as resident seriously opened my eyes. I had a lot of mates DJing here and there, playing music from the original acid trance to ambient dub. I used to paint UV backdrops for the clubs and get free entry. I bought bootleg tapes from Camden and on one of those tapes discovered Sasha, who hooked me into a mixing style that seemed to unlock the key to DJing for me. I had a hifi system, which I used to practise on, mixing between vinyl and cassette with the mode buttons. Time went on, and in ‘95 a good friend loaned me two belt drive turntables which I practised on for ever, mixing drum and bass with instrument hiphop, learning beat matching and the necessary skills. At that time I was heavily into LTJ Bukem and the more jazz infused D&B and started collecting the first bunch of Ninja Tunes cuts headed by Coldcut with their forward thinking brand of head-music.
Who are your early influences?
I guess my music was influenced by my early love of original dub from the late ‘70s and a lot of the first ‘intelligent techno’ music on labels like Warp, Rising High and Novamute. I massively got into the chill scene, frequenting The Big Chill in Islington, at the Union Chapel, with Irresistible Force creating sonic vortices on the altar.
What are you into at the moment? Where have you been playing?
Recently I’ve jiggled about a lot to the players we’ve been getting at Sunday Kicks, Ria-Listic, Curly Si… the other night with Rahima getting deep and techy! I think the most memorable night recently was a gig of Joseph Capriati, absolutely sweat soaked slam-dunk-tastic. Space Cadet in Brisbane with Phil Smart at the helm in a dinky room with close friends and up-for-it folk. Give me a club over a giant outdoor setting any day, dimly lit and saturated with sound.
At the moment I’ve been digging the house music that’s keeping a bit of quirk and wonk but maintaining the deep kick. I love a bunch of humour, irony, interesting chords, throw-back vibes and maybe a bit of piano-action. But then driving tech -action is top gear fun.
I’ve been fortunate to be asked to play at the new Surfers Paradise club NXT LVL and was booked for my first SubSonic – but it has been postponed. I’d love to play Elsewhere again, a brilliant long time club…
What advice would you give aspiring DJs?
Aspiring DJs – do the work, attend the gigs, buy the tunes, invest the time and be patient. Remember why you’re doing it, coz it’s not about the hands in the air!
If I was starting out I’d no doubt be playing digitally. I think it’s a good idea to learn beat matching even though you can use ‘synch’ once you’re getting creative. I do believe in the apprenticeship, whatever that means.
POB is on deck at 2020 Vision at Billinudgel Hotel on NYD. Tickets $38 from eventbrite.com.au
