Not just a swear word and an engineering marvel, D.A.M.N. is the latest addition to Sydney’s dance music menu. Brothers Dangerous Dan and Bumpin’ Bennie B, together with DJ Ajax, make up D.A.M.N. and keep us disco queens waving glowsticks and swivelling our hips each Friday night at Candy’s Apartment. There’s no sticky labels or 90-degree corners boxing these lads when it comes to musical style. Playing a mix of hip hop, house, funk, electro, pop and probably a little Dolly Parton if you ask nicely, D.A.M.N. gives the dancefloor a glass-and-a-half of full cream fun. Here, the Brothers D.A.M.N. give their fingers a rest to answer the most non-musical questions I could dream up.

Dangerous Dan

Lady-killer and part-time boogie boarder Dangerous Dan might have been a ‘Home and Away’ heart throb had his alarm clock woken him up in time for the auditions. Happily, TV’s loss is dance music’s gain with DD adding his agile fingers to the DJ talent taking up residence at Candy’s Apartment. Dangerous Dan took time out from his turntable and sewing machine (this clever boy makes his own clothes just like Melissa Gilbert did on Little House on the Prairie) to tell us how life is when your fingers call the shots.

How dangerous are you?

I’m like half a bad ass. I’m not really dangerous to other people, mostly just to myself when I’m drunk and having a show off competition with Benny.

Tell us about your “jiggy jiggy sex rock electro booty hip pop” style.

It is f-u-n in capitals and underlined and it makes you want to dance and dancing makes you want to have sex (most of the time). That is where the sex rock bit came from and then all the other words is a little bit of the music that I play but mixed up like me.

Where does the inspiration for your tracks come from?

I don’t know, sometimes my friends, sometimes the girls, sometimes the boys, sometimes myself, sometimes the money, sometimes the fame, but mostly the fun.

Who are your musical influences and favourite musicians?

Pharrell, Missy, James Murphy, Eve, Dr Dre, D.A.M.N (A little bit of shameless self-promotion there: ed.), Phillipe Zdar, Stevie Wonder, Dexter, Erol, Trevor Jackson, Felix, Nirvana, Michael Jackson.

Imagine you were born tone deaf and musically talentless like me. What would have been your dream job instead of DJing?

Designing ladies underwear and trying to ban the g-string, or working with handicap kids. I think that would be very sweet and rewarding.

You make a crust out of what most people do to chill-out and relax. What do you do in your spare time when you want to escape clubland?

Mostly I just do my other work. The DJing thing is still really fun and I still chill out and relax a little while I’m doing it. But I also like doing other stuff like go surfing, make out, hang out with my boys Bumpa and Jaxxy and write music, take photos, decorate my apartment and hang out with my roomys Kane and Pauly and go and eat dinners and stuff with my friends and get drunk and sometimes watch DVDs on my couch, oh and catch up on sleep.

Apparently you’re quite handy with a sewing machine, making Tsubi jeans. What’s all that about?

It’s about doing a fun job with my friends and working hard and being stressed.

Naming DJ’s is, like thinking up a porn star name, almost an art in itself. How did you come up with the name Dangerous Dan?

My brother (little B aka Bumpin’ Bennie B) gave it to me. He is a wizard with words.

How has the dance music scene changed during your years as a DJ?

I have not been doing it that long but it has changed a real lot and really good for a small bunch of people and all the rest are peaking man! It’s all about the pills!

Do you agree with Francois K that Djing is ‘the ultimate slacker gig’ where all you need is a box of records?

Nup.

Do you keep your CD collection in alphabetical order?

No way I can’t find shit.

Now here’s the job interview question: What do you see himself doing in one year’s time? Two year’s? Five year’s?

That is going to take way too much time. But in a sentence: making love, making fun, making money, making babies, making people happy, making myself happy, making my mum and dad happy…

And finally: which track of yours do you think your Ma likes best?

Ben by Michael Jackson, because it is about my beautiful brother Ben.”

Bumpin’ Bennie B

Previously seen loitering around the Bargain Basement Booty Bar, Mars Lounge and Good Vibrations, Bumpin’ Bennie B is younger brother to part-time Boogie Boarder and Northern Beaches ladies man Dangerous Dan. BBB (I guess the extra B is there to distinguish him from some rather unfortunate sexual acts practiced by gay men) may not be as popular with surfie chicks, but he knows his way around vinyl (probably looks good in it too).

Are you really a showpony?

I’m a bit crazy sometimes after a few drinks; it makes me more expressive in the mornings.

How did you learn to DJ?

Well, first I had to stand in his (Ajax’s) shoe box sized apartment and count 1-2-3-4 taping my foot and pointing my finger towards the speakers on the one that was supposed to teach me to “drop it on the one”. Then I had to learn to mix. Basically you kind of can’t teach some one to mix, It’s just practice so he kind of pointed me in the right direction and punished me when I stepped out of line.

Who’s the older, more responsible brother ?

I’m the youngest, Dan’s about 25. But you can’t really tell any more after all those late nights.
Girls: Hmmm … we grew up on the Northern Beaches and Dan was a semi-professional boogie boarder so he was quite popular with beach bitches. I had a few girl friends here and there but you know he was blond so the girls really liked him walking up the beach in his trunks.

Where does the inspiration for your tracks come from?

Well all three of us have similar but slightly different tastes in music and what we want to do with it. Between the three of us we would have to get some inspiration from the hundreds and hundreds of songs we listen to every week.

Who are your musical influences and fave musicians?

When I was about 15 I snuck in to see The Avalanches in Newtown. That was the first time I saw Dexter. I think I have seen him every time since then so Dexter completely influences my dj-ing. Cut Copy definitely, I think he is great as a DJ and a musician, Fleetwood Mac, Dr Dre is one of my all time favourite producers, Missy and Timberland.

What are your hobbies?

In my spare time I work and hang out with my girl friend and buddies and ride my BMX.

Why did you give yourself such a porn star name?

I came up with Bumpin Bennie B at the same time I came up with our party at the Bargain Basement Booty Bar so it was Dangerous Dan and Bumpin Bennie B’s Bargain Basement Booty Bar.

What’s your favourite venue to DJ at?

My favourite has definitely been the Bargain Basement Booty Bar. Sometimes Melbourne crowds are better; sometimes they are really bad. It’s hard to say. There are so many venues in Melbourne, and that is what Sydney lacks; that’s one of the reasons nightlife here is so shit. Honky Tonk in Melbourne is by far the best bar ever.

Who have you enjoyed working with?

Hmmmm … my D.A.M.N. buddies of course as well as John Hardy and Cut Copy and Dexter. In art, Duncan Jago, Dmote, Al Murphy, Lucy Maclauglan, Evan Hecox. Any more?

Do you keep your CD collection in alphabetical order?

I don’t really have any CD’s. I lost them all in a move and all I buy is records now. I have the play group DJ kicks and my friend Al is sending me a CD of his rock band in London, but I don’t know the name of the band yet so I can’t really tell you about the order.

Now here’s the job interview question: What do you see himself doing in one year’s time? Two year’s? Five year’s?

In one years time I will be working my lil’ ass off, in two years I’ll be writing cheques, in five year’s time I will be in Barbados with my lady and moudy (sic).

Dangerous Dan and Bumpin’ Bennie B play every Friday night at Candy’s Apartment (old Underground and Zen) along with Ajax.