Jackie Onassid and Nick Taylor are two names synonymous with great music and great times. Their musical philosophy is about pushing boundaries and creating new musical organisms ready for dance floor consumption. King and Queen of Byron’s forward thinking music movement, they have a passion for music that is rarely seen. Both have a diverse musical history, ranging from ballet, Zurich gay disco and anarcho punk to Tokyo techno and Goa. Nick was instrumental in founding Prana, a highly successful goa collective of the mid nineties. Founders of Reflecta, and a driving force behind the Edgecore record label, I spoke to them about politics, Byron Bay, their tours, influences and what they have in store for Sydney when they visit Candy’s apartment for Deep as Funk on the 13th of September.

I asked them why they thought there was such resistance by councils and government to parties in Byron and indeed across the world. Jackie explained it to me, “I figured it would have to do with the governments not having the financial control over the party culture in general. Also and perhaps more so, the fact that such gatherings attract a diversity of people being able to form new friendships and networks beyond their nuclear family, race, sex, religion and age and that would pose quite a threat to the upholding of control and the set values… there is actually a group of people in Byron currently, that are putting pressure on the council to provide Byron Bay with an all nite/all ages venue to be run autonomously. Check www.echo.net.au for juicy news and the what’s on around Byron Bay.” Nick added, “I think government institutions around the world are basically systems of control, and they’ll try to crush any sub-culture that shows the potential to open people up to alternative ways of being. “

The establishment of c-moog has been heralded as a saviour of Byron’s electronic community so I was eager to find out what Nick and Jackie thought about it. Nick told me that “It’s definitely not the venue of choice for most of the local party crew….there’s a much more thriving scene at underground parties away from the licensed venues in town.” Jackie was slightly more optimistic, “To some degree for sure. It’s a venue! Since the culture involves all ages it still doesn’t cater for the need of the whole party scene up here. And as one of the main clubs in Byron it’s a bit disappointing to see that the decorative input totally lacks innovation! But it provides a good platform for many local djs and it’s definitely a club to check out when visiting Byron for some local and interstate talent, some overseas treats and a smorgasbord of musical variety.”

I was keen to understand the Bryon party ethic, and Jackie and Nick were quick to explain. Jackie telling me, “I think people are obsessed with music of just about any style that’s got the funk, psychedelia and sex… and I’m one of them…” Nick was equally enthusiastic, “Most people are pretty open, and they’ll go off to anything as long as it’s spanking the dancefloor, regardless of genre.”

Playing across the globe would have to be an eye-opening experience and I was curious to find out how the rest of the world embraced their unique sound. “The open-minded ones love it…the ones caught up in genre dogma miss out. I think the urge to go sick on the dancefloor is common to all races”, Nick explained to me. Jackie saying, “I haven’t actually played around the globe yet but Tokyo and San Francisco. I can imagine everywhere I play there’ll be punters loving it and others that don’t get off when it gets unsafe…”

The birth of Relecta, their successful production partnership, happened, “Just like that! In 1995…..[out of] an equal passion for making innovative dancemusic!” When asked about the future of Reflecta they told me, “After our last battle of creative egos in the studio over moving a sound a 16th to the left or to the right (which can be crucial of course!)we decided to be just flat mates for a while….. there’ll definitely be more of Reflecta but we are both currently working on tracks individually and co-produce and re-mix with other local producers. 2004 will probably see some new releases on vinyl.”

Nick Taylor has been DJing since 1994 and so I asked him how big his record collection was and if he had any guaranteed floorfillers. “I’ve never thought to count my records, and as a Virgo I should have developed a system to catalogue them too, which is also yet to happen. Let’s just say it can take a frustratingly long time to find an old classic that’s just popped into my head. As for floorfillers, there’s quite a few from over the years. I guess my biggest one from the last year has been “Down & Dirty” by Richard F.

There musical inspirations demonstrate why their music is so easily enjoyed across the world. Jackie told me she is “inspired all the time but I’d say Prince would be in my top five and so are Buckfunk3000 (aka Si Begg), Missie Elltot, earlier Basement Jaxx and the jazzie drum’n’bass releases by London Electricity …and several artists on the FingerLickin’ label….and….and….” Nick agreed, “Yeah, all of the above plus a lifetime of absorbing music….too many artists to mention…although I have to give props to Iggy Pop in silver pants & eyeliner.Sometimes you can even get inspiration from an advertising jingle.

Jackie has a section on Edgecore’s website, called the Jackie File, where she expresses some quite controversial views. She feels the internet provides a successful new way to express opinions, “The net is fantastically difficult to control and censor and a necessary tool for juicy info and networking!”

Prana, a highly successful goa collective of which Nick was a member, lives on in many doofers minds as a legend in its own time. Nick explained its success, “I think it was a case of being in the right place at the right time…’93-’94 was when the trance scene went ballistic across Europe & we happened to be a part of it at the time. I guess there was an element of surprise, although we could see the momentum building up for a while.

I asked them whether they were looking forward to Deep as Funk at Candy?s Apartment and it looks like Sydneysiders are in for a surprise! “We can’t wait to get a dose of the big smoke, the concrete jungle and Sydney’s party nutters and we’ll do our best to play unpredictable dj sets and provide a free-to-be-me party vibe.”

Check out Jackie and Nick at Deep as Funk @ Candy’s Apartment, Saturday the 13th of September.