A leading light in the Sydney dance scene, Goodwill has been a mainroom resident at Home’s weekly Saturday night Together since its inception a year ago, with the successful club night celebrating its first birthday this weekend. ITM caught up with Goodwill to talk about his forays into production work, fondest memories of Together @ Home, and Latvian Polka Ballads.
You’re renowned for creating remixes, bootlegs and mash ups. What are you currently up to on the production front?
I have a track just about to come out called ‘Happenis’ on Hussle which is very tongue in cheek and includes a Poxymusic Remix. I did it with my partner Darryl Beaton who is a good friend and a great talent. Also a track called Computer Games by Fex (Frank from Infusion) and I which will be out shortly and then Darryl and I will follow up Happenis with another single called Go Away. Also I have a remix I am doing with Pocket of Static Revenger ‘So High’. There are loads of other things on the go as well but more on them later.
How do you find DJing compares to production? Do you prefer one role to the other and why?
They are both very different really.
What are some of the major changes you’ve seen in the scene since the early days?
I’ve put on some weight, I moved out of home, Kid Kenobi grew about 2 inches and Q45 still doesn’t realise that I hate watching Football. Oh, Ritual still looks like an Indian model.
How would you say your own style and approach to creating and performing music has progressed through the years?
I am so critical of my own DJing so I make sure that I improve every week. I am still just playing all sorts of house music though. I only really bother doing 3 or 4 straight breaks sets a year at the moment and most of those are interstate. I can comfortably say though that I can hold my own with any type of House music. I can play with Dave Seaman one night and Derrick Carter the next and it isn’t a problem which is something I work pretty hard at.
Your current sets have been described as “big room filling, chunky funk infused house.” How would you describe your sound?
I would say that I just play good house music. Be it Deep House or Techno it’s all House music.
What kind of stuff do you listen to?
Loads of ambient stuff like the Emit series which I will never tire of. Mako’s stuff has been on high rotation for the past few months. And I do listen to R&B stuff as well because it’s so good to hear melody. When I listen to records I usually listen to the stuff I never get to play out, like Techno or Latvian Polka Ballads.
What’s the most precious item in your record box?
All my Funk Records are equally as precious. I have so many records I can’t even fit them all in my apartment so it’s hard to remember.
From the many parties you’ve played at, can you name some that really stand out from the rest?
Playing with Roger Sanchez at Home was a definite highlight. The crowd was so excitable and I got to play quite techy. Playing before Jamiroquai on the Opera House steps was a mind-blowing sight. Playing to 3,000 people at the last Splendour in the Grass was amazing recently. Shureshock MCed for me and the bender we had afterwards was devastating.
What can we expect from your upcoming set at Together @ Home’s 1st birthday?
Just party music because it is a birthday party after all. I can’t believe it’s been a year already. Thanks to the crowd who come week in and week out to support the night. Its an awesome weekly gig to have and this parties gonna rock!
Where to from here? What are you up to next?
Together at Home is going to have a huge summer and I have loads of travel coming up which is going to be rewarding, also I have a Mix CD in the works just in time for Summer, more on that later. Happy Birthday Together at Home!
You can catch Goodwill at Together @ Home’s 1st Birthday Saturday September 20th, click HERE to find out more info.
