What is it about Kid Kenobi? The Sydney breakbeat maestro can seemingly do no wrong with the announcement of yet another award. This time it’s the nations most prestigious DJ prize – the Technics inthemix50 as voted for by you, the readers of ITM. As clubs, promoters and DJs themselves around the nation launched email campaigns to ensure the votes of their faithful punters, the Sydney native breezed past them all to remain the sole winner of this coveted prize. So what makes this boy tick? What is it about Kid Kenobi that so many Australian dance music fans love?
Ringing him at home shortly after being informed, a genuinely bewildered Kenobi still can’t get over the fact he’s won. “I’m very surprised. I didn’t expect it at all really”. Laidback, easy going and open in conversation, he stresses to me later in the interview “can you make sure you put in that I’m really grateful to EVERYONE who voted”. Coming across as one not to take such popularity for granted, as the conversation continues a picture begins to paint itself of a man not just passionate about his music but his local scene as well.
During the voting period there was talk on the ITM forums as to whether Kenobi could follow up his 2003 success. After all he hasn’t been such a permanent fixture on the Sydney scene in the past twelve months. As it turns out this could well be part the reason for his continued success. Says Kenobi of the past year “I’ve spent a lot of time travelling around Australia and about a month to six weeks overseas. Never in one place for long but in a lot of places for a short amount of time.”
So how does the big city DJ find life on the road travelling to the extremes of the continent? “It’s been cool, nice to get out of the big cities and see other places. It’s easy to think big cities are where it’s at because they’ve got more on offer and people are exposed to more music on a more regular level. That somehow people in big cities are representing where it’s at. In the smaller places, where they might not exactly listen to one particular genre, they’re often more open-minded than bigger cities. “I played in Launceston early this year which was really cool. I played an amazing gig in Yallingup in south-west WA and that was wicked. I played Darwin at the end of last year…” As he continues you get the feeling that if there were to be a national face for dance music he would have to be number one contender.
The question then begs itself how has playing such a variety of venues and locations affected the style and feel of his sets. “It always depends on the individual gig. I always tend to take into consideration the venue and the crowd as to what I’ll play. I won’t walk in and say “right this is my agenda”. I’m not saying that’s right or wrong. But I’ll always try to take into account the vibe of the night. Some gigs you end up playing really happy and funky kind of breaks where as others gigs may be darker and harder, and you can do that around Australia. It takes a while to get to know what people expect.
Kenobi admits that having acquired a bit of a name for himself does afford him some luxuries when playing. “One of the things I’ve taken on board recently is the fact that when you’ve got a bit of a name as a DJ there’s that line you can walk between; the expectations they (the crowd) have of what you’re going to play and the freedom they allow you as a DJ they like. I have found recently I’ve sort of gone “here’s a few new things, I don’t know if you’ll dig it or not but I’ll throw it in anyway”. I think sometimes if people are really looking forward to seeing you play they’ll keep an open mind.”
In addition to his busy touring schedule a great deal of Kenobi’s spare time of late has been taken up with his production and remix work. Whilst appreciative of the international recognition this has garnered him it’s more towards his local scene that this is directed and where his heart lies. “I’m not really that worried about making a name overseas, it’s not been a goal of mine at all. I mean I like it when remixes we’ve done do well over there. But I think if anything I’m more passionate about the Australian music scene at the moment.”
“I’m finding more and more people are into the breaks that I’m into, more people are writing it. I find it really inspiring that people you know or have met are making music that makes you go ‘that’s wicked!’ It’s people like Bass Kleph from Sydney, Nick Thayer from Melbourne, the guys I work with Red. I just find it really inspiring. That’s what it should be about, not just having a cool scene but writing cool music for that scene. You don’t want to be a culture where you’re having amazing events but you’re all playing English music or you’re all playing American music.”
With the voting procedures allowing three nominations I close (well actually calling him back an hour later after thinking of the question) by asking who he would have (did?) voted for in the inthemix50 and why. “Probably Kemuri, James Taylor, and Shredlock. I really admire them and love what they do. One’s been playing for a while and the other two are fairly new”.
ITM and Technics congratulate Kid Kenobi on his back-to-back crowns and wish to thank all who participated by voting. You can catch Kid Kenobi as part of the Technics inthemix50 national tour over the coming weeks. Check the events page HERE.
TO SEE THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS IN THE 2004 TECHNICS INTHEMIX50 DJ POLL CLICK HERE.
