When I heard that Bexta was releasing a new CD with all her own material I headed into “Butter Beats” to grab a copy. I figured they would have the latest stuff and were the easiest record shop for me to get to. Unfortunately it hadn’t actually been released at that stage and when I asked for it I was told that they wouldn’t stock it as it was “too mainstream” along the likes of Nik Fish. “What the?” I thought. I explained to the guy behind the counter that it wasn’t a DJ mix but a self-produced album with all original tracks. He hadn’t heard anything about it. I asked Bexta what she had to say about that. “I’d say where’s my million dollar mansion if I’m so mainstream? I find people like Nik and I get caught in this strange void – we’re not top 40, but we’re also known enough not to be considered obscurely underground…The mainstream topic is boring and outdated. It’s about the music, if it sells and it’s popular – great! I love people liking my music, why the fuck wouldn’t you!”
I was lucky enough to catch Bexta at the start of her new tour coinciding with the release of “Conversations With Ones and Zeroes” at the Family recently. This CD has been a long time coming. Bexta actually started producing her own material back in 1992 from computers and keyboards. Early performances included supporting artists such as Bjork and the Prodigy. She then moved into DJ’ing with regular tours and appearances at the “Big Day Out’s” and raves and nightclubs around the country which has seen her consistently placing in the top of the Technics inthemix50 DJ poll. 2004 saw her gain the number 4 position so the release of “Conversations” is yet another feather in the cap of this enthusiastic artist originally from Brisbane. To be playing her own material is obviously where her passion lies. Her material is also receiving airplay on radio station Triple J.
I finally secured my own copy of the funky rainbow coloured CD and was not disappointed. It brought back all the memories of the Family gig – the energy, the spine-tingling, heart-tugging trance melodies, the kicking bass-lines. The range of styles and influences throughout the twelve-track journey had my spirits soaring, toes tapping and goose bumps rising from the start! I asked Bexta if the release of “Conversations” had been nerve-wracking for her. “It’s more exciting than nerve racking. Releasing it yourself is a big deal – you have so much more to risk, but I am so happy to be able to get my own music finally on the shelves”.
How has the release of this CD with all your own material on your own label differed from your previous ‘Mixology’ releases?
It’s completely different. ‘Conversations’ is me as a complete musician – DJ’ing is part of the music I love. I will always be a musician first and a DJ second. Maybe that helps me with my DJ’ing! But this CD musically, is not just hard trance, in fact everyone I have given the album to has been really surprised about how much of a range of music styles are there.
So how would you describe your musical style Bexta? Do you categorise yourself into a particular genre?
I’m not a fan of genre typecasting. When I am DJ’ing and when I play live I play trance and hard trance. I love hard style music with beautiful melodies – but no cheese! The album goes into more sub-genre styles that I am into…Bits of Chill, Electronica, Beats. Standing back and listening to the album now, I can hear all my old skool influences… Jam and Spoon, Underworld, Leftfield, Orbital, Prodigy, Force Mass Motion and RMB.
What first got you into DJing?
It was one of those things that I started and never sat down and said “why and what are you doing”. I just did it. I had actually been producing and playing live for a few years before that, and I just felt DJ’ing was the next thing for me to do….
Are you still working on more original material? Will there be another Bexta original CD in the future?
Hey! I’m just trying to deal with this one! (laughs) It’s all I want to do. I want to do some collaborations next, and actually start putting out more local vinyl. The more music I can release of my own, the happier I’ll be. And I’d love to work with some other people, can’t tell you who it is yet though!
In your spare time (if you ever get any!) What kind of music do you like to listen to? Which artists have inspired you?
I have been obsessed recently with getting my hands on my 80’s and 90’s faves. I’ve just tracked down Transformer 2, Jam and Spoon, Tripomatic Fairytales, and heaps of other 90’s and daggy 80’s music. But I love to listen to rock, like Grinspoon, bits of everything except Country and Western, and now R&B has been added to my list of stuff I can’t stand – except the really good stuff.
So what has been your favourite gig to play and why?
I had the best live show EVER last week at Family. My gawd the crowd was awesome, the venue was awesome, and I had my whole crew there. I think that was my favourite live show ever! Thanks to family for looking after us SO well. I wish every gig was that easy”.
How does plying in a club differ from, say, doing the ‘Big Day outs’?
I have been playing Big Day Out’s since 1996, so it has always been a part of what I do. I love playing them! You get such a different crowd – people who might not come to a rave come and listen and maybe even enjoy your music. Plus you can’t beat playing in from of 14000 people really, can you?!”
So will you be doing the ‘Big Day Out’ again?
I shook my magic 8 ball the other day and it said ‘all signs point to yes’, so we’ll see…
‘Conversation With Ones and Zeroes’ is available now through KMA/Inertia. Check out www.bexta.com for a full list of tour dates and info. If you’re in Sydney, you can also catch Bexta at Sunday Innc where she is a resident alongside Pee Wee, Nik Fish and Amber Savage.
