DJ Q45 (A.k.a Tom Howell) is attempting to move beyond the limitation of “genre”. Although he is most often described as a breaks DJ, this London born/Sydney raised producer/DJ loathes pigeonholing and is quick to point out that his sets include more than just breaks tracks. It’s his firm belief that if a track is of a high enough quality then it deserves be heard – A philosophy which helps to explain the consistently impressive, yet remarkably eclectic, nature of his sets.
Although he has been a stalwart of Sydney’s dance music scene since the early 1990’s, Q45 is now enjoying an increased level of recognition throughout the rest of Australia. Last year he and UK superstar Krafty Kuts each mixed one disc of the “Fuzzy Breaks” double CD, the first in a series of CDs to be released by Sydney’s highly respected “Fuzzy” crew. It was an excellent opportunity that helped introduce the talents of Q45 to a much wider audience, most of whom became instant fans.
Since then, Q45’s career has gone from strength to strength. In recent years he’s supported Soul of Man, the Plump DJs, the Freestylers and The Stanton Warriors, performed at Field Day 2004 and Summerbreak, and demonstrated his impressive production skills with the release of his original track – “Shabby Chic”.
As part of his ongoing quest to ensure that the best tracks from all genres get a hearing, Q45 is now travelling the country, presenting a series of his one-off “Bootleg” parties. In The Mix’s Capcoincidence managed to steal a few moments of Q45’s time in which to quiz him about the industry’s propensity for pigeonholing, the inspiration behind the “bootleg” parties, and the effect that the “Fuzzy Breaks” CD has had on his career.
ITM: Over the last few years you’ve been quite heavily involved with the Sydney-based Fuzzy crew. Here in Melbourne we don’t get to hear much that much about Fuzzy and what they get up to. What can you tell us about Fuzzy and your involvement with them?
Q45: They are one of Sydney’s best promoters because they’re just as interested in the music as me and they look after the crowd before and after they have bought a ticket.
ITM: The CD you mixed for Fuzzy last year was extremely well received by music fans around Australia. Has doing that CD opened up more doors/provided more opportunities for you?
Q45: Definitely. It’s must easier to get people interstate interested in you if they have heard or seen your CD. I’ve even had the embarrassing moment of pulling up to traffic lights in Brisbane with some kid in the car next to me blasting my mix on his car stereo. He recognised me and then proceeded to turn it up even louder!... Longest red light ever.
ITM: You got your start playing in the underground rave scene. Now that dance music has become a lot more commercialised, do you ever miss those large warehouse-style parties?
Q45: Yes, I think most DJs/punters who went out in the early 90’s do miss a little of the utopian ideals and innocence that filled the early raves in Sydney. 0055 numbers and secret locations, made you feel like you were part of something special, although my Dad always said “you guys know nothin’, unless you were in some park, knee deep in mud, stoned as a rock, and listening to Hendrix in 60’s London. That was a revolution!” There are, however, much better quality line ups and organisation now, and I think it’s best to realise that professionalism and commercialism aren’t the same thing.
ITM: Over the years you’ve persistently resisted the attempts of those who would stereotype you into a particular genre. Do you feel that there is too much pigeonholing going on in today’s dance music scene?
Q45: Yes. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, there are only 2 types of music – “good” and “bad”. I try to play the good stuff.
ITM: You’re renowned for the diversity of genres that you bring to your sets, but is there anything that you would NEVER play in one of your sets?
Q45: The tune the last DJ finished with, and anything by Celine Dion
ITM: It’s time for a “please explain” – What are the “Bootleg” parties and what is your involvement with them?
Q45: I found my sets late last year where becoming completely filled with Bootlegs and hardly any original material, so I decide to hold back on the bootlegs a bit around town and do a party with a couple mates which just played booties. It went very well.
ITM: From where I’m sitting the Australian dance music scene just seems to be growing exponentially more popular and professional – How’s it looking from your angle?
Q45: Still young, almost at that age when you move from warm Strongbow in some park to beer in a pub.
ITM: What’s your favourite memory of your DJ career?
Q45: The first time the Plump DJ’s played in Sydney (I played before them) it was nuts. The funniest moment, however, was when I played before Cash Money, who I heard was quite a performer. 2 minutes before he played, though, I had a chat, and found him to be very soft spoken, almost timid. However about 3 seconds into his first record he grabbed the MIC and shouted very confidently to a completely white crowd – “If y’all got a big ass and big titties, make some noise.” The crowd duly obliged. This went on for a good 2 hours and I laughed so much I nearly pissed myself.
ITM: How about your least favourite memory?
Q45: Hearing some guy asking Sydney DJ Nick Toth if he could play something “funky” whilst “funky drummer” by James Brown was on. Tragic
ITM: You’ve recently released a remix of D’Kay and Epilson’s track “Barcelona”. How did that project come about?
Q45: Goodwill did us a favour and let us loose with Stamina’s vocals, BMG liked it, and all copies sold out. Pure nepotism really.
ITM: Are you currently working on any other tracks/remixes that you can tell us about?
Q45: A remix for Hussle and Bussle I did as RED (me and Kid Kenobi, Ritual) on A Harder Tip, due out later this year, and a whole host of hard drive filling half finished tunes of my own.
ITM: Which do you find more satisfying – DJing or producing? Why?
Q45: DJing gives me ideas for my production and vice versa, so I need to do both.
ITM: How would you describe a Q45 set to someone who had never heard one before?
Q45: Half way between a jukebox and a purist.
ITM: What can we expect from you over the next year (releases, tour, wild rumours/scandals, etc…)?
Q45: Big bar tabs, big tune-age, and some tracks you wouldn’t expect to hear over the top of each other.
You can catch Q45 in Melbourne this Saturday September 11 at Bootleg (Metro)
