Ben Stacey is one of Melbourne’s proactive breakbeat DJs who seems perfectly suited to a life in the music industry. There is more to this man than just playing records to entertain the masses each weekend. Ben’s music career actually started out when he was a member of punk rock outfit Bodyjar from 1986 to 1996. He then started DJing in 1996, doing small chilled shows around Melbourne’s cafes and clubs.
The next five years saw him relocate to London where he worked as the 12” buyer at HMV at Oxford Circus. When escaped from behind the counter at HMV he held residencies at Herbal, Yo Below and The Café, and worked on his producing his own music under the moniker of Mayfair.
Upon returning to Melbourne in 2001, Ben has DJ’d around town as part of the various breakbeat nights that have happened over the years such as Out of Order, Destroyer, Sumo, and Blender. These days you can see him as a resident of the Beats Working crew or at his own night Break Rock City at First Floor. He also plays at Revolver and the Croft Institute.
How did Break Rock City come about?
I’d always liked the idea of being in control of at least one of my regular nights. It’s rad to be able to book my favourite local players and all be on the same bill. It’s sort of like choosing your favourite ice cream at the parlour … actually … it’s exactly like that.
Why First Floor?
I lived in the same street at the time I started the night, so naturally it was extremely convenient. I also really dug the layout and vibe but overall dug the laid back and supportive attitude I received from the owners, management and staff. It was very refreshing after my last venture.
What’s the musical approach to the night?We have a very eclectic assortment of flavours on the menu. In no such order – rare funk, dancehall, nu dub, nu funk, hip-hop, party break and generally anything beatsy in between that happens to fit.
Where do you think the night fits into the wider Melbourne dance spectrum?
We have the most funk and rugga influenced dance floor in Melbourne period. We create a jiggy vibe that the ladies love and a funked out, darker vibe that dudes wig out to. Basically it’s a whacked out, drunken, shambolick affair that every walk gets down to.
For all the unaware. You ran a weekly breaks night down at the Laundry in Fitzroy for quite some time. What happened there?
Destroyer ran for over 2 years on Saturday nights at the Laundry before it turned seriously WACK! All the old owners, management, staff and cliental left the venue within the space of around 6 months and went downhill before my eyes. It went from having regular, faithful beats lovers to it being a drunken fight club with no vibe and no beats culture. I think I got out just before my patience got the better of me and have never looked back … well, only to have a chuckle now and again.
You’ve been rocking some big parties as of late, your set at the 33 and 1/3 Breakbeat BBQ standing out as a highlight, did you imagine you’d be a regular at places like Revolver and 33 and 1/3 when you started?
33 New Years Day was my favourite set of my career hands down. Both 33 and Revolver have been incredibly supportive of me over the years and have helped to push me to new and heightened levels a lot quicker than I probably would have. I’ve always set the bar pretty high but personally I still feel I’m still within infant stages. I have personal levels I want to reach so I don’t think I’ll be happy until I feel I’ve somewhat reached them.
How’s the home studio coming along and when can we finally start hearing some Mayfair productions?I’ve recently been revisiting material I wrote 3 – 4 years ago just 2 years after leaving Bodyjar. I was really hard on myself because I felt I had to prove myself to people who knew me. As soon as I get some spare time I want to rework and release a lot of this early work and new material I’ve been working on lately. It’s more band orientated, but I would remix a lot of it for clubs. All going well we may have material in stores within the next 12 months but knowing me it’ll be 24 months.
Just because I’m calling all the BW crew out on this at the moment, with both Scotrod and Direkt getting engaged in the past 6 months, I heard you were getting married or buying a home with your significant other or something like that. Explain.
Ah ha!! One-step at a time my man. We’ve just bought a house together in
Kensington. Personally we’re going great guns!
What are you hoping to achieve with Break Rock City?
We’re offering something quite a bit different from other breaks nights as we barely even drop any breaks depending on the mode of the party. It’s all about the party, getting’ crazy and having an ace time. It’s also a family affair as we are all good friends so it’s a really good place to just be yourself and meet new people who are themselves.
Are there any special plans for the 1-Year Anniversary?
We have loads of giveaways throughout the night including door prizes i.e. JB gift vouchers, vinyl giveaways, memberships, Birthday cake, and other surprises we cannot mention. We also added the turntable science of Doc Felix. He is extremely familiar with the formula and knows the points to add the cream. I’m also planning group nudey runs throughout the crowd cha cha style. It’s going to be a crazed out, shambolick drunken affair as most Break Rock’s have been.
Break Rock City’s 1st Year Anniversary is on Friday, March 11th @ First Floor. Check ITM whatson for more details.
