Matt Nugent is one of those DJs who took original inspiration from the mid nineties, when there was a lot of work to be done in the music scene and the house scene in Australia was at a point of growth. With his major influences stemming from his first house party in 1994 (SMILE in Canberra), this man has a lot to be proud of. Starting as a novice and working steadily on his style and perfecting his craft, he has climbed the ranks successfully to be where he is today – one of Australia’s most notable house DJs. Moving from Canberra to Brisbane at the age of 18, Matt gained residencies at clubs like Family, Fresh ‘n’ Funky, Empire, and playing at festivals like Summafieldayz, Good Vibrations, Vibes on a Summers Day, Two Tribes, Ministry of Sound, and more. Nugent has also been ranked as one of Queensland’s top DJs in the DMAs and the Technics inthemix50. He has a passion for what he does, and an attitude to match. Check out what Matt had to say when I interviewed him recently from his new home in Sydney.
What drew you to house music in the beginning?
When I was a teenager I lived in Canberra and in ‘94 a friend took me along to see Ken Cloud play. I had the best night and realised that there was more to dance music than the dodgy euro stuff they played on the radio, I caught the bug and have been hooked ever since.
What was the attraction for your relocation to Sydney from Brisbane?
I’ve been in Brisbane for 9 years now, I’ve had heaps of fun and been really fortunate with my DJing gigs. I had reached a point where I was playing all the gigs that I wanted and felt like I needed a new challenge, a great job opportunity in Sydney came my way so I took a chance. Sydney is where it’s at and if you want to take your DJing to the next level you’ve gotta be there. I’m really excited about getting amongst it and getting my head around a whole different scene.
Where do you see Matt Nugent in 5 years from now?
No idea. Playing records and working within the industry. Hopefully with my own little label.
What are you future musical aspirations?
Eventually I wanna get some records out, I’ve finished a few things but I’ve still got plenty to learn before any of them are good enough to shop to labels, plus if you want to succeed as a DJ you need to get records out.
Where would you like to see the house scene headed?
I’m pretty happy with the way it’s heading, I think the scene is re-inventing itself, there are hot records around at the moment. I’m loving the acid house revival.
What are some of the things that fuel your musical passions?
Everything in my life revolves around music, I’ve been working in the music industry for the last 9 years DJing, working in record stores and for record companies.
Will there be any producing on the horizon for Matt Nugent?
Yeah, I’ve got a few things finished that I play at gigs but I still have some work to do to get to release level.
What is it that gives you that buzz when playing to a huge crowd?
I get a buzz of making the party happen, I get an adrenalin rush when the floor is rockin’. To think your contributing to over 1,000 people having a good time at once is pretty cool.
What are your favourite DJing equipment items and why?
I’m still a vinyl junkie, so I’d have to say the Technics SL1200, having said that the Pioneer CDJ1000 has changed the face of DJing, the access to music way before it’s pressed and the manipulation that is possible is awesome. I’d have to say that the Rane MP2016 is probably my favorite mixer although the Ecler SCLAT 200VS mixer that Family Nightclub has in the main room is pretty close, it sounds wicked and when you use it every week for a few years you get pretty attached. I don’t mind the Vestax R1 or the new Carl Cox one either.
In the mid nineties, where did you foresee your musical future, and are you content with what you have achieved so far?
I saw myself DJing, producing and working for a record company, I just got to get the production up to a level I’m happy with and I’ll be there.
What was the first house music party you ever went to, what year was it and what was it about the music that inspired you to become who/what you are today?
It was 1994 at a club night called SMILE in Canberra, as I mentioned before with Ken Cloud and also Chris “Fresh” Fraser playing, I liked the fact the floor was heaving and the crowd knew hardly any of the tunes, it wasn’t about playing hit after hit after hit to get the floor going, the crowd would dance cause they trusted the DJ.
At what point did you stop and say to yourself, ‘this is what I want to do, I want to be a DJ’, and how did it transpire?
Again it goes back to 93/94, I was always making tapes up for my friends making them listen to new stuff I’d gotten my hands on, sneaking into clubs underage. I loved the atmosphere and wanted to be the one that created it and shared the music. Plus it’s a good way to meet chicks, haha! When I was 18 I managed to get some gigs in some dodgy Brisbane venues through a friend of my sister, after a lot of hard work and persistence over the years I managed to work my way up the ranks. Eventually doing the two main house gigs in Brisbane for the last few years, the close on Saturday nights in the main room at Family and the middle slot at Fresh n Funky the club night at the middle bar at the Empire. I’ve also been really lucky to do the main stage at the Good Vibrations festival each year that it’s been to Brisbane as well as getting good time slots at Summafieldayze and Two Tribes on the Queensland leg.
Who were your early influences?
When in Canberra local jocks Ken Cloud and Chris Fraser, then I moved to Brisbane and when I wasn’t playing used to go to the Empire Corner Bar or the Tube and watch local heroes Mark Briais, DJ Freestyle, Jason Rouse, Chris Wilson and Rob Mitchell.
Who are your influences and inspirations today?
Over the years I’ve been lucky to play with some of the worlds best as they touch down is Brisbane, plenty of them have been awesome for different reasons. I like jackin’ house, funky house, deep house, tech house, you name it so there are DJs and producers from each scene that inspire me. You gotta be thankful for guys like Larry Levan, Frankie Knuckles and Tony Humpheries for building something and you have to give shouts to Masters at Work, Roger Sanchez and Morillo for taking it to where it is today. When he’s on it’s hard to top Derrick Carter as a DJ but then again Ben Sims blew my mind the first time I saw him play. Brisbane local Colin “DJ Freetyle” Russell inspires me also, he has records out in the US and Europe and even one picked up for the latest Mark Farina and Derrick Carter mix CD and has done it all from his home studio in Brisbane. He just got back from a world tour. Shows it doesn’t matter where you are from you can make it if you set your mind to it.
What would you like to tell your fans out there?
Thanks for dancing each week!
You can see Matt Nugent in Sydney at Chinese Laundry where he is a new Saturday night resident, and also at Kink at the Arthouse (with Chris Wilson) this weekend, May 28th.
If you’re a fan of Matt Nugent don’t forget to vote for him in the 2005 Technics inthemix50 Poll. Voting opens on Wednesday May 25th – for more info check out http://www.inthemix.com.au/50/.
