As part of inthemix’s 6th birthday celebrations, a double CD is to be released followed by an upcoming tour. Along with Nick Thayer, Bass Kleph won Breakspoll’s best remix of 2005 with their work on “Feelin Kinda Strange”. One of the key artist’s on Australian label Breaking Point, it is only fitting that he, along with Hyper, has mixed one amazing disc on the ‘inthemix is six’ CD. About to head out on the road this weekend, ITM’s Pete(SignalDrivers) caught up with Bass Kleph aka Stu Tyson as he finishes packing his bags.

SignalDrivers: Since we last spoke, you’ve won best Breakspoll’s remix 2005 with Nick Thayer for Feelin Kinda Strange. How great is that?

It’s very flattering to be acknowledged the world over in such a big way.

SignalDrivers: Besides drinking too much champagne what else have you been up to in the last 6 months?

No time for champagne, not yet anyway. I’ve obviously just mixed the latest ITM CD, but apart from that I have done a second remix of Savage, a remix of Amiel, two other new remixes for the new “Breaking Point Remix” label, did out of town shows with LTJ Bukem, Stanton Warriors and Audio Bullies, played Super Freaky Kinky to 2,000 people at New Years, almost finished the website, and been finishing my artist album. Plus, the usual DJing and Break Inn and running Beat Box Radio on 2SER (Sydney, 107.3FM each Friday afternoon).

SignalDrivers: You and Hyper have put together a compilation to celebrate ITM’s 6 years. Tell us how this opportunity came about.

I’m really excited about this! The mix has turned out great, and I had a lot of fun doing it too. It’s definitely my best mix yet. I’m really looking forward to the tour with Hyper now.

SignalDrivers: Looking at the tracklisting for the CD, I see heaps of Aussie artists. How would you describe the Australian breaks style?

I don’t think it has one main style. We’ve got guys doing all sorts of sub genres these days. Probably because there’s just so many great Aussie producers now, like Nick Thayer, Street Punx, Dopamine, Hook n Sling, EK. This is a really positive thing for Australia’s scene and will take it to the level everyone has been wanting it to go to.

SignalDrivers: How do you think ITM has influenced the music scene in Australia?

Massively! It has built a huge online community for dance music and is an amazing information source too.

SignalDrivers: I may also be biased but Australia seems to be really flying the flag for the breaks scene worldwide. Why do you think that is?

The style of music just matches with our culture and way of life so well. It’s the same reason dark and heavy drum & bass is much bigger in the UK than here.

SignalDrivers: Must be nice having most of these guys coming out of Breaking Point too. Why is Breaking Point hogging so much of the good stuff?

Yeah, it’s great having such quality artist on your team like Nick Thayer, the Street Punx, Mako, Alphatown, Andrew Maher and Q Jumper. We’ve all got heaps more new tunes comin’ out for everyone this year too.

SignalDrivers: Besides the Breaking Point guys, you seem to have a good relationship with other Aussie stalwarts, like Dopamine, Hook n Sling, Klaus Hill. Do you feed much off each other?

Definitely. I can’t speak for the other guys, but they definitely keep my on my toes. These days Aussie breaks is right up there if not better than most of the overseas stuff.

SignalDrivers: You delivered a knockout live show last time you toured here in Perth. Will the inthemix is six tour be a live show or mainly DJing?

Thanks! Live for all shows so far.

SignalDrivers: How’s the label going (Breaking Ooint) in general? Do you see its “sound” changing?

Great. They just licensed our Fucking The Groove tune to the new Toyota Hilux commercial, and are about to release 2 new records in the next week or so. The sound is simply quality breaks, by quality DJs and producers.

SignalDrivers: Where do you see the label and yourself heading over the next 12 months?

There is a new off shoot to the label called “Breaking Point Remixed” which is out this month and will continue on in parallel wit the main breaking point label too. The Street Punx & Nick Thayer have a lot of records coming out this year, I’m doing mostly remixes and finishing my album. In 12 months time I’ll have the album out and be touring it, possibly as a live band as well as DJing. Plus a few other sneaky albums I can’t tell you about yet.

SignalDrivers: Tell us about your upcoming debut album?

It’s comin’ along really well. Just needs a few more recording sessions then I can mix it.  It’s all new tunes with a nice variation of styles too. It sort of goes from rock to breaks and everything in between. I’ve been playing heaps of guitar and singing on it too. It’s good fun getting back to my rock roots. It lets you in on a little more of myself than just my club stuff. But don’t worry, there’ll be plenty of club remixes of the tunes too.

‘inthemix is six’, mixed by Bass Kleph and Hyper, is out May 6th through Central Station/MRA. They hit the road this weekend for a national tour, don’t miss out!

Thu May 4 – Uber, Brisbane [BUY TICKETS] – Hyper & Bass Kleph
Fri May 5 – Ambar, Perth [BUY TICKETS] – Hyper & Bass Kleph
Sat May 6 – Brown Alley, Melbourne [BUY TICKETS] – Hyper, Bass Kleph & Kid Kenobi
Thu May 11 – Play, Byron Bay [BUY TICKETS] – Hyper & Bass Kleph
Fri May 12 – Home, Sydney [BUY TICKETS] – Hyper, Bass Kleph & Kid Kenobi
Sat May 13 – Sugar, Adelaide – Hyper
Fri Jun 2 – Academy, Canberra [BUY TICKETS] – James Zabiela & Bass Kleph

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE BRAND NEW ‘INTHEMIX IS SIX’ CD FROM ITM.