My first ever experience of Sydney DJ and producer Goodwill was in a dank basement in Brisbane suburbia as I listened to local band PTYLTD’s EP ‘Bits and Pieces’ within the confines of a studio-in-the-making. The EP included PTYLTD’s hit single ‘Trying to Leave’ with remixes by Craig Obey, Crazy Penis, Julian Love and Goodwill. Certainly, one may think my introduction to this DJ was almost outlandish when matching up to the fact that Goodwill is considered a staple behind the decks of Australia’s biggest clubs and major events, like the Big Day Out, Vibes on a Summer Day, Onelove and Livid. Certainly a town such as Brisbane is far from the glamour of Sydney’s Bondi, but this musical experience proved to be an apt preface nevertheless, for good music penetrates even the most remote locations. Goodwill’s music left an indelible impression of funk based melodies, throbbing house beats and lightly suspended colours, bound together and beautifully executed in an extremely musical approach. This is something I’ve since come to appreciate as the mainstay of any Goodwill project.
After a triumphant release and tour with Axwell for Ministry of Sound’s “Clubber’s Guide to 2006” earlier this year, and the recent release of Ministry of Sound’s “Sessions 3”, Goodwill is proving to be an immovable force on the dancefloor. While chinstrokers are fond of dismissing Ministry of Sound as the McDonald’s of Dance, Goodwill is quick to point out that MoS is also responsible for “taking a punt” and the first to draw attention to quality music. With the recent gossip that Desyn Masiello may be drawn into the MoS family, I can not help but take comfort from Goodwill’s account. “Yes,” he politely affirms, “Ministry of Sound sell a lot of popular stuff. Yes, their mixes and remixes mark them as successful. But you cannot deny their strong presence in the dance industry.” “But,” I interrupt him, “MOS seems to have basic guidelines for their tunes. Do these parameters inhibit your abilities or musical concepts in any way?” There is a small laugh as the good nature of Goodwill comes across the telephone lines. “I’ve had a fair bit of experience,” he assures me, “so I have a very good idea of what comes across well, or what the crowd is seeking. I’m very observant and I’m obsessed with new music. My own signature is definitely attached,” he promises. His familiarity and knowledge of the scene behind the decks are legendary. Having performed with Adam Freeland, Crazy Penis, Erick Morillo, Faithless, Fat Boy Slim, Groove Armada, Jamiroquai on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, Mylo, Roger Sanchez, Sasha, Tiefschwarz and Underworld, Goodwill can indeed be well-satisfied with his lot.
Starting out as a young hopeful in Sydney, Goodwill lived, learnt and played alongside compatriots Kid Kenobi, Q45 and Ritual, all noted for pioneering the genres of breaks and drum & bass in Sydney’s stringent scene through his own group, Green & Jazzy Events. He notes that he was also being taught to DJ by mates like, “Nick Law and Phil Smart and other people that were around at the time who were kind of my idols when it came to DJing. We were all without gigs,” he reflects. “I put on events so these guys could play and thought it was a good idea for me to DJ too. I was really lucky to have the skills. Then I was working at Reachin Records a couple of years after that and it all happened at once! Those early days were good fun,” he assures me. “We all started out together and we keep each other in check too. We have dinner every couple of weeks. See, we all know how to have a laugh. We enjoy having a great time. And because we know how to have a good time, we can share the experiences with others. We love drinking just as much by the bar as we do working behind the decks. But yeh,” he reminisces, “together we escalated. It all started with us putting together our own events. There’s a lot to be said about making your mark. Do your own events – it really works.”
Goodwill has become a bastion in Australia’s dance vista, moving from breaks and DnB to an executive of the house scene. He has held residencies on Home’s main floor, Tank, Family and continues to shine at Onelove in Melbourne. It is reported that “Goodwill’s technical ability shines in his shows with the use of Pioneer CDJ 1000’s being looped and worked to their full effect”. Having successfully established himself as a DJ who knows how to get the dancefloors pumping, Goodwill returned to the roots of his musical background, looking towards the production side of music. “My twin brother is the sort of person an aspiring musician loves to hate. He’s a fantastic musician, plays guitar and is into fusion. I play some guitar and keys, but he is far better than I am. The technical things have been the biggest learning curve for me as I think it is for everybody. But the lyrics and melodies come naturally to me. I’m quite lucky in that way, I guess” “How do you test yourself? How do you push yourself musically,” I ask quizzically. “I’m an impatient person,” he immediately replies. “I can’t play the same tunes night after night without at least having to twiddle around with something differently. It has to be done differently to the last time I played that tune. I’ll stay with one particular genre for about half an hour before I get bored. So I have to constantly change what I do.”
Goodwill insists that “it always goes back to funk music”. In a recent interview Goodwill was been noted saying, “I’m a big boffin about old funk and rare groove. Any song I write I try to find good vocals and melodies.” To me, Goodwill affirms this. “I love both DJing and producing. There’s an instant satisfaction to DJing, one that is different to producing. You’re creating something and it’s on the dancefloor and people are responding immediately. But getting your own ideas onto paper and then playing what you’ve created is also satisfying.” A self confessed music addict, Goodwill acknowledges that music “keeps me sane. It’s like a life support system,” he muses. “And Australia has a great deal to offer the international dance world. We have so many producers and DJs who are world class. TV Rock, Rogue Trades, Bodyrockers – I give them the thumb up. Their success passes onto the rest of us. Some may give them a dig, but I would much prefer to see an Australian CD or album succeed on the charts.”
The latest Goodwill mission is uncovered with the album release of Ministry of Sound’s “Sessions 3”, with a subsequent tour that will find Goodwill on many diverse roads throughout Australia. The music of Dirty South vs Evermore, Bob Sinclar’s latest single “World, Hold On”, T-Funk featuring Katie Underwood, Joey Negro, Beatfreakz and the TV Rock remix of MYNC Project finely tuned by John Course, Goodwill turns his track selection to Till West, The Similou, The Knife, Switch and Annie. “I love Touring,” Goodwill states. “Touring with Axwell was so good. It was really great to visit lots of different cities. I’m keen to get back into it. The MoS CD is quite indicative of my sets, though I find that different places influence me. I might play the same tracks from the night before, but the music will always come out differently.”
While the tour means he will be missing the comforts of home, the beach, his coffee machine and “Q45 doing the 45”, Goodwill will no doubt turn to other consolations such as writing music while on the road. The tour will cover a great deal of Australia, from Cairns to Perth, Broome to Geelong, Newcastle to Parramatta, Canberra, Gold Coast, Auckland, Launceston, Alice Springs and virtually, every major town in between. “If there’s one thing I can say I’ve learnt in life,” Goodwill notes as a send-off, “it’s stick to your guns.”
‘Sessions 3’, mixed by Goodwill and John Course, is out now on Ministry of Sound/EMI. You can catch Goodwill and Course continuing their exhaustive Australian tour throughout June and July:
Fri, 23 Jun, Canberra – Academy, John Course
Fri, 23 Jun, Townsville – The Embassy, Goodwill
Sat 24 Jun, Sydney – Kink, John Course & Goodwill
Thu 29 Jun, Darwin – Discovery, John Course & Goodwill
Fri 30 Jun, Alice Springs – Melanka Complex, John Course & Goodwill
Sat 1 Jul, Gold Coast – Platinum, John Course & Goodwill
Fri 7 Jul, Melbourne – Room 680, John Course & Goodwill
Sat 8 Jul, Brisbane – Family, John Course & Goodwill
Fri 14 Jul, Auckland – Met & Code, John Course & Goodwill
Sat 15 Jul, Traralgon – Inferno, John Course & Goodwill
Thu 20 Jul, Hotham – Swindlers Bar, John Course
Fri 21 Jul, Geelong – Club 4 Play, John Course
Fri 21 Jul, Wollongong – Bustin, Goodwill
Sat 22 Jul, Launceston – Lonnies, John Course & Goodwill
Thu 27 Jul, Mackay – Main Street Nightclub, John Course
Fri 28 Jul, Townsville – The Embassy, John Course
Sat 29 Jul, Toowoomba – The Powerhouse, John Course
Sat 29 Jul, Burnie – Siroccos, Goodwill
Sun 30 Jul, Sydney – Slide, John Course & Goodwill
Sat 5 Aug, Noosa – Rolling Rock, Goodwill
