Ben Morris is Sydney’s hot new thing. Since joining the KINK team as weekly resident and national touring DJ, Ben has been quite the force that has been spurring on continuing success for the KINK brand. Playing regularly at The Garden, Slip Inn, Moulin Rouge and YU, Ben also holds down a monthly residency at the Empire Hotel in Brisbane. With musical taste and diversity that spreads across electro, house, minimal tech and smatterings of breaks, his trademark sound is infectious, yet definitely impossible to pigeon hole. Gaining fans in leaps and bounds, he’s just completed his second KINK album with German DJ/Producer Sharam Jey and this week he is joining Sharam at Famous.
Do you think you’ll ever use your psychology degree?
No. I’ve scrapped that. Unless everything goes pear shaped as a DJ, I won’t use it.
Have you started your audio engineering course?
Yeah, I finish in December. I wanted to learn basic production just to make it easier to learn.
Have you been to a Famous night yet?
No. I’ve been in the club, but only when it was empty. It’ll be a bit of a shock to the system seeing it full!
Who do you think are the big local talents at the moment?
Tonight Only, but apparently they’ve split up, Rob Kaye.
What about international?
Sasha and Digweed, Sharam Jay is pretty on it.
Do you think Australia is isolated a bit in terms of music?
I think it is a little bit. We only make up a small percentage of music that is being produced.
What about you, do you want to branch out overseas?
Yep, eventually. I’m talking with Ministry of Sound about a tour, but I’ve got no idea when it’s going to happen.
What are your plans for the next 6 months or so?
Well, I’m playing the Boiler Room at the Big Day Out. I might be doing Good Vibes but it’s not confirmed yet. Actually I’ve got 10 gigs in two days. I’m playing four gigs on new year’s eve, then five on new year’s day. Then I’m going to take a week off! And I’m on tour with KINK til mid January.
Tell us a little about the new album
Well, the first one I did with Mogwai, and they must have really liked it cause they asked me to do another one. This one I did with Sharam Jey It took about 3 weeks to put it all together.
Cool! So which do you think is better, Melbourne or Sydney?
There’s no diplomatic way to answer that! I’ve been to Melbourne a few times lately. I checked out Q Bar and the Melbourne Cup.
Any final words for Melbourne fans?
Make sure you come down to Famous…and I want people to buy the album!
