Andrew Sarakinis, better known in the Riverland as DJ Sarez, was awarded South Australia’s top ranking DJ title at this year’s Technic Inthemix 50. Despite polling in at number fifteen nationally, he’s not even from Adelaide! ITM caught up with this quiet achiever who against all odds has risen to great heights… without all the media hoo-ha that usually accompanies such a high profile position.
After receiving an invite from inthemix.com.au, Sarez decided to go to Sydney for the prestigious Awards ceremony held at the multi-award winning Tank nightclub (one which has been nominated in the top eight nightclubs in the world, House Music Awards 2004/05). At the time of the announcement Sarez was standing at the back of the venue knocking back plenty of the sponsor’s beverages. He was trying to decide if he had time to duck off to the men’s room for a minute. He then recalls “I heard my name being announced… I was very surprised to win, there were some big name DJs in the top 20…so I feel very privileged to be amongst them.”
For a decade now, Sarez has been working incredibly hard on his DJing. He’s constantly travelling from his home base in Barmera to all his residencies and guest spots in Adelaide, sometimes covering distances of anywhere up to 500kms each weekend. His popularity has grown from strength to strength in Adelaide and in regional SA due to his constantly successful club nights and events in both Berri and Loxton since 1999. He’s also one of the main men behind the massive ‘Handpicked Festival’ in Loxton which has showcased great Aussie bands and DJs for the last two years. Currently Sarez is a resident of Savvy nightclub: a hangout in Adelaide for the ultra cool and stylish. He can also be seen around town at many other regular parties, club nights and surprisingly at some of the biggest raves and festivals. ‘When I’m not in Adelaide I spend my weekends playing and promoting my shows around the Riverland. I am presently running three major club nights and events: Full Circle, Devine, and Hand Picked Festival SA.’
Unlike most of big name DJs in the top 50, Sarez is not a full time DJ. During the week he owns and operates four vineyards for his family business. He explains ‘We grow and export table grapes around the country and the world. We also grow wine grapes for BRL Hardy Wine Company. It’s a full time job, very hectic but I still manage to keep my weekends free to DJ and run my club nights.’
I asked him why he thought he had poled so high in this year’s inthemix top 50 and what he contributes to his incredible rise to number one position. “I think the rise in popularity of electro house would have helped me… but I’m not just a house or a rave DJ. I play most styles and genres of music. I keep in touch with many different crowd types, from hard dance, to funky house and anything in between. I think promoting my own shows and club nights in the Riverland, as well as playing at big shows and clubs in Adelaide may have carried me to the number one position.’ He also points out, that he’s been handing out heaps of promo CDs at all of his shows and where ever he’s been working and on the odd occasion while shopping in Adelaide he has been shocked to heard his mixes being played in several well know retail outlets.
‘There are two club nights and one massive music festival can personally recommend you check out while visiting, staying or simply partying in the Riverland. The first is the illustrious ‘Full Circle’ parties which are put a few times a year- usually over the Uni holiday break. Many talented artists from Adelaide have been touring the Riverland for years including DJ Josh, ATB, MPK, Odyssey, Patch, Devious and myself with such a diverse range of music styles from trance, house, hard and even D’n’B goes down well,’ he explains. ‘The club nights are huge, stronger than ever and are really putting the Riverland on the map.’ ‘Devine is also worth a look, showcasing the talents of local Riverland DJs spinning party and club tunes. Both these club nights are well known for pulling the crowds out of the cities and local regional towns up to the Riverland… and finally one of the state’s biggest live music events, ‘Hand Picked Festival’, which is now attracting crowds of up to 10 000 people. Some of last 2005’s artists included Grinspoon, Shihad, Nick Skitz, Snap 2 Zero, DJ Josh, Everest, Distorted Aggression, Sector 7G, ATB, Patch plus heaps more. Sarez is the man behind the two dance arenas, fulfilling his role of performer, promoter, dance music adviser and stage manager. 2006 saw forty acts booked over three stages. Vandalism, Butterfingers, Body Jar and DJ Bexta went off to an audience of thousands…this is an indication that the Riverland is making a huge impact on the music scene in SA,’ he points out proudly.
Back in 1994 Sarez had a life changing experience whilst in Europe; he was introduced to the break-beat sound sweeping the nation through his cousin who was a DJ in Greece. He says ‘that’s when I developed my vinyl addiction. Groups like ‘Rat Pack’ and ‘The Prodigy’ were doing big things at that time. I found them quite inspiring.’ When he came back to Riverland his only way of staying in touch with this new sound was by listening to mixed tapes of live recordings from the famously underground ‘Discovery’ nights in Adelaide. ‘DJs like MPK, Noddy, Uzi, Madness, ATB and Brendon, all added to my motivation to become a DJ. I’ve been DJing for 10 years now but have been collecting records since 1994. The first track I bought was FAR OUT by SONZ OF A LOOP-DA-LOOP ERA an old school breakbeat track.’ Sarez has been collecting and playing just about everything at some stage: old-school rave classics, happy hardcore, jungle, D’n’B, hard house, trance, hard trance, breaks and the list goes on. ‘You might even find an old Prince record in my collection,’ he jokes.
His first gigs happened in 1996 when Sarez was actually old enough to go out. He started playing at house parties and then in massive sheds on friends’ big properties which started drawing huge crowds of kids, teenagers, young adults and others who were aching for somewhere to go out, get drunk, and listen good music. He recalls: ‘There was no dance scene…I was pretty much the only DJ playing ‘techno’. Everything else was hip hop and Top 40.’
By the late 90’s Sarez and a small number of other DJs had established some kind of dance music following starting to put on regular shows (Full Circle, around the region attracting the loyal supporters. Then in 2001 he finally had a lucky break beating thirty-five of the finest up and coming DJs in Heaven’s DJ Comp, securing him regular sets at Heaven and all the Twice as Nice long weekend parties. From there he branched out to play major raves all over the state including Ultraworld, Enchanted Forest, Frantic, Utopia (NYE), Ultra Sonic and Stardust Festival, Time Machine, Encore Anthems and others. In no time, Adelaide’s major clubs like Soda Room, Rise, Savvy, Cargo, Black Cat, LeRox, St Paul’s, Earth, Traffic, Jimmy Rowes and Red Square all wanted sets from Sarez.
‘Today’s dance music scene has grown significantly; the big club nights are always packed. There’s loads of talented local Riverland djs pressing for work even preventing the well-know Adelaide DJs from getting guest spots at all the big nights. It’s a great sign that the Riverland has finally stamped its authority as one of music and clubbing stand out regions of South Australia.’
Before parting ways, Sarez takes a moment to demonstrate his gratitude and humility. ‘I would like to thank inthemix for hosting a great presentation night, and everyone that voted for me this year. All management and staff at all the clubs I’ve worked at… Full Circle, Devine, Savvy and the Hand Picked crew. Most importantly I want to thank my family, close friends and everyone that has supported me over the past 10 years. Without their support I wouldn’t be where I am today.’
Catch DJ Sarez this Summer as he pushes his brand of electro-house on the Savvy regulars and all over the dancefloors of South Australia.
