The quaint rural setting of Burra Creek outside of Canberra isn’t the most likely place to find a drum ‘n’ bass DJ, but Kaos, a.k.a. Nik Harrison, feels right at home amongst the cattle and corrugated iron. “Burra Creek rocks like nowhere!”

After a brief hiatus from promoting, and playing, at some of Canberra’s finest parties over the last five years (Eight Ball, First Contact, Crowd Control), Kaos has chosen the end of 2001 to resume putting on damn fine shindigs with a double dose of the Urban Takeover boys, Mickey Finn on November 16, and Aphrodite on December 15.

Just dropping Finn’s name brings an immediate response from Kaos. “Mickey Finn is the BOMB! If it weren’t for Mickey, then drum ‘n’ bass worldwide would be very different. He’s pushed the boundaries of dance music into new genres – just listen to any of his tracks and resistance will be futile”. And Aphrodite? “Each time he comes to town, things go a little crazy, so you can definitely expect a crazy night!”

Kaos’s passion for music began from the moment he heard Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’, ‘the first record I ever actually owned all to myself. I used to listen to it every day with these huge headphones turned up really loud – It was wicked! When I got a bit older I started liking stuff like Blackbox and The KLF, and then hip-hop like Ice cube and Ice T when I was about 14’. However, it was a mix tape from a local hardcore DJ that set Kaos on the road he still follows today. “I got a bootleg Speedloader tape which blew me away, and from then on started looking for more techno. I eventually found this network of underground DJ tapes, and decided that’s what I wanted to be part of, so ever since I’ve just been doing stuff for the DJ scene”.

Landing a set of turntables from the local Cash Converters (”$50, and a mixer for $200 out of the Canberra Times classifieds – they were wicked!”), Kaos began working out how to play the DJ game. “With a mate of mine, we spent six months mixing, before we figured out that you need to adjust the speed of the records for them to match up the same. That’s sounds pretty obvious today, but we didn’t know any DJs back then so it was hard work figuring out the basics”

Today, Kaos teaches the basics to willing students at the ACT DJ School, the centre for budding turntablists that he began in 1998 out of his own house. “This year we’ve moved the School over to Aristocrat Music in Mitchell. We know run six-week courses for people who are keen to get their skills sorted out, and then find a way into the industry. Our first class of students just finished the course a few days ago, with excellent responses from all concerned. Everyone in the last class can beat-mix, they’ve a got good knowledge of music structure, they’ve started to learn to scratch, produce dance music, and make enough contacts to get gigs once they have demos ready. Our instructors include Archie, Chris Fresh, Wepon, Nathan, Ken Jensen, Goldfinger, Nash T, Dredd, Jaycee, Danielsun and myself. We’ve also recently built a DJ Studio at Aristocrat which the students can use at a cheap hourly rate, as well as the general public for a few dollars more”. For any DJs who don’t know where to start, Kaos simply says, “come do the course, and we’ll sort you out! Otherwise, practise, practise, practise!”

Inspired by a variety of musical heavyweights, including Frank Sinatra, the Rolling Stones, Q-Bert and Hype, Kaos has built a reputation as one of Canberra’s top-shelf DJs, specialising in drum ‘n’ bass, breaks, and turntable trickery. When not behind the decks, Kaos has been behind some of the most memorable Canberra parties of recent years, beginning with a free outdoor rave called Stomp (not be confused with the University of Canberra’s annual end-of year dance party). “A few hundred people showed up, and it was a cool night, although I didn’t have a car, or anyone designated to drive me anywhere to set-up or dismantle the party. So it ended up being quite difficult getting the P.A., lights, lasers, turntables, and all other equipment back and forth!”

Having quickly learnt how to (and how not to) run a party, Kaos’s ‘Kaotic Productions’ crew soon became favourites of Canberra clubbers. One of the most memorable parties from the Kaotic crew was 1998’s First Contact, headlined by Nik Fish. “First Contact and 8 Ball are favourites of mine, mainly because it felt like we were really putting on raves the way that we thought they should be done. The warehouse, the musical diversity, the occasional dodgy-ness, the risks – it just seemed more exciting to go out to a rave back then”

Today, the absence of large-scale parties in Canberra due to the actions of sketchy promoters, police intervention, and a lack of venues has resulted in reduced opportunities for promoters and punters alike. One such casualty has been the local drum ‘n’ bass scene, which, Kaos says, is unfortunate. “Drum’n’bass hasn’t had a continual outlet since we wrapped up Homebase (at Mombasa) last year. So, yes, we are going through a bit of a down period. Mainly I blame my wallet for not supplying me with enough money to get more internationals to town this year! I’ve started lining up some big nights for Canberra next year, though, so things will be picking up”

It’s this positive and committed attitude which has made Kaos one of Canberra’s most respected DJs. “I feel it’s my duty to try and make my hometown a cool place to be!” With a busy month ahead packed with bass-lines, beats and breaks from the Urban Takeover duo, Kaos’s efforts should ensure Canberra stays that way. Well, almost as cool as Burra Creek.


Crowd Control 2 with Mickey Finn (UK), Wicked (Syd), Anjay, Kaos, Dredd, Guy, Paf, and MC Doctor Pepper hits Babylon on Friday November 16.

The Fifth Element with Aphrodite (UK) comes to Canberra on Saturday December 15. Venue and full lineup details shortly (stay tuned to ITM).

For information about the ACT DJ School, call Aristocrat on (02) 6242 6698