Melbourne has always been a city that thrives on their local talent, she holds her head up with pride and fits snuggly amongst the myriad of international talent that comes through the party doors.
This weekend Somacorp is joining the crew at Pretty Simple (Ffour) to celebrate and continue to foster the much loved local techno talent. ITM catches up with three of the main players – Ben Cromack, Dave Pham and Christian Vance and throws five questions each their way.
Its 2007, you have all been in the game quite a long time now, what is your next big step in life and music?
Ben: The next big step for me is production, hitting the studio hard and hopefully producing some stuff that can help put me and Melbourne music on the map. It’s a never ending learning curve though so hopefully soon I’ll be at a point where I’m happy with what I’m doing.
Christian: Next big step eh? I’m catapulting off the last one into the middle of the pond. It’s an ocean and I’m surrounded by beautiful noise. Too wanky? I’m finishing off 2 EPs and collaborating with some great artists.
Dave: For me my agenda is 2007 is production, I have loads of ideas and sounds I want to explore and identify. I have a great deal to learn and that’s what I’m doing right now. My up and coming project is working with Adam Milburn from Mink Engine on a remix for one his superb tracks.
Who are your favourite local DJs/Live acts and why?
Ben: Damien Laird is definitely one of my favourite local DJs. He’s been a huge influence in learning about and presenting different styles of music. Then there are people like Pham, Dallas, Richie, Rankine (although he isn’t in Melbourne at the moment). And production wise Christian Vance is at the top of the game along with James Rudd.
Christian: ummmmm…... right now? Or from the last 15 years? hmmmmm…. There are too many. Ben Cromack, Mike Callander & Dave Pham always spank the right way. Junji Masayama is a name to watch. Ennio Styles for digging the organic.
Dave: Wow, this is one common question I always have great difficulty answering, mainly due to the fact we have so much talent right here in Melbourne. I must admit I’m into lots of different music too so I appreciate many djs/acts for a plethora of different reasons. The best way I can answer this is collectively, the crews I’m most impressed by for musical content are Stable, Data on Dub, MTC, Roxy, Sunny, DMC, Deep Chord, Messy Creations and Nano crew. I’ve been thoroughly entertained by all the djs/live acts from these crews over the last couple of years and all due to their talent and thirst for fresh sounds.
This year has already been quite eventful in terms of local orientated events, Soma Corp and Ffour are giving us another opportunity to foster local sounds… How important do you think this is for DJs and live acts?
Ben: It’s very important to have events in which local artists can showcase their sound. Usually events are focused around international artists with locals forced to adapt to putting them as the focus of the night. It’s a good opportunity for the local crowd to be able to see what their hometown artists are all about.
Christian: Important? Integral… too much hype over genres and not enough thought and love for the “do’ers”. I love exposure ;) It’s prime time for this new phase of Australian electronica and I’m feeling it for a change.
Dave: I think it’s one of if not the most important concept, it’s a great opportunity for locals involved to provide a showcase and to demonstrate some of the best parties are born and bred right here in this city. Live acts particularly need more support and opportunities; often they are forgotten at large scaled events, it’s a damn shame as there is undeniable talent ready to be propelled to bigger audiences. Crews like Alive are another great example of unsigned artists strutting their stuff, if we don’t act fast and support our own guys we’ll surely lose them to our European friends…
What do you personally get out of playing at these types of events?
Ben: The freedom to play what best represents where I’m at musically without the pressure of having to adapt to a theme for the night, which is usually set by an international artist. It also gives me a chance to see where my fellow local artists are at and what’s floating their boat at the moment.
Christian: There is nothing greater than blowing your friends minds and bumming smokes off them while you’re playing.
Dave: I have always been a big supporter of local based events; it’s a great opportunity to prove to Melbourne faithfuls that awesome parties don’t necessarily require internationals acts to be rocking and exciting. Through playing at these types of shows, I can actually reflect on how strong our local scene really is as well as explore new and existing live talent.
Can you tell us about your craziest or weirdest experience whilst playing to your home crowd here in Melbourne?
Ben: I wish I could tell you of some crazy or weird experience but I really can’t think of any. Maybe I’m just boring, or the crowds I play to are tame. One of the two.
Christian: Wildest experience? Honestly? Having Carl Craig clap his hands wildly above his head to a thronging room at Honkytonks while I’m bashing the keyboard and losing my mind. Beautiful experience.
Dave: I’m not too sure if I can call this happening the craziest or weirdest experience I’ve ever had playing in Melbourne but it was definitely unusual and that was playing at Sunshine people in 2001. In the middle of an experimental set a girl came up to the decks and stopped one the record that was playing, she proceeded by telling me if I continued doing what I was doing she would either wind up a mental patient or end her life. I guess she wasn’t into it…
Use 5 words to describe your musical sound/ethos to us.
Ben: Ben Cromack loves good music.
Chrstian: Truth, respect, abandon, resolution, crazy.
Dave: Dinner party in our minds.
Catch these guys alongside others at Pretty Simple at ffour this Saturday 14th April.
Ralph Wiggum says...
Much love for these 3 very talented artists :)
Ralph Wiggum says...
Much love for these 3 very talented artists :)