2007 has been an incredibly huge year for The Stafford Brothers. There has been the sellout launch of the Pure Platinum CD and a subsequent successful tour; their signing to Ministry of Sound alongside former Brisbane boy Tommy Trash for the Electro House Sessions compilation and a successful tour which smashed dancefloors across the country; triumphant appearances at the Miami WMC, Ibiza and London; a continuous hectic yet rewarding gig schedule throughout Australia; and especially, the taking out of #1 for Queensland and #3 nationally in the ITM50 DJ Poll.
For The Stafford Brothers, their cup runneth over. “We are over the moon,” Chris Stafford’s dulcet tones note. “Really, we couldn’t ask for anything better. We really only hoped to make it into the top five, so it was definitely a shock. It freaks me out.” Chris concludes. Matt is in the kitchen cooking dinner for the evening, concocting what Chris calls ‘Matt’s Bogs’ – or Matt’s version of spaghetti bologanaise. Chris points out in a notable kiwi accent that “Chris’ Bogs” are always ten out of ten”. For once, the usually subdued Chris is having to take over discussion duties, since every time Matt opens his mouth, an outpour of drag queen tones grates terribly upon the ear. “We really wanted to be there [at the ceremony],” Chris notes. “But we were at Thredbo; at Jindabyne with John Course and The Potbelleez.” Chris pauses to laugh here. “How many gigs happen on a Wednesday night?” Chris asks. “We were thinking of how to get Matt to Sydney – but it just didn’t happen. It would had to have been a militaristic operation if it did!”
The tag of The Stafford Brothers is certainly well worn and recognised in Australia. With a schedule that defies reality, Australian dancefloors are no strangers to their combined might. With sporting backgrounds as youngsters, music has since taken over The Staffords’ lives. With Matt’s previous connections in football (as a former footballer for the Queensland Reds, Queensland Barbarians and the Gold Coast Breakers) and thus a guaranteed crowd where ever he was, Billy’s Beach House offered them a DJ job in the hopes that their presence would ensure a continuous party. With the punt proving successful, The Stafford Brothers worked their way through The Trans. and Hotel LA, before Jason Hirt finally established their extensive party skills in Monastery Nightclub. The Brothers have since been on the up and up, with their tracks signed and distributed on Central Station Records. With I Like Your Way making it’s way around the world – “The clip came on MTV in Iraq,” Matt reveals. “We had a mate in the army, and apparently the troops went nuts!” – to be followed by the success of More Than A Feeling, Give Love featuring Zaab and the recent EP release of Zoro, their production skills have certainly been established. With the news that Ministry of Sound had also signed their remix talents, The Stafford Brothers seemed to have reached the ultimate pinnacle. How has it been working with the Ministry? “Ministry of Sound takes us where we’ve never been.” Chris reflects. “It’s a whole new level. Ministry of Sound makes things happen. All the songs we asked for – we got. We sacrifice a lot of our time to make this work. We’re working towards getting bigger on an international scale.”
What are the benefits if it’s such a sacrifice? “It’s really not a problem at all actually,” Chris affirms. “It just means we’re not always around for our family and friends. But the benefits are building up our name, playing what we want to and maybe living comfortably in our later lives.” With his voice sounding like the roaring of a pained bear, Matt manages to boom out “What is sacrifice anyway? It’s all been unbelievable. It’s all awesome!”
“Music is our life,” Chris points out, his timbre a soothing balm to the cacophony coming from Matt’s mouth. “It seems we are getting our names out there. It’s awesome that tyDi got into the national top five too. The southern states used to look at Queensland as a dodgy place, but now we’re showing that Queensland is the place to go. Good on us,” Chris smiles. “How was working with Tommy Trash for the MoS tour?” I ask. “Actually,” Chris swiftly reveals, “we found we had worked with Tommy before Ministry of Sound? It was at a Sunday Roast at Birdee Num Nums some years ago, just before Tommy moved to Sydney. He played after us – it was our real first set together!” Chris laughs. “But working with Tommy has been awesome. He’s a great musician and has really awesome production skills. He sure knows how to sink the jaeger bombs!” Chris affectionately points out.
You’ve been overseas recently in Ibiza – how was that? “Ibiza is awesome,” Chris states. “It was an unbelievable vibe. We also popped across to London and worked with Stephen Street, the producer of Baby Shambles, The Smiths [and other notable bands]. We were in Judge Jules’ studio – and the studio was chock full of keyboards! We’re really focussed on production at the moment.”
With their MAC powerbook under their arms whilst working through the latest Logic programme, The Stafford Brothers are certainly intent on generating more original tunes as well as ensuring their CD wallets are forever expanding. Their summer schedule will see them taking on a massive amount of club shows, as well as a bonanza of festivals that includes Round and Round at the RiverStage this Sunday, the Ministry Of Sound Festival NYD event in Sydney, Summafieldayze on the Gold Coast as well as the Good Vibrations festivals around the country! It is unlikely that the momentum will be slowing down: good times are what The Stafford Brothers are about, and good times are indeed the vibes The Stafford Brothers guarantee. Really, it’s all coming round and round.
Check em out at the following dates over summer!
23 Nov: One Love, Electric Circus, Adelaide
24 Nov: Monastery, Brisbane
24 Nov: Summer Vibes, Brisbane
25 Nov: Round & Round, Gold Coast
27 Nov: Wharf Tavern, Mooloolaba
30 Nov: Platinum, Gold Coast
1 Dec:Platinum, Gold Coast
2 Dec:One Love @ Billys Beach House, Gold Coast
2 Dec: Platinum, Gold Coast
6 Dec:Pure Platinum, Gold Coast
7 Dec: Plantation, Coffs Harbour
8 Dec: One Love, Melbourne
8 Dec: Dirty Funken Beats Presents Sundown, Sydney
9 Dec: Billys Beach House, Gold Coast
12 Dec: Key Largo, Terrrigal
13 Dec: Monastery, Brisbane
14 Dec: Full Moon Party, Magnetic Island
16 Dec: Billys Beach House , Gold Coast
20 Dec: Cabana Bar, Sydney
21 Dec: Limelite, Perth
23 Dec: Monastery, Brisbane
24 Dec: Dirty Secrets, Penrith
28 Dec: Family, Brisbane
30 Dec: Something On Sundays, Gold Coast
31: North Gong Hotel, Wooloongong
31 Dec: Coogee Bay Hotel, Sydney
31 Dec: Sobar, Cremorne
1 Jan: Ministry Of Sound Festival, Rouse Hill
1 Jan: Sun Kissed New Years Day, Gold Coast
1 Jan: BBQ Breaks, Brisbane
5 Jan:Summafieldayze, Gold Coast
6 Jan: Something On Sundays, Gold Coast
11 Jan: Platinum, Gold Coast
12 Jan:One Love, Melbourne
13 Jan:Something On Sundays, Gold Coast
19 Jan:King Street Hotel, Newcastle
26 Jan:Girls And Buoys Boat Party, Gold Coast
27 Jan:Something On Sundays, Gold Coast
9 Feb:Good Vibrations, Melbourne
10 Feb: Good Vibrations, Gold Coast
16 Feb: Good Vibrations, Sydney
17 Feb: Good Vibrations, Perth
