STREAMING AUDIO INTERVIEW
Daft Punk aren’t the only robots in dance music worth keeping an eye on. It’s long been speculated that with his nearly inhuman abilities behind the decks, working like a machine and using all the technology at his disposal, that UK’s James Zabiela has cybernetic tendencies. Watching him work his magic in a nightclub and listening to all those weird, wonderful noises he manages to draw out from his machines, it’s sometimes hard to believe this boy truly is made of flesh and blood.
But according to James, it’s not just all about the tricks and effects. He was last in the country only last June as part of the One+One tour with his partner in crime Nic Fanciulli, and he tells ITM that the experience taught him a valuable lesson about the craft of DJing, and letting the music speak for itself. “Nic is really good at pacing his sets, very patient, cool and collected… I’ve learnt a lot about programming, I’ve done a lot more long sets and I feel quire comfortable with them.”
So James Zabiela is human after all! He’s also one of dance music’s most likable and down-to-earth superstars, and here he chats to ITM’s Angus Paterson about being one with the machines, the release of his recent Perseverance EP and of course, his upcoming return to Australia as part of the Good Vibrations festival.
You can catch James Zabiela doing the robot rock at the following dates…
Feb 8 – ANU Refectory, Canberra
Feb 9 – Good Vibrations Festival, Melbourne
Feb 9 – Brown Alley, Melbourne
Feb 10 – Good Vibrations Festival, Brisbane
Feb 15 – Arq, Sydney
Feb 16 – Good Vibrations Festival, Sydney
Feb 17 – Good Vibrations Festival, Perth
Have a listen to his recent mix for ITM-FM, and check out this immortal clip of James Zabiela working his technical skills in all their glory. If he’s not a robot, maybe he’s an alien…
stable says...
James Z will turn heads, thats for sure..
BMoney says...
I am the biggest JZ fan 3v3r. Well done, Angus, this is a fantastic inverview and I can't wait to see JZ in Canberra and Sydney very very soon!! :zabiela:
aloha says...
rezpecta!