Otherwise known as Adam Mills, A-Skillz is a name that’s instantly recognisable to fans of the funky breakbeat sound. Blasting onto the scene in 2003 with the Krafty Kuts co-produced banger ‘Tricka Technology’, at only 21-years-old Mills quickly found himself in the big leagues. “I was in front of 25,000 hyped Aussies following Groove Armada to play the closing set at Field Day with Krafty [Kuts] and Kurtis Blow,” he recalls. “I definitely think I managed to skip a few ladders there!”
The special attention was entirely justified, however, as A-Skillz has proved himself one of the scene’s most talented producers. Most notable, however, is that he has shown time and time again he has the ability to rock a dancefloor to its foundations. While kicking back in Melbourne making some new bootlegs for the tour with Nick Thayer, ITM got the chance to play Q&A.
Hey Adam, how’s it all going for you at the moment? What have you been keeping busy with?
All good thanks, apart from a bit of jetlag. I’ve been in Melbourne making club stompers with Nick Thayer for the tour, as I had a bit of a gap in-between a Bangkok gig and my first Oz show in Brisbane [last week].
As a breaks fan, I’ve been following your career for quite a long time, and the last I heard from the A-Skillz camp was when you toured in 2003 and played the 360 party in Sydney, as well as mixing the Finger Lickin’ Exports compilation later that year. I guess the question begs, what’s been going on with you over the past two years?
Well, the gig schedule has been pretty hectic. Tours of Europe, USA, Canada [and lots of] festivals. On the production side of things I’ve been putting out a releases on the Bombstrikes label, and also my own Insane Bangers label. It’s pure party breaks made strictly for the vinyl DJ market as they usually contain massive samples, which is usually why they smash it on the dance floor! I’ve had the privilege of doing an official remix for Queen, which was wicked as I am a massive fan! I’ve been generally keeping up the remixes, the most recent was for Kraak n Smaak. The main thing that’s been going on, though, has been working towards my album, which has taking a while but it’s been the thing I’m most precious about. It’s nearly there now, but I can’t stop changing bits!
You’ve always had a close relationship with the Finger Lickin’ label. Are you still really tight with those guys?
Yeah it’s a very tight relationship, I speak to the guys every day, they manage me and look after all my bookings as well as put out the records of course. It is like a family.
That last time I saw you I remember the set being really eclectic, going in lots of different directions with plenty of acapellas and just sounding really dynamic. I’ve wondered ever since, how much of that is done on the fly, and how much is pre prepared?
I usually make sure I’ve gotta a few mixes and ideas up my sleeve, but those ideas mostly come from things I tried on the fly at previous gigs, it’s the best time to see if things are gonna work. If something needs re-editing to make a mix really work, then I’ll chop it up to suit. Also when you playing 80% of your own versions of tracks, remixes, bootlegs and mashups, thing tend to fit together quite well.
Something else that also gets brought up a lot are the Boxfresh mixes that you did with Krafty Kuts, they’re some of the best party sets that I’ve ever listened to, as well as the mini-mix that you two did for Annie Mac. Do you feel there’s sort of a magic created when you and Krafty Kuts work together?
Yeah it’s always fun. His roots are in hip hop and funk, so when he works with me he gets to express that side. I produced three tracks on his album and we’ve just done a track together that will be one my album, which is totally on the feel-good party tip. I also engineer all his mix CDs, so we are always in the studio together, doing something or other.
Do you think it was a big boost for you, working with someone like Krafty Kuts so early in your career?
Working with Krafto’s was a great leg up to get myself on the map… Although I’d been slogging away on the Tricka Technology album for a while in the studio, my experience of international touring was quite limited. As soon as the album dropped I was in front of 25,000 hyped Aussies following Groove Armada to play the closing set at Field Day with Krafty and Kurtis Blow. I definitely think I managed to skip a few ladders there!
In the time between your last tour the breaks scene has obviously gone through a little bit of a heave ho. The scene in Australia at least is not nearly as massive as it was a few years ago. How have you been getting by amongst all that?
I‘ve only heard what other people have said about the scene, but it hasn’t affected me at all anywhere else in the world. Maybe that’s because I’m slightly outside of that typical “breaks” sound that is struggling. I still love to tear out the breakbeat monsters, but it only makes up a bit of what you will hear me play at a gig. Ask me again after the tour. If no-one turns up to the gigs or if they do and all leave halfway through I’ll probably have a whole lot more to say on the subject, haha.
What sort of music can we expect you to play on this tour?
A real varied mix of stuff served up in my usual mashed up and scratched up style. A bunch of new and exclusive A-Skillz ‘Booty Bangers’ that I haven’t played anywhere yet that I’m really exited about. A few new bits from the album. Some massive breakbeat booty monsters and maybe a bit of B-more and D&B thrown in for good measure.
A-Skillz continues his tour of Australia this weekend:
Fri Jun 6 – Ambar, Perth
Sat Jun 7 – Revolver Upstairs, Melbourne
Sun Jun 8 – Sounds on Sunday, Sydney
Mon Jun 9 – We Love Sounds, Adelaide
sang says...
he ripped it up in Brisbane over the weekend. make sure to get out and catch him in your town when he's due there!
wana3q says...
:( Same night as WLS..... hope he plays another gig somewhere in sydney..
rickard says...
would have been nice if he was on wls but the fuzzy connection wouldn't have approved
trippa323 says...
Hi ITMers, once again I have been let down this websites information, we bought tickets to A-Skillz @ Revolver, Tonight. The website claims that the gig started at 10pm, when in actual fact it starts at 2am!! Please ensure that you guys get your facts straight in future, thanks.