Shamus may have cut his teeth in the heady early days of Sublime’s long-reigning residency at Home Nightclub in Sydney, but he’s since become one of the city’s most consistently popular ‘every man’ DJs. He’s always on top of the latest main-room house bangers, and for Shamus, it’s always been and always will be about entertaining the crowd; the most important thing for him is maintaining that connection with the clubbers. “I think that a connection is formed with the crowd through consistency and respect,” he told ITM. “I respect that they’ve paid to get into the club, and therefore I want to kick ass every single time I play. Punters then know what to expect whenever they read my name. The best compliment I ever get after a set is ‘You’ve never let me down’, and that’s what I strive for.”
As such, he’s the perfect choice to mix the new edition of Wild Weekends. Compiled alongside Queensland’s Baby Gee, it features a pumping selection of current and future dancefloor killers across two CDs. And they’ll both be taking it on the road to launch the CD across the country. ITM talks to Shamus about keeping the connection with the crowd, what’s going on with his Silver Screen production project as well as having those ‘wild weekends’.
Hi Shamus, hope you’re going well. What are you up to at the moment?
At the moment I’m burning new songs for the weekend. This Saturday I’m going to the Reason Producers Conference in Melbourne, then off to Canberra that night to play at Academy. A long day, but a fun one.
You’re just about to hit the road in support of your new Wild Weekends compilation. Tell me a little bit about it, and the music on there.
Wild Weekends is aimed directly at young clubbers. This is the music they hear in a clubs and wished they owned. It’s accessible and fun, something you could throw on the stereo when you’re getting ready to go out or play in your car during the week to remind you the weekends not far away.
How did you come to get involved with the Wild brand?
Central Station have been signing some great tracks of late. I’d been lucky enough to remix a few of these tunes for them, like Ron Carroll’s Nike Song, so I guess I was in their sights already when they started planning this particular Wild CD.
The tour will be taking you out to some pretty far flung regional areas. Have you played many of these sorts of shows before?
Throughout my career, my touring has primarily been to Queensland and Victoria and I haven’t had the chance to see too many far flung places. What a great way to do it though, by touring and playing music you love!
A trend we’ve seen is that a lot of Australian DJ veterans, like Peewee Ferris and Kid Kenobi for instance, have really transformed themselves into ‘national’ DJs, touring around the country and playing these sort of gigs consistently. Is this the sort of career you’d be interested in cultivating?
I love traveling and am definitely looking to increase these gigs in my DJ schedule. However I believe it’s important to strike a balance between gigs home and away. I throughly enjoy having a residency where you know your punters by name, have great insight into their musical tastes and creating an off the wall atmosphere every week through consistency. Really, there’s nothing better than playing for your friends. This is why I’m so excited about my residency for Kink at Nevermind which starts soon. Professionally however, looking at the Australian clubbing scene as your potential marketplace is definitely the way forward.
So what are your sets like lately? What sort of tunes and sounds are featuring heavily?
My sets are quite housey of late. Most of my tunes are either produced by Aussies or Swedes! I’m loving the ‘Swedish House Mafia’, Dirty South, John Dahlback, Hook N Sling, Laidback Luke, Vandalism, Sam La More, TV Rock etc.
Do you still play records? Tell us a bit about the mixing techniques you use generally.
I only play records at home for listening pleasure these days. As for mixing techniques, the CDJ and mixing effects have created a whole new canvas since the two turntables and a basic mixer days, and I thoroughly enjoy making new sounds with new technology.
You’ve made a comment saying that DJs should be punters more; what do you look for when you see a DJ show? Where do you stand when you watch a show?
When I specifically go to watch a DJ I look for energy and creativity. Nothing gets me more hyped then when the DJ is enjoying what they’re doing and if they’re not digging it, why would the crowd? Sometimes I watch from the DJ box or next to the DJ at a gig but when it’s really good, I’m front and centre in the thick of the crowd.
Your bio says that you have a ‘unique connection with the crowd’. What sort of ‘connection’ do you have with your audience, and how do you maintain it?
I think that a connection is formed with the crowd through consistency and respect. I respect that they’ve paid to get into the club and therefore I want to kick ass every single time I play. Punters then know what to expect whenever they read my name. The best compliment I ever get after a set is “You’ve never let me down” and that’s what I strive for.
You’ve just started working on your new production project Silverscreen, and you’re releasing tunes on Bam Bam Muzik. Tell us a bit about that.
Silverscreen is a new project consisting of Gabrielle Abela (from Point N Clap, Gonna Have To Pay) on vocals, with production duties shared between wunderkind Numode and myself. Our music is a mixture of Swedish house, hip hop and electro and our live show will incorporate live visuals and instrumentation to produce a jaw dropping nightclub performance.
Name one thing that you have learned from another DJ. What about something else you’ve learnt from an Aussie peer?
I’ve learnt from other DJs that continual evolution is a necessity. Things can change really fast… Also having fun is your number one priority, as it’s infectious. From my Aussie peers of late I’m continually inspired, as they are proving that the sky is the limit. Dirty South is the best example here as in a relatively short period of time he has become a global musical force, which in turn inspires me. Go Dragan!
Who are your best DJ friends?
Miss Gabby of course, Numode, Rob Kay, Ben Morris, Brendan Fing, John Glover, Scott Robertson (not a DJ technically, but definitely a music nut), Sam La More and Husky.
How do you get through an all night party?
Completely hijack all playing of music so I hear exactly what I want all night long. That and some good champagne would be great thanks.
Do you maintain a 9-5 lifestyle as well? What do you do?
I work at Foxtel making promos (basically trailers for the shows) for the Crime Channel and the History Channel. I love film and television, so this exercises the other half of my brain that’s not completely obsessed with music.
You have been in all of the inthemix50 polls, peaking at #13. Do you think you’ve dug enough of a trench in the local house scene to be known overseas as an Australian expert, and what are you expecting form this year’s results?
By playing alongside so many Australian and overseas DJs over the years, I definitely believe I am well versed in both Australian and world clubbing. Nine years of doing it every weekend, as well as overseas pilgrimages to specific clubs, will do that! As far as inthemix50 goes this year there may be a changing of the guard, but I still think Ajax is a tough horse to beat.
Catch the Wild Weekends experience at the following shows…
Friday 8th August – Rise, Perth feat. Baby Gee
Saturday 9th August – Discovery, Darwin feat. Baby Gee
Saturday 9th August – Academy, Darwin feat. Shamus
Friday 22nd August – Bliss, Ipswich feat. Baby Gee
Saturday 23rd Aug – Filter, Shepparton feat. Shamus
Friday 5th September – Wharf Tavern, Mooloolaba feat. Baby Gee
Friday 12th September – Coffs Hotel Coffs Harbour feat. Baby Gee & Shamus
Friday 19th September – Soho Cairns feat. Baby Gee
Saturday 20th September – Tonic Lounge, Calourndra feat. Shamus
Friday 26th September – Vibe, Geraldton WA feat. Baby Gee
Saturday 27th September – Vibe, Rockingam WA feat. Baby Gee
Sunday 28th September – Three Monkeys, WA feat. Baby Gee
Wednesday 8th October – Lonnies, Launceston, Tas feat. Baby Gee
Friday 10th October- Curly’s, Hobart TAS feat. Baby Gee
Sunday 11th October – Sicocco’s, Burnie TAS feat. Baby Gee
And check out this scandalous clip of Shamus going head to head with, of all things, an intoxicated Panda…
MC-LOSTY says...
great interview and funny vid!