Greg Churchill is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in New Zealand electronic music. Playing for over twenty years in various clubs, events, regular DJ gigs as well as occasional overseas shows, and the main reason for his hometown popularity is his distinctive style of music dubbed as ‘Aural Trash’. Working alongside Angela Fiskin, the duo’s beats regularly work the airwaves with their noxious rhythms, warping melodies and basslines. While this tour will not include his partner in crime Fiskin, he’s nevertheless determined to unleash his beats upon an unsuspecting Brisbane crowd.

A regular at various club nights and events, he has proven himself as one of the most instrumental DJ’s around New Zealand and is prepared to introduce that musicality to Australian dancefloors. Punters better know what they are in for, as Churchill’s sound is extremely unique. Fusing house and electro and overlaid with breaks, his sound is certain to thrill. Greg kindly gave ITM an exclusive rundown on how his DJ career began, what we can expect from his show and his thoughts on finally playing in Australia.

As mentioned earlier you have been in the industry for a very long time.

Yeah I first started out DJing on the student network over here (NZ) in 1984. Co-hosting, among other things, a Friday night dance show. Pretty quickly after that, we were being asked to play parties and clubs. But it wasn’t really until 1989 when house music was really kicking that I started up a weekly night. I was totally frustrated by the utter shite I had to endure when I was out on the weekend. I really had no intentions of being a club DJ but someone had to play the music. So I decided I’d at least give it a go.

I know a lot of people are very excited about your upcoming show. Why has it taken you so long to come over to Australia?

That’s very cool to hear. I’m not too sure why I haven’t played Australia more than I have. I was last over about two years back, but it seems even guys over here who have been DJing for 12 months have probably played over your way more than me.

My perception of the style of music that you are mainly recognized for is ‘Aural Trash’. It’s quite unique in the combination of house and electro in that it is interspersed with break beats. How would you describe your sound personally?

To be perfectly honest, I really started to lose my feeling and confidence for house music about five to six years back. I was saved by the whole electro/indie crossover thing. My sound ever since has leaned very heavily towards this, with huge amounts of breaks, techno, and splashings of dubstep (and even drum n’ bass if and when I can get away with it). I get really bored playing on one tip all night, and seriously love to constantly move around, but as seamlessly as possible – rather than the brutal and jarring approach I’ve heard from others. I’m also a huge fan of mid tempo stuff around 105-116BPM. It’s great dropping the tempo down. Stuff at that tempo has so much more funk, than the usual 130 bizness.

What does playing in Australia really mean for you and your sound?

I’m not 100 per cent sure really. In the past I’ve not even considered marketing my releases here in NZ, let alone Australia – concentrating primarily on the UK and Europe. But my attitudes have certainly shifted recently. Australia has such a great dance music infrastructure, which has genuinely been reflected in the huge wave of success in your dance industry that it seems a bit silly not to at least explore it somewhat.

Is this tour going to impact your commitments on your regular gigs at home? I know you have quite a few regular gigs at home like Hush in Albany and regular radio gigs too.

Not really at all, haha. Our radio show is on a Thursday night, and I’ve turned down all bookings back here. So I can come over in a very un-DJ like state for a Saturday… feeling fresh. The reality is I only play Auckland on average once a month on a Saturday night anyway. I’m sure I won’t be too missed.

And what about Angela Fiskin?

Angela Fiskin is the other half of Aural Trash. When people bribe us with huge amounts of cash we’ll even DJ back to back which the crowds here (in NZ) seem to absolutely love. Yet it’s something we seem to only manage a couple of times each year.

The Australian crowd will have a different energy and it may be a change in surroundings for you in Australia. Do you think you will have to adapt your style at your performance? If so, how?

I think after 20 years I know a thing or two about sizing up a crowd. Most weekends back here I’m playing up and down the country….even in the D n’ B havens of the deep south! I tend to pack a pretty diverse range of sounds whenever I play too which keeps things interesting for me. I get pretty quickly bored by my own sets. Hopefully something sticks. Even reflecting on past trips to the UK, I’ve found crowds to be pretty similar really.

What kind of set can we expect from you at Family? Will you be playing any vinyl at all or is it likely to be mainly CDJs?

Three to four CDJs all the way – no computers running Abelton! You see, DJs like Jeff Mills and Derrick Carter were a huge influence on me ten to twelve years back with the way they ran mixes really hard and fast; endlessly mixing in snippets of other track. I love things to be busy, and constantly changing. I love the sheer rush and exhilaration of doing things on the fly, creating your own mixes, and edits as you go. CDs have been great for me, as I can now carry so much more music to choose from. In the past with vinyl, you’d have half a bag just of accapellas and loops. As long as the crowd is up for it, things will get intense!

What’s next for Greg Churchill?

I’ve seriously got to finish this album off. It’s taken around 12 months more than I planned. And then maybe I can come back and tour the fucker! It’s going to be my debut! Around two years back, Matt at Gung Ho started pestering me to do one. Initially I thought we’d just rope in all the singles and that would do alongside a few other new bits. However around the same time, I started to buy up, and re-listen to many of my favourite albums from years back – essentially rediscovering the joy of listening to albums again. DJs so often just get caught up in EPs, remixes, and singles, which was 100 per cent true in my case back then. Anyway all this totally changed my perspective on what I wanted to release myself.

And as much as this first album won’t fully realise what I have ultimately in mind, I really can’t wait to attack album number two. The album covers many bases, though ultimately is rooted in the dancefloor. It’s been incredibly cathartic to write non-dancefloor tracks, tracks at slower tempos, and work with original vocals. I’ve also tried to make it feel as though it’s not an album produced in New Zealand.

Greg Churchill will be playing at The Family Nightclub this Saturday, November 1, in Brisbane.