Stacey Pullen really needs little introduction. His selection of monikers is sure to twig some recognition, from Silent Phase to Kosmic Messenger, and as a stalwart of the Detroit techno scene, this longstanding DJ/producer prides himself on innovating and evolving the game. Because naturally, it would get boring otherwise wouldn’t it?

Speaking to ITM ahead of his upcoming Australian club tour, Stacey said he can still be found in his classic haunt of Detroit. “Still based here! It has always and continues to be my home… For the moment anyway. It’s where I got everything I need – in Detroit – my studio, the inspiration… I have a chance to travel a lot, and I get to come back here with fresh energy. I can always get out there, mostly Europe, when I reach that tipping point.”

Naturally though, touring Australia is a bigger deal than just hopping over to Europelike he does nearly every other weekend, for residencies and shows from London to Berlin and beyond. “All the cities that I’m booked to do [in Australia] are exciting: it takes 30 hours to get there and 30 to get back. I actually had to shift some gigs around to come down there – which is OK, as the opportunity just kinda came up and I was like ‘OK, let’s do it!’ I travel to Europe every couple of weeks or every weekend, so if I get the chance to be down there it’s a big thing.”

Always the innovator, Stacey says he’s keeping fresh by moving with the times, and he tells us that he’ refreshed his approach to DJing to a degree recently. “There were points and times when I played all vinyl, and then mixed in CDs, and now I’m on the laptop. It’s like playing out of character: maybe not strictly for Detroit DJs, but for DJs of my era, to be playing the latest technology you know – we were vinyl junkies – but I’m inspired by playing on laptops and computers, I feel I’m taking my DJing to the next level. With the technology, I can have things with me that I couldn’t have if I had to take my vinyl. The digital aspect has given me new life, having everything there on one laptop, my whole catalogue of music, digitally. You know, technology – you can hate on it, or embrace it – I have to, because if I don’t I’d be a DJ who’s left behind. We use computers to make music, we may as well take full advantage and use it to play out.”

Stacey might have cut his teeth under the mentorship of the ‘legendary three’ Derrick May, Juan Atkins and Kevin Saunderson all those years ago, but he knows as well as anybody that times change. “It’s a bit different for me now. If I was a new DJ, just starting out playing laptops that’s different. But I’ve been DJing for a long time, I think I’ve earned the right to take every aspect of my DJing to it’s fullest capability and change, and get the best out of it. I was there when DJs played sets on tape, you know, pause edits and all that. I’m keeping time so I can talk to these other DJs and understand what their saying.”

Stacey is a humble enough of a character that he can concede that not only is he educating, he’s also being educated. “I want to maintain that dialogue with other DJs. Every six to weight months there’s new stuff coming out, we’re all dealing with new technology and levels of communication. I mean, you can have an iPhone and be totally connected. I can still record on my favourite programs, take my computer with me and create on the road. I travel a lot so it really works for me.” So how much has this facilitated his creative process? “You know I never thought id be making music on the plane! It’s been around for a while now, but I’ve spent the time over the last few years, and I’ve grasped the insight and the technology, it’s cool to do…I travel so much I may as well do something with my 12 hours. It’s way better than watching TV movies.”

Looking to his own Black Flag record label for a moment, he says it’s gearing up for future releases. “Firstly, I’m re-releasing the two releases I’ve had, and there’s two other releases coming out from a couple of artists including Phil Augusta, which I’m executive producing and doing some other production on. This track is really out of character for a Black Flag release, there’s vocals on it and it has a commercial appeal but also an underground feel. It’s not my record you know, it’s an artist on my record label, and with this one we’re testing the boundaries on releasing vocal music. This track has the potential to be a big record.”

Famed for his habit of laying a mix down on the day of his gig, Stacey says he’ll have some fresh releases under his own to play out on the tour. “I’ve just finished a Stacey Pullen mix, the first track is called Alive. I’m actually gonna be finishing up the mixdown and arrangements on that one tonight. I think I’m gonna be dropping it on this trip, probably on the first show. I’ve had it done for a moment now, and I haven’t been completely happy with some bits of it. There are a couple more technology pieces to play with to bring out the best in it, but yeah I think I’ll drop it down there.”

Catch Stacey embracing the tech_nology at the following shows…

Fri 8th May – Q Bar, Melbourne
Sat 9th May -Favaela, Sydney
Sat 16th May – Shape, Perth