Nik Fish has long been Australia’s hard dance ambassador, and with Defqon.1 in Sydney fast approaching, he’s stepping it up a notch. Having mixed one of four discs on the Defqon.1 2010 compilation, the veteran DJ-producer is hitting major cities and regional areas to spread the sound of Defqon.1. He’ll then follow that up with a set on the Red Main Stage at the festival itself. With the tour already underway (check out the inthemix review for his Perth stop), Nik tells us all about it.

First up, do you think the new Defqon.1 CD represents the various sounds that define the festival?
Yes I believe it does, as it features a hardstyle, hard trance, hardcore and local producer mix across four discs. They all represent the various harder styles of electronic dance music that are the definitive sounds of the Defqon.1 Festival.

Talk us through your disc – what did you want it to capture?
My disc features the official Defqon.1 2010 Australian anthem by Headhunterz, as well as tracks from our best local hardstyle and hard dance music producers and is presented as a continuous DJ mix. With a wealth of musical talent in our country, it just made total sense to bring together an array of local artists and showcase their music on the global stage!

I spent many months laying the foundations for my mix and a lot of studio time constructing it. I sought out and spoke to local artists from all around the nation and asked them to submit tracks for consideration for inclusion in the mix. I was especially looking for the most upfront and unreleased tunes that hadn’t appeared on any other compilation. Some of the artists went the extra mile and wrote tracks exclusively for my mix, which clearly demonstrates their enthusiasm and passion for their music and our local scene. Local artists featured in my mix include Bioweapon, Toneshifterz, S Dee, Nitrouz, Karpe-DM, Soul-T, Audio Damage and myself to name but a few.

What’s exciting you most about the upcoming tour to promote the Defqon.1 CD?
I’m extremely excited to have been asked to mix the CD and also represent Defqon.1 Australia, travelling around the country to promote the CD and the festival. Q-dance is the leading organisation of hard dance events in the world and this tour is about showcasing their sound. It also encourages people from all around the world to come to Sydney to celebrate Defqon.1 in Australia.

Australia is a very big-city-focused country. Do you feel regional areas are often overlooked?
No, not really, as I’ve spent about 70 to 80-percent of my working career travelling all around the nation to DJ at clubs and events in capital cities, small towns and regional areas too. When I play in a regional area, I hear about other DJ names and bands also touring through these areas.

What’s your experience been like of touring regional areas? Do you find there’s a good vibe for hard dance?
Touring regional areas, especially for the first time, is like going on a road trip adventure. I’ve travelled to some fairly remote towns around the country to play a set. I recently flew to Karratha and South Hedland, which are two small mining towns in outback WA. The gigs were fantastic; everyone went totally crazy, as no other DJ had ever come to their towns to play the kind of music that I play. For most people it was the first time they’d ever heard hardstyle.

I also had a cool tour bus that towed a trailer full of lights, a sound system and stage rigging behind it. I’d turn up at the next town and the production team literally transformed the venue into a proper nightclub. Overall the regional towns do get an eclectic mix of different DJs passing through, so I guess for them it’s more enjoyable than hearing the same thing week in, week out.

You’ve played Defqon.1 in the Netherlands. Is that a crazy experience to bring your sound to the Dutch crowds?
I’ve had some real career highlights over the years, but playing at Defqon.1 in Holland a few months ago was awesome! The Dutch are nuts, they love to dance hard, dress kooky and go crazy – much like Aussies. There were quite a few Australian crews at Defqon.1 this year and from the DJ box, I saw a lot of green and gold Defqon.1 soccer tops along with Aussie flags being waved. That made it even more special! Overall, the event was of the highest standard – something Q-dance is renowned for. I hope they have me back next year too (please?).

Were you impressed by the level of production and the response of the punters to Defqon.1 in Sydney last year?
Absofuckinlutely! The level of production and the organisational aspect of Defqon.1 in Sydney last year were mind-blowing. From the moment I got the morning wake-up call by the ‘operator’ from the Defqon.1 Hotel to being ushered to the stage I was playing on, I knew it was going to be a special day indeed.

The staging, décor, sound, lighting and FX were incomparable to any other festival event. I also talked to a lot of people who came from all parts of the country that didn’t even know what hardstyle music was and they said it was by far better than any other festival they’d ever been to. What will they have in stored for us this year?

You’re returning to Defqon.1 Australia this September. Any idea yet what’s planned for your set?
We’re the only other country in the world outside of Holland hosting the Defqon.1 Festival, as we have such a huge scene that supports the harder styles of dance music. I’m one of a few local DJs that has the privilege to play on the Red Main Stage to probably the biggest audience I’ve ever performed to in my life. I see my set as something completely different to any other set that I’ve ever performed. It’s a challenge to do something special.

I’ve been working on several tracks as well as some interesting DJ tools and edits and I’d also like to play a lot of the Australian artists’ tracks from the CD, as most people would have never heard of them before. I have to be more than just another DJ mixing other people’s tracks. I want to put my own signature on my set and play as many of my own tunes.

I’d also like to engage the crowd, leading them through different moods and pushing their energy levels higher. The DJ booth on the Red stage is essentially the pumping heart of a huge, mechanical fire-breathing machine. It’s going to be hard work with blood, sweat and beers!

Nik Fish brings the sound of Defqon.1 to the venues below. He also plays the Red Main Stage at Defqon.1 Australia on Saturday 18 September.

Friday August 20 – Family nightclub, Brisbane
Saturday August 21 – The Duke, Wagga Wagga
Friday August 27 – HVB Nightclub, Maitland
Saturday August 28 – Pure Nightclub, Wollongong
Friday September 3 – Halo, Hobart
Saturday September 4 – Heaven On Earth, Adelaide
Friday September 10 – King Street Hotel Newcastle Nightclub, Newcastle
Saturday September 11 – The Attic Nightclub (upstairs Royal Hotel), Taree