When it comes to dance music in Perth, Kenny L has got to be one of the true stayers. If you are old enough to remember, Kenny has played at numerous clubs around the Perth scene, including Elevation, James Street, Exit, Aqua, D.C.’s, Heaven, The Jackal, Infirmary, Frostbites, The Globe, The Leederville, Metro City, Club A and The Paramount.
The last ten years have seen Kenny mixing it up side by side with some of Australia’s most recognisable dj’s, like Pee Wee Ferris, Sugar Ray, Nik Fish, Groove Terminator & a diverse range of internationally reknowned artists such as Carl Cox, Joey Beltram, Clarkee, Boy George, Sasha, Vinylgroover, Brisk, The Tidy Boys and Nick Sentience. These days, you can find him ‘during daylight hours’ at the DJ factory, on RTR FM or ‘after dark’ playing up to his loyal congregation every weekend at the Church – amen.
Is it “just a fucking phase”? Or, do you think that you will always be involved in dance music in some way?
Music is my life! I have been involved in the dance music scene for over fourteen years so I think it’s far from a “fucking phase” now that I might have been going through.
How did you get yourself into this mess anyway: what was your path to DJing?
The DJ who was rostered on to work at the local rollerskating rink which I also worked at was sick and couldn’t show up for work so I stuck up my hand for the job and the rest I guess is history.
Who are your favourite local DJ’s and producers?
I have seen a lot of dj’s & electronic artist’s/producers come and go in my many years in the industry and most of them have inspired me in some way or form despite what music style they might have played or produced. SUPPORT LOCAL TALENT!
What are the current labels you favour?
I play all styles in my current residency so there is few labels I favour. Here is a few of the labels that I believe are on the money 90% of the time. Tidy Trax, Nukleuz, HoneyPot, Vicious Circle, Hotwax, Postiva, Bonzai, VC, Defected, Data (MOS) , Rulin (MOS), Substance (MOS), Stimulant, 23-7, XL, Perfecto, Overdose, Pulse, Tripoli Trax Xtravaganza, Slinky, Manifesto, AM:PM, and many many more.
What is your favourite food and beverage?
Any kind of cheesecake. Vodka.
Some artists that influence your style, sound and records you choose?
Tidy Boys, Stimulant Dj’s, Judge Jules, Paul Glazby, Tiesto, Mauro Picotto, Mario Piu, Anne Savage, Lisa Lashes, BK, Andy Farley, Nick Sentience, DJ Scot Project, Yakooza, Cosmic Gate, Supafly, Joanna Massive and the list goes on…
What do you do in your spare time, or the time that you have when you aren’t dj’ing?
I don’t have much spare time outside of dj’ing. I work full time in the dj equipment/record store “The DJ Factory”, I also present the World’s longest running dance music radio program on RTR FM 92.1 with various other Perth dj’s and the Grandfather of dance music radio in Perth, DJ Colin Bridges.
How do you think the Perth scene compares to others in Australia?
I think the Perth punters sometimes don’t realize how good they have got it here. I have been to various clubs in Australia and the quality of the dj’s/artist’s and the production at entertainment venues here is some of the best I have ever seen.
What do you think of Perth’s strong predilection for certain genres, like deep house and drum’n’bass?
I don’t! There is people that listen to all genres of dance music in Perth and I don’t believe any one genre is more popular than the other. If you take a good look around the 2/step/breakbeat, house(all sub-genres), trance (all sub-genres) hard house & drum and bass are the genre’s that I would say are played in majority of Perth clubs.
Who, if anyone, would you drop all your records for a night and go and see if they were playing in Perth and why?
I don’t think there is anyone I would do that for.. I have learnt over the years that you don’t ever miss or turn down work when you have it in Perth because there’s always more than one dj waiting to take your place.
Is it more of a challenge to play to the same crowd every week and have to maintain variation or to have to work a different crowd and venue week in week out? Which would you prefer?
Gone are the days in Perth where you have a regular crowd. Sure there are always the few that have their place reserved on the dance podium but although the punters are there in numbers, punters have fallen into the habit of club-hopping all night long back and forth between various venues/events due to the lack of cover charges at venues.
Have you played anywhere besides Perth? If so where and when?
I have played in Sydney a few times back in 1996 as part of the “Adrenalin” tour and in 1997 as part of the “Helter Skelter” tour. I also played at Kinsella’s (top floor) & the Ministry of Dance in 1996 which were both house/trance clubs.
How would you describe the music you play? Is there anything you won’t play?
At times deep, funky, happy, uplifting, energetic of f—-kn hard!! If it sounds good you never know what you might hear in one of my sets!
How long have you been playing? How has the sound of what you’ve been playing developed since you started out as a DJ?
I have been working as a Dj since the early ‘90s and grew up as dance music and the dance club/party scene evolved in Perth and dance music has progressed in many different ways creating many different genres and sub-genres.
Are you interested in music outside the style that you play?
Yes I like many different genres of dance music although unfortunately I can’t play them all when I’m playing out because they might not suit the venue or style of music that I have been booked to or am known to play.
What have been your top 5 tracks of the past year?
These aren’t personal favourites of course.. At the moment these are the older tracks I continue to spin that are still working the crowd…
N – Trance – Set you Free 2001
Cosmic Gate – Fire Wire
Dirt Devils – The Drill
DJ Kenny.L – Are you ready to play the Game
Cinderella – The Realm
What are some of the most memorable nights/events you have played in the past year?
Nukleuz Records Tour (Perth) with Nick Sentience & Dave Randall, New Years Eve 2001/2002 @ The Church with my partner in crime DJ Riki, DJ Riki’s Birthday Gig @ The Clink (was a good laugh), The Old Testament Long Weekender (a night of memorable old school anthems & club classics) @ The Church, Anne Savage @ The Church.
What makes a good DJ?
Ability to read the crowd & Good Programming.
Do you dance when you are not playing?
Of Course!!
Where can people see you play over the next couple of months?
If they havent already worked it out, They can check me out behind the dex Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights @ The Church Nightclub, 69 Lake St, Northbridge W.A.
Other Perth DJ Profiles can be found with the following links;
Kriece – MRW – Nic Tan – Elhornet – Cee – Declan – Essex – Greg Packer – Elle Rollo – Krank – Micah – David O – Darren Briais – Gully – Simon Barwood – Nafe – Luke Notley – Mystique – Adam Kelly – Skelly – Concept – Dion – Freestyle – Chad D – Eupho Spug
