In times where the ideology of techno can take on so many faces, so many forms and so many figures, which encompass so many DJs into its realm; the toughest challenge is that of establishing your own groove, your own artistic vision as a dj. This is something that Dallas Raft has successfully created – his own techno alcove, to plant himself firmly as one of Melbourne’s most talented and divergent players. During high school, the swapping of tapes with friend and fellow Melbourne dj Dave Pham, led to the introduction of new sounds. The electronic acid house movement and the early days of techno were the sounds that filled these tapes. Dallas started listening to the likes of Resistance D and Cosmic Baby and finding a whole new musical aesthetic to explore. After attending his first “rave” and being totally consumed and overwhelmed in the response that the one person (the DJ) was receiving from the crowd on the dancefloor. The concept of evoking emotion and being able to affect so many people at the one time through music, led Dallas into exchanging the rnb for the techno. The hierarchical impression of what a dj can do to a room full of revellers had Dallas hooked. After forwarding a tape to one of Australia’s most respected djs Damian Laird, who was working at Hardware records at the time, the tape soon found its way to Richie Rich, director and owner of the Hardware Corporation and responsible for countless techno parties in Melbourne. His talent outshone the many mixed tapes that passed through the Hardware doors, and he soon found himself playing his first ever large-scale party – Hardware Universe NYE 98/99. From Hardware, Dallas moved on to play many guest spots at Melbourne’s greatest techno clubs, from Fokus, to Teriyaki and a short residency at Altitude. Dallas has played many large scale parties – Sunshine People, Two Tribes, Digital, Welcome, Halcyon Knights, Rotation, Connected, Acid Reign, Free Ware, Free Agent, Wet Musik, & Materialz and has played alongside Ben Sims, Richie Hawtin, and Marco Bailey, Michael Forshaw, Technasia and Thomas Heckmann, Stewart Walker, Robert Babicz, Kenny Larkin and many more.

Is Dallas Raft your favourite Australian DJ? Remember to vote in the 2007 inthemix50, your favourite DJ is counting on you! Head to inthemix.com.au/50 to cast your vote and go into the draw to win a Pioneer ProDJ setup.