Listening to his parents’ record collection of Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart and Suzi Quattro may not be the hippest early influences for one of Brisbane’s most respected club DJs. But it’s surprising what can open the music mind of an 11year old. Briais cites Prince’s groundbreaking soul release “Dirty Mind” as his first LP, setting the shape of funk to come in his future sets as a DJ. “Watching Prince play at 4 in the morning at his after party gig in Brisbane last year ranks alongside James Brown as one of the finest live performances I’ve seen,” Mark says. “He is a testament to the idea of follow where your heart guides you. I believe this philosophy will always pay dividends by showing your own personal taste & insight.”
Mark started DJing in 1993 – first playing jungle records brought back from the UK by friends, US & French house, and electronica labels such as Warp Records, Eevolute Records & Underground Resistance. “It is the role of the DJ to showcase new music to anyone who will listen and dance to it,” Mark says. “This is the purpose of the DJ, the buck stops here if you don’t. No one in their right mind would want to be viewed as a jukebox, right?”
His first ever gig was at Adrenalin put on by DJ Edwin in 1994, more gigs followed such as djing upstairs at The Site – The Attic, playing progressive and chunky house. This lead to spots playing at Rave parties, NASA, Techno circus and a set at the first outdoor Rave in Queensland, Strawberry Fields, alongside Carl Cox – the first time Cox ever played Brisbane. You could also find him playing sets of some of the first “Hardkiss production” breakbeat sounds in side rooms at major events and outdoor parties such as “Dragon Flight NYE” and in Byron Bay back in the day when PsyTrance parties were huge. USA breaks and dub were the sounds of then.
In 1995 he gained a residency at legendary Brisbane house institution the Tube nightclub, alongside Rousey and Kazu Kimura. He played there for 4 yrs, playing styles as varied as deep funky NYC house, trance and tech house. Mark’s humble exterior & seamless mixing style made him the perfect choice to warm up for touring European and USA DJs of the time – Ian Pooley, Paul Van Dyk (incidentally, Van Dyk’s “Love Stimulation” remix is one of Mark’s all time top 5 tunes), Sasha, John Digweed in the Main Room at the Tube.
During this time, Mark’s desire to stay at the forefront of breaking new sounds led to his involvement in the Clan Analogue group of artists / DJs / producers (Black Lung, Artificial, Biftek) working for the development of underground music in Brisbane. This led to spots at electronica nights and Queensland Art Gallery openings.
Other residencies at the “Soho” nightclub 1996, Port Office, 1998/99, Press Club 1999 as well as spots at the Empire corner bar 1995/1996 maintained Mark’s reputation among the people, and his peers, as a “quality music counts” performer. Mark also played as resident for the legendary “Headfunk” parties, warming up for the likes of Mark Farina, Derrick Carter & Roger Sanchez. “Seeing Derrick Carter in 1996 having a decent conversation with a punter while 3 decks were in the mix running simultaneously, really made you think that you were not putting your mind to it,” Mark says.
Another notable mention is his JJJ Saturday night mix up set in 2003, alongside fellow Family resident Chris Wilson. Mark is also an ARIA chart contributor – one of the hundred or so DJs nationwide who vote in the weekly ARIA dance charts. When Brisbane’s first superclub opened “Family” it was only natural that Mark Briais would be a Main Room resident. These days he presides over the Uncle & Lounge at Family, Alumbra bar and “Elsewhere” nightclub on the Gold Coast where he can experiment with new styles of music, , house (all), funk, nujazz, minimal house, latin infused house & even the odd classic funk, disco, rock or jazz track, depending on the mood.
Mark’s reputation for seeking new sounds led to his day job as deep house, minimal tech house dance music buyer for Rocking Horse Records for the past 7yrs, he has moved way from ordering into a part time role at Rockinhorse while he studies at university. Recently Mark moved into a new area of promotion and marketing by has Join forces with Dave Basek, Phil Smart and George Salik to launch the Junkbeats digital music label that will be delving into the minimal tech house productions of local producers.
scottwalker says...
Nice one - Mark always delivers! Any chance of a tracklisting?
pinky fluffington says...
Ah, fine beats from my favourite DJ. Can't wait until you tour here in the summer and teach these Londoners a thing or two.
dubbwah says...
I Have had the pleasure of listening to Mark since the very beginning of his career, a down to earth person and a professinal performer who lets his music do the talking. So many good nights out and fun times,especially with the sackville massive. dubs
