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T-REK Tarek Smallman, aka T-Rek, has a talent for sending club booking agents into stuttering rages, as 3D’s Carlisle Rogers discovered. “What do you mean he doesn’t play a genre?” they scream incredulously into the phone. “No, trust me – the kids love him.” And they do. His Freakshow Disco label is also probably the best way to describe him, which brings us to his new release, Freakshow Disco Volume 2 & 3.
“I usually try to set my own agenda,” he says. “First and foremost, if I’m DJing to a crowd I’m always trying to entertain them. I try to do that in a creative and interesting way – to keep it fresh and different. I think it is really easy to play a lot of popular crap and keep everyone happy, and I think it is easy to crawl up your own ass and play a lot of music that you think is great – the whole ‘if you don’t understand it you can fuck off’ kind of thing.
“I think if you can bridge the two of those things and be as strange and weird and different as possible, but try to get the response of somebody who was maybe just playing anthems, then I think you’re really achieving something.
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Adam Bartas Adam Bartas has rised rapidly up Melbourne's DJing ranks to become a sensation, one of the city's most in-demand house DJs. Today, with 5 years professional Djing experience under his belt, Bartas has refined his sound, drawing on a love of old skool sonics to throw in witty crowd-pleasing acapellas over the best in chunky house and electro.
His tailor-made skills have also seen him sought by interstate and overseas promoters, with Adam spreading his Djing wings to play at Sounds on Sunday, Dragonfly (Sydney), G.P.O (Brisbane), Berlin Lounge (Gold Coast) and New Zealand's massive 6000 person festival 'We Love House'. With so much going on it's hard to conceive of how Adam is also fitting in a tour of Asia in 2006, but when you've got such a potent mixture of passion and talent running through your blood, it's impossible to stand still. Adam's could probably lay claim as being Melbourne's hardest working DJ, with residencies at Famous, Two Floors Up, Boutique, The Saint, Cushion Lounge, Alumbra, Room, Motel and Marakesh, as well as regular guest spots at Revolver, Dirty Dozen and No Vacancy. |
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Boogs Boogs is a Melbourne clubbing icon. He has sharp instincts, embracing fresh underground sounds before others. Growing up with hip hop, Boogs was introduced to techno by his friend Voiteck. He went on to DJ at fabled nights such as Purveyors. Today Boogs still plays Lounge’s Loose Fit on Saturdays alongside T-Rek and then graces Revolver, where his early morning sets attract the diehard.
Nevertheless, Boogs is reluctant to capitalise on his credibility by bombarding fans with endless DJ compilations. The DJ claims to be shy – he’s more at ease with email interviews – and, such is his mystique, no one actually knows his full name.
In 2005 Boogs partnered with inthemix.com.au for his first mix CD. Now he’s following it with Pure for Vinyl Pusher – Boogs co-headlines with Firefox (Andy J and Darren Glen). Boogs agreed to the commission knowing that Vinyl Pusher's Don Steele would allow him creative freedom. Not that Boogs’ Pure is self-indulgent.
“Personally, I like to be aware of what direction music in general is going – not so much even just dance music, but all types, because it gives me a better understanding of what your average punter who has never been exposed to much electronic dance music can relate to. But, in saying that, I don’t think it’s that important [to follow trends] because, as long as you know how to put records together, you can create a futuristic vibe that can take people somewhere they haven't been.”
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Spacey Space Spacey Space started playing records professionally in 1993 at a weekly gig called 'Bud Dub Loves Loops' at Lounge in Melbourne's CBD. The night was a chilled, mid-week affair where you could hear Detroit techno, arty electronica, ambient dub and ancient Jamaican reggae mixed up with film scores, rap music and electro funk. 'Bud Dub' enjoyed cruisey success for about a year but Spacey was itching to get the floor moving, so he got some decks, learned to mix and the rest is Dance Music History.
First parties, then clubs, soon the word got out and Spacey was hosting his own radio show Space Station on the original Kiss 90FM. Space Station allowed him to play tracks that were too deep or too twisted for the dance floor and the experimental programming attracted a loyal cult following. The magic lasted four years and recorded tapes of the show are now considered collectables - a fact reflected by the prices they reach when auctioned on e-bay.
Since this time, Spacey Space has played with countless local and international DJs & bands and at scores of parties. Gigs include Earthcore, Big Day Out Boiler Room, Welcome 2000 & ongoing guest spots at parties by Bamboozled, Deceptacon, No Vacancy, Mischief & various Future Entertainment events. |
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Luke McD Luke McD began his career as a muso in his early days of secondary school playing trumpet in up to 6 bands each week before he was even alouwed to have a rider. Later in life as the party took over, his focus turned to dance music and Djing become a pasion. Luke's early gigs placed him as promoter, booker, publicist and Dj, giving him a total understanding of music, people, context and contacts. Luke has been musical director, booker and resident of many of Melbourne’s best venues and events for years. A focus on the right sound for the right time in the right venue has always been his forte whether he is behind the decks or behind the desk.
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Chango Phat For the past 12 years, Melbourne's own Chango Phat has been holding it down in the club scene and in the battle circuit. His unique style combines brilliant turntablism and floor focused party rocking that keeps bodies moving and the clubs pumping.
Aside from rocking Melbourne's best venues, Chango Phat has been an active member of the DJ Competition scene, competing in events like the prestigious DMC and ITF DJ competitions.
Feel free to checkout www.myspace.com/djchangofatt for audio & video battle routines. Stay tuned to this group for updates and promotions......
Peace & Love to everyone for their support and open ears!
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Mark Pellegrini Mark was born and raised in Melbourne and began Dj’ing at a very young age. Growing up in a wonderful era of music (primarily Disco, Funk & House in the 80’s and 90’s) he, like many of us, enjoyed and was inspired by the rich sounds of Prince, Stevie Wonder & Quincy Jones. But hearing the sounds of Patrick Cowley, Giorgio Moroder and Shep Pettibone led Mark to discover a sound best described as electronic disco funk with rich black lines streaming within.
Mark’s passion for music resulted in the creation of his own platform where he had the freedom to play his favourite music. But who knew that in doing so, Mark would become a pioneer of the biggest genre based parties in Melbourne which in turn, ended up featuring none other than himself as the headline attraction. But there’s more to Mark than meets the eye. He’s dynamic and multi-dimensional; he juggles being a businessman, entrepreneur, promoter and DJ/producer and has started his own label: ‘Rocksteady Recordings.’ He has formed a partnership with ‘Vicious’ and he can also lay claim to fame, for his remix/production of the ‘Tribal Kings’ ARIA Club Chart Top 10 hit: ‘Canto Della Liberta’.
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