International Melbournians

Yes that right NRG 6 has 8 International Artists, their local heroes that have represented Melbourne overseas.

Melbourne's dance scene is quite possibly at its healthiest. With an influx of international guests over the last 6 months, it's understandable that our own talent hasn't had as much attention paid to it. So while your Lab 4's and S.H.O.K.K's are playing to packed crowds in Melbourne, some of our best are waving the Melbourne flag of dance overseas.

HK Pioneer, legend, and debatably The King of the Melbourne Morning Set, Scott Alert, is one of Melbourne's highest profile deejays. Playing overseas alongside acts such as Paul Brisk, have seen Scott's international profile expand, and, has generated a much stronger interest in the Australian scene. "People over there (Overseas) are really interested in what we are doing Down-Under" claims Alert. "However, they are more interested in Melbourne's music production" as opposed to Melbourne's deck drivers.

Ben Kakoschke of BPM and Hard Kandy fame, has played quite often overseas. One gig in particular he remembers fondly… even more memorable for him was the fact he didn't actually get to play. "It was London, 1999, at an underground venue" explains Ben. "Huge illegal party, I was due to play the last set in the main room, in front of several thousand people. The likes of Lab4 and K90 had already played before me. Next thing you know, ol' Bill came in and shut the party down!" However, Ben's gigs over in Wellington, New Zealand, have been more successful. "The scene there is very fresh and everyone's up for it!" However, Ben claims to find the best crowds right at home… "Nothing compares to a Hard Kandy crowd going off" enthuses Kakoschke, "even the international dj's (That have played there) will tell you that!".

Indeed they will. One of Melbourne's finest deck wizards, Nexus, fondly recalls the time when Fergie was booked to play Melbourne at another venue. Even though he had never played a Melbourne club night before (previously played at the Docks for TRADE in 1998), let alone Hard Kandy, Fergie demanded to play there. "When he discovered his gig was not at HK, he cancelled, and asked to have it moved." Nexus explains, "He'd heard so much about the club from other international guests that had already played!"

Australian artist Felix, under the moniker of Sugar, who's one and only international playing experience ended in disaster. He went to play a gig in Japan, 1991, only to have an earthquake prevent him from playing… "It's still an honour though, to be asked to play a gig overseas" explains Sugar. But on the production scale of things, Felix believes that the only real step ahead is through major overseas labels; "If you're on a major label, excellent. Good luck to you. I run a local small label here, but, unfortunately, it's not going to grab any attention overseas…"
Ben Kakoschke, who is currently in the process of producing with CJ Dolan (aka: Quench, the man behind Australia's best and arguably, most successful dance track, "Dreams", from 1993), is also planning on opening up his own label with fellow HK & BPM colleagues KeLSTa (who has produced with Steve Nichols and Nick Sentience) and Craig Jon.

Klasic & Sanders, Melbourne's trance wonder kids, have several quality releases under their belts, in particular, their latest wax smash, "Space Odyssey", which is rapidly getting the title of "Track of the year" from those in the know. Rob Klasic, one half of the dynamic duo, although has never played overseas, knows first hand what it's like to be in demand, with his tracks blitzing the record crates of some of Europe's biggest names. "We were placed in quite a few charts and included in some playlists from heavy weights including Warmduscher and Scot Project" beams Rob, "...its was such an honor to be able to be part of the hard dance industry, especially alongside dj's we have looked up to for such a long time". With touring overseas, an al Tags