Interview with SHAUN ROWLAND

Shaun Rowland is the latest UK import to hit the Australian clubbing scene. For those that haven't heard of him, this sensational London-based DJ's name is synonomous with trance. He is most famous for promoting and playing at the legendary London day-clubbing experience "becomeone", and is set to explode onto the scene in Melbourne in 2005. We took a minute to quiz Shaun on his upcoming move to Melbourne, his experiences as a DJ, and what he is planning on bringing to the local scene.

Q) Have you ever been to Australia before, and if so, what places have you already checked out-
A) I came to visit Melbourne last year for a couple of weeks in August. Not the best time of year to visit and amazingly whilst I was in Oz it was 38c in London! I went to Revolver which was wicked, London could really do with something like that - a drop in centre for clubbers! Also checked out the shopping in Chapel Street and the other cool places in Melbourne like Brunswick Street...

Q) You're about to move from London to Melbourne. What prompted the move-
A) Well my beloved wife is from Melbourne and so we had decided to move back for some time. I got offered a job starting in 2005 and so we jumped at the chance to take it. Also, as much I as love London - the winter, the tube and the general grottiness of the place is beginning to tire me out somewhat and so I felt it was time to move on as I have been living in London for eight years now...

Q) You've no-doubt heard that Melbourne has been voted the world's most livable city - would you agree-
A) I don't know yet - but I hope it is! Life certainly seems easier there with less of the problems that are associated with a city that has been around forever like London. I think the general cost of living seems to be a lot cheaper which means more spare money for going out and socializing!

Q) What do you think you'll miss the most about living in London-
A) The clubs, drugs and the girls, ha ha! London has an unbelievable buzz sometimes and I still get that feeling every now and again that I live in a city that sets the standard in fashion, food, music, art etc. London in the summer is awesome as well and really comes alive. The club scene is the best in the world bar Ibiza in my opinion and the choice you have available every weekend is just amazing, plus I'll miss the English and football!

Q) How did you first get into DJing-
A) My dad was a DJ in the Seventies playing old funk and disco so the inspiration came from him first of al I guess! He used to buy house when it first came out in the late eighties, at that time I was far too concerned with listening to Madonna to pay attention to them but curiosity got the better of me and I loved what I heard! I bought my first CD single when I was 14 (Such a Good Feeling by Brothers in Rhythm) and was hopelessly hooked on dance music from then onwards! I finally went from listening to dance music at home to listening to it in clubs when I was 18 and because my passion for the music was so strong I was very eager to get behind the decks and share my music with people.

Q) How have your musical tastes evolved over the last few years-
A) I started off by listening to house music when I was very young and that gradually morphed into a love of trance. Over the past year in particular my music style has changed; I used to be synonymous with a light euphoric trance sound but this music has got very stale over the last year and the area of trance that most excites me now is from the techier, dirtier end of the spectrum. I am also very much into house music again and am probably going to more house nights now than trance ones...

Q) How would you best describe the style of music that you play these days-
A) Techy, dirty, twisted trance!

Q) Which DJ's and producers do you most admire, and why-
A) DJs: Tiesto, Judge Jules, Paul Van Dyk, Jon Carter and Steve Lawler. All for different reasons - Tiesto's set structure is ju Tags