No Internationals Required - Amnesia 2004
Author: Michelle Pirovich
Wednesday, February 11, 2004
TranZfusion catches up with EK, Mark Dynamix, Jase (NuBreed), Simon Coyle, Blueprint and PDT for a quick Q&A …
Amnesia is all about Australian talent, what is the best thing about Australia's Electronic Music Scene-
EK: The quality! Australian electronic music is up there with the best in the world.
Mark Dynamix: We take in influences from all over the world - yet still retain a sound that is uniquely Australian. Live acts such as NuBreed are as good as their equivalent overseas counterparts, such as Hybrid. It's good that people overseas are looking at Australian artists finally, and giving them the credit they deserve. It's just a shame that some Australian record companies are slow on the up-take of Australian acts.
Jase (NuBreed): Everyone wants to make a mark on the world music scene so in my opinion take bigger risks when creating tracks...there is a distinct Melbourne sound to breaks records in particular.
Simon Coyle: I'd say I'm happy that it's finally got its own unique feel and direction with global respect. Each genre of dance here - breaks to trance, techno to drum and bass, whatever has its own Australian slant that can really be noticed when you travel overseas a lot. Techno wise I love the fact that Australian DJs have their own aggressive style, especially Melbourne... it's not just about being clean, but more about building adrenaline on the floor through man handling the records.
Blueprint: I think there's no doubting our production is on par with the best in the world, acts like Infusion, NuBreed and guys like Andy Page have proven that. But I think we've also got a lot of passionate supporters in the scene, people running the weekly nights, the websites, punters turning up day in day out, they are keeping the scene alive and kicking. The fact we can run a wholly Australian night such as Amnesia and pull a good crowd is what it's all about! Werd…
PDT: Its diversity. There is so much to offer in Melbourne. While all genres are going strong, Techno is at a very diverse point in its existence. It is hard and it is funky, but Melbournians are lucky enough to have all forms of techno in the club industry, something you won't find elsewhere!
…and the worst
EK: There's really nothing bad about the scene….
Mark Dynamix: The fact that some record companies look to overseas for success with Australian product before acknowledging that it's worthwhile backing. A very narrow minded approach and frustrating for the artist who has to have success overseas before his own country will look at him.
Jase (NuBreed): Promoters not getting behind their local DJs and acts and paying them jack shit when a lot of them blow the internationals away in their DJing abilities.
Simon Coyle: Being so isolated leaves plenty of opportunity for an industry as small as ours to implode or become stale / stagnant - full of wankers... Ive seen it happen in some genres already.
Blueprint: I think we're always going to find it hard with where we're at on the world map. Having just got back from the UK, we're a damn long way away from these places, and we have to try that much harder to get our music heard abroad. Not being able to sit down face to face with a lot of the bigger labels does make it tough. Technology is going a long way to bridging that gap, but still can't replace 19 hours on a plane and reruns of 'Sweet Home Alabama'.
PDT: Local exposure for artists good enough for world wide recognition. It takes an overseas label/event/release to expose a good local artist. While some artists do enjoy exposure locally, you will find it takes overseas recognition to gain local respect.
Where would y Tags