Sasha's new Audio Visual Setup premiers at Big Day Out

Sasha, the name synonymous among hundreds of thousands of clubbers and one of the few original UK super-star DJs still making a name for himself showcased his new audio and visual setup right across Australia over the last month as part of the Big Day Out Festival, one of the most popular and prestiges Aussie festivals to play at.

The setting was the famous Boiler Room which had its birth in the huge empty warehouse of Homebush Bay (Sydney Olympic Venue area) but has hosted the whos who of electronic music over the last 7 years.

Working with a team from Montreal, responsible for some of the LED installations of Circus De' Sole, the setup was custom built with lots of smaller LED screens and special mountings which was specially shipped to Australia for the tour. Sasha has noted that the set-up was a response to the festival set where it can become a challenge to bring deeper sounds and creating an environment where people get into the groove of a set.

“I’ve always wanted to do something more, and do something different. I’m not the DJ who plays all the big anthem tunes …. What I want to do is have something that is separate from my club shows. So this festival set is gonna be an hour and a half long, the music is going to be linked to the visuals and it’s going to be a whole different experience." -taken from ITM Interview by Angy

The screens are placed behind and infront of Sasha, who is situated in the middle and sillouetted by the visuals around him. Visuals react to the music and it was tweaked through out the entire Big Day Out tour however Sasha noted on twitter, "...the visual show was tweaked as the tour went on and Perth got the best out of us"

With Sasha only recently playing a special open-air afternoon set in November at Chinese Laundry in Sydney, there were many rumors of Sasha living in Sydney over the summer and possibly playing another club show, however according to the man himself thats not true. "I know there were lots of rumors about me playing another gig in sydney but I am in oz for Big Day Out and having an amazing time.....I will be back very soon I hope. I love oz."

Still, the rumour mill must go on and I have being told by many that Sash Sydney Harbour cruise party is being tossed around...Lets hope it becomes a reality!

Have a read of this great article by InTheMix reporter Angy, who interviewed Sasha after his November club tour in Australia.

Design and Music

After a hectic weekend, seeing Trevor Jackson, Aireoplane and Yen at Hyde Park Barracks and ducking into the back of a Spanish club to check out Shit Robot the night after, I thought I would post up a some articles from couple of other places to complete the rainy Sunday afternoon here in Sydney. With Australia day around the corner and your sick day notice in for tomorrow, no doubt, I'm sure some reading is in order.


While talking with some friends over the weekend the notion of design and music seems to be more prevalent today then ever. Designers and musicians, especically electronic musicians, seem to go hand in hand. Whether its cover art, web site design, graphic design or even the live visuals associated with a DJ act its seems the visual component is a side that can be skilfully used to 'enhance' the music; show a different aspect or perspective. While many people, at first, may just see the swirling live visuals as some sort of way to further trip out drunken (alcohol or otherwise) people the visual component is as much a valid art form as the music itself and needs to be taken more seriously in my opinion.

Becks festival bar was graced with the edgy visuals of VJ Morph which in many ways perfectly complemented the edgier sounds of spaced out disco coming from the time-code vinyls of Trevor Jackson. While in the background saw visuals projected onto the old Sydney Barracks building of which some were designed by visual artist, Julapy. Check it out below, but much of his designs come from code, rather than sampled visuals.

pachinko_02 from lukasz on Vimeo.

Ghostly International is another electronic label known for some unique and defined visuals. Cover art or live much of it is directed and created by Michael Cina who's work extends far and beyond that of underground music labels. Have a read of the interview with him below to gain some insight into this much overlooked industry.

Michael Cina: The Ghostly designer and type wrangler talks about the cosmos, getting loose, and Led Zeppelin.


Back to music, I can safely say Trevor Jackson at Hyde Park Barracks last Friday pumped out some great house and new disco. Steering away from the obvious, going down the slightly gritty but keeping it lively it was a set that was happily lapped up by everyone. Have a read of Dr Tad's review below;

Disco Dissertation: Stunning Output (Review of Future Classic Night with Trevor Jackson)

Gig Guide (22nd-26th)

Its the gig guide! Tons of stuff happening as well as Sydney festival events. Also next wed is DJ Yoda at hyde park barracks as well as the infamous yacht club on Australia Day next tuesday!

Friday

Future Classic Night @ Sydney Festival ft. Trevor Jackson, Yen(live) & FC DJs - Hyde Park Barracks

Void ft. Silke - Phoenix Bar - Syds leading dub-step night

Suspect - Henry Afrikas - underground house on the north side

Mr Meanr - Chinese Laundry

Hole In The Sky night - Good Small Club

Sat

Shit Robot, Jimi Polar, Diatribe - Good God Small Club

Sebo K - Lady Lux

--Regulars--

Wham - World Bar, Kings X - Top floor techno mayhem in this famous town-house

Musik Matters - Favela - Dedicated to the true house sounds of Sydney

Club Club - Chinese Laundry - Every weekend hear some of the best in techno, prog and house in the Cave

Sun

Spice - Home Terrace - The first spice in n the iconic Home nightclub

The Bunker afterhours ft. Sebo K - From 4:30am Bunker Bar

--Afternoon--

Apres - Tilbury Hotel - Future Classic Afternoon sessions. Expect the unexpected.

bSide - Beresford Hotel - The new night hosted by fbi presenter Lorna Clarkson with an eclectic mix of local DJs

Sunday Sessions ft. Ben Morris, Robbie Lowe, Culbert, and Tim Jirgenson - The Deck, Luna Park - From 3pm an afternoon by the harbour

Tue, Australia Day

Ben Watt & Dixon - Starship Sydney - This will be epic

Final Gig Guide up Thursdays.

Send your event info sydneylovestechno at gmail dot com

Trevor Jackson, Areoplane and Yen live! This Friday Sydney Festival

Sydney is brimming with activity. Summer is here and Sydney festival is adding an amazing array of events to the cities theaters and clubs. As I continue with my personal recommendations (if that means anything at all!?) this friday is the Future Classic night at the uber cool Becks Festival Bar, decked out only once a year for this famous event.

Trevor Jackson will headline after recently taking a break from touring over the last couple years with this being one of his first performances! Also on the bill are Areoplane, Yen (live) and future classic DJs.

This is the last becks festival event that isnt sold out so hurry and get your tickets as it will all go!

Trevor Jackson is known for his musical and visual innovation in electronic music. Founder of Output Recordings, he released Four Tet, LCD Soundsystem and The Rapture. He has remixed Massive Attack, U2 and UNKLE and worked with The Gossip, Doves and Franz Ferdinand. Like his DJ Kicks mix, expect an uncompromising set traversing a vast sonic territory from nu-disco to rock and electro to house.

Trevor Jackson DJ Mix @ Studio B, New York by future classic

CO OP Returns for 2010 with Sasse & Dave DK

CO OP, easily one of the best new events of 09 returns for 2010 with Moodmusic head honcho Sasse aus Berlin! The Berlin underground man will be playing a 5 hour set at the Civic Underground so expect something along the lines of Vincenzo last time, which for all that was there was definitely a night to remember!

Sasse holds residences at two of Berlins most established clubs Berghain and Weekend club as and had produced remixes for the likes of Heinrik Schwarz, DJ T and Spirit Catcher. This will be undeniably DEEP!

Also joining the bill is Dave DK which is sure to turn some faces. The gig goes down 5th of Febuary and tickets are available at residentAdvisor.net
KEEP DEEP....

Dufire and Sven Vath Side Shows

Thats right! The famous duo will be playing a special side show ahead of their Future Music Festival tour date in Sydney, which has now sold out. Sven is known for his hedonistic performances with last year having skulled an entire bottle of champange only to spit it back out on the audience (is that an insult or compliment?).

Certain people may remember Future Entertainment running their first 'Likes Of You' event at the exact same venue as this side show. Lets hope this time around there wont be any sound issues like last time, issues that eventually cause Loco Dice to walk off stage early....

Side show info here

Also on the side show bill is Bookashade who toured mid last year as well to thunderous applause. You can check what went down that night in my post here

Gig Guide (15th-17th)

Gig Guide! Up every Thursday. Email your events to the blog address below and get some underground luv.

Friday

Loosekaboose ft. Christan Vance and Mr Deepchild Live! - Civic Underground - Loose brings a star studded local line up. Definitely get down there!

Suspect ft. Telefunken - Henry Afrikas - The night that proves quality underground electronic shiz is on the North too...

Sat

Picnic Warehouse ft. Love Fingers - Warehouse location der!

Bug In The Bass ft. Robbie Lowe - Copperlilly Hotel

--Regulars--

Wham - World Bar, Kings X - Top floor techno mayhem in this famous town-house

Musik Matters - Favela - Dedicated to the true house sounds of Sydney

Club Club - Chinese Laundry - Every weekend hear some of the best in techno, prog and house in the Cave

Sun

Spice ft. Christian Vance - Kings Cross Hotel (4am) - The last spice in the kings X

The Bunker afterhours - From 4:30am Bunker Bar

--Afternoon--

Apres - Tilbury Hotel - Future Classic Afternoon sessions.

bSide - Beresford Hotel - The new night hosted by fbi presenter Lorna Clarkson with an eclectic mix of local DJs

Sunday Sessions ft. Ben Morris, Robbie Lowe, Culbert, and Tim Jirgenson - The Deck, Luna Park - From 3pm an afternoon by the harbour

Final Gig Guide up Thursdays.

Send your event info sydneylovestechno at gmail dot com