by Don crispy


Simon Coyle

The Aussie DJ is making a stand for techno from his base in Melbourne

“We dubbed it ‘the Melbourne shuffle’ as a joke, and it stuck.” courtesy of WetMusik

The world’s dance music Meccas are London, New York and, in Asia, Tokyo, but the diffusion of music through the Internet and the increasing affordability of recording technology means that all sorts of cities are now throwing up noteworthy DJs. In Melbourne, Simon Coyle has been at the center of the city’s club scene for over a decade now, and he’s also a national force through his imprint WetMusik. As a DJ, he’s brought his blend of percussive techno, cheeky vocals and supple breakbeats from Malaysia to Croatia, while locally he hosts a show on Melbourne’s Kiss FM. Metropolis threw a few questions at Coyle in Melbourne in advance of his set at Shibuya club Womb, where he’ll spin alongside Scottish techno producer Vince Watson as part of the regular Irizo events.

What’s distinct about the Australian dance scene, and Melbourne in particular?
Well, the dancing style for one. Melbourne’s infamous for its rave dancing, which started as an extension of break dancing in the late ’80s and adapted to the faster electronic music coming out at the time. As the BPMs got quicker, so did the moves, and it’s quite amusing if the dancer isn’t awesome. We dubbed it “the Melbourne shuffle” as a joke, and it stuck. I feel we have contributed a definitive sound to techno stemming from being a fairly sheltered scene geographically over a long period of time. There’s also a lot of “bush” parties here; the initial one, Earthcore, is still going strong. Just got to watch out for bushfires…

You’ve been to Japan before. What was your impression?
Lasting. The complexity of Japan blows me away. I love the traditions and way of thinking, which seem to have evolved from being an empire that stood alone for so long and how that coincides with modern day Japan and its appetite for technology. The sheer population of the cities makes it an electrifying place. I also love the fact the market seems to be right up on the music; it feels like they appreciate hearing new records.

How do you plan your sets? What do you have in mind for Womb?
For me it’s about packing the right records and then dropping them at the right time on the night. Technically I know I’ll hold up; the magic happens when you get that first part right. When I’m traveling I try and take a representative sample of where I’m currently at. It’s easier if you’ve been somewhere before, as you learn what works by playing a market. I’ve been looking forward to doing Womb for some time, so I’ll try and make it a special one. I’ll be bringing a lot of new music: unreleased stuff from my label as well as the records that have moved me over a long period of time.

Tell us about your current musical undertakings.
I just released a mix CD entitled The Best of Wetmusik to celebrate the first 25 releases on my label with partner Simon Digby. We recorded it at a gig in Malaysia earlier this year. The label has just had a release from some Serbian guys, Marco Nastic and Dejan, called the Belgrade Burner EP, and I have a release called Snake in the Grass coming out as the next Wet release in about a month. I’m starting a new label called Robot Samba, which will be for the funkier side of electronica.

Is the worldwide dance music scene healthy? Any predictions for the future?
Compared to 5 or 10 years ago perhaps not as healthy. There are areas in the world that have just exploded, like South America and Eastern Europe, but as a general rule sales and attendance figures are down. I think the next phase will come from a development in technology, be that with studio or DJ equipment, the actual venues themselves, or a combination thereof. But until then we can all rest easy in the knowledge that losing yourself on the dance floor to music you love is a universal and timeless pastime.

How would you spend one free night in Tokyo?
Play a full house at Womb. And meet that podium dancer working the last time I played Osaka, please.

Irizo@Womb, Oct 9. See club listings for details. For more info on Simon Coyle, check out www.wetmusik.com

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