- what / DJ
- likes / House
(C) What got you started on the whole djing, dance music side of things?
(Pip) I've always been into music, my mother is a music teacher and I was brought up playing piano, singing etc. I was very much into alternative rock in my teen years, used to play cds at The Hole In The Wall (anyone remember that place?!) Anyway I moved into a flat with 2 good friends of mine (who incidentally I flat with now in Auckland!) in Aro Valley.
We were all about 19 or 20 years old at the time, They took me out to dance parties at ESC, the occasional massive rave put on by Mr. Leon Baldock, and a few early drum n' bass parties. I just got interested from there. It wasn't really until I heard Welli deep house djs Andee and Schmoo play in the back room at a very intense New Year's party at La Luna '96/'97 that I seriously considered djing myself... I basically fell in love with House.
(C) What was it like winning both the b.net and remix award?
(Pip) Totally cool of course. It was the b.net award that amazed me the most, it being a nation wide rather than Auckland centric thing (Re:mix at the time was still very much Auckland based) and to this day I am very proud of it.
(C) Did this open any new doors for you ?
(Pip) To be honest things were really flowing for me at that time but of course it must have helped in some way. 2000 was a pretty cool year looking back, I put out the 2nd ever Re:mix cd, flew to Dublin for the RedBull Music Academy for a few weeks, and then when I got back won the b net award...
(C) What are you focusing on presently?
(Pip) I'm currently at MAINZ completing a diploma in Audio Engineering. Once that is completed I will be focusing on my own production work, and of course there are a few other plans waiting in the pipelines.. I really see this time in the story of New Zealand music as a vibrant and exciting time - I'm just happy to be a part of it.
(C) What genres are you into and what kinda set may we here you lay down at a party?
(Pip) House be my main love... and I'm certainly influenced hugely by House from Chicago and Detroit, tho' I love American House in general and a lot of French stuff. And I'm digging a lot of NZ productions as well, NZ House is really coming of age. When I dj I pretty much play right across the board of House styles it will depend on how I'm feeling that night, the type of situation I find myself in (whether I be playing a bar or club and what time of night it is!) and of course what people are feeling like in general.
You gotta tune into how people are feeling in order to connect and then take 'em somewhere, If I'm playing a club/party then of course I'm gonna deliver a club/party set i.e. It'll be rockin!, but if I'm playing on the radio and it's four in the afternoon it's gonna be deep! Aside from House I listen to a lot of Hip Hop during the week.
(C) What current residencies are you holding down these days?
(Pip) I play pretty much all Auckland House clubs - The Bowler, Calibre, Ink, Centro, Spy bar, Coast.
I'm also lucky enough to get booked in Welli, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton and New Plymouth fairly regularly.
(C) Are you a dj that dances? cause we have heard some really like to get down after their set!
(Pip) Dude! I am so a dj that dances, the dancefloor is how I got into dance music in the first place. If I'm having a good night djng you'll catch me dancing in the booth. I love dancing.. it's gotta be one of this world's simplest and best pleasures... good for the soul.
(C) What was it like to mix the second cd for InMusic.. I see you have added two tracks from Leon D and Cuffy ?
(Pip) We really wanted to get it out before the end of the year last year, as it was I ended up doing the tour with no cd to speak of - d'oh. I was then held up in Welli not able to fly out because of the rolling fog (it was a mission!), but we finally got it mixed and off to the printing company only to find out they had closed for weeks over the Christmas break!!
All that stuff aside it was cool. I had a fairly intense year last year and that cd is definitely a collection of thoughts and feelings from that year. It was a great experience to work with Simon and Helen @ InMusic - lovely peeps and a very cool local company. The Cuffy and Leon D tracks were put on because I'm into their music. Simple as that really. Wicked producers...
(C) Next Big Event or Party we can hear you at?
(Pip) I'm playing with The Inland Knights down in Calibre on the 11th of July.
(C) Any tips for like minded up and coming dj's?
(Pip) Keep it real don't try and sound like someone else, sound like yourself. In that lies your strength as a dj and in that you can have something real to contribute to the world of Music and House fullstop.
Phowar! Well there we have it an interesting insight into what Pip is up to.
Cheers to Pip and Bob Daktari for taking time out to hook me up on the details.
Philippa In Music is out now in all good music shops a must for the house lover!
