|
Danielle interviews Damien Stone...
Damien is a well known New Zealand DJ based in Auckland. He is 26 and has been DJ’ing for nearly four years. Originally from New Zealand’s capital Wellington, Damien doesn’t stick to one particular genre. He thinks that you have to be musically different to be noticed. He is a part of W.S.N.C which is a project designed to give New Zealanders a variety of good music to dance and listen to.
W.S.N.C was founded six months ago by Mark Emerson and Damien Stone. The name stands for anything the crowd wants it to stand for. The name represents the freedom of choice, and this extends to their mixes.
Damien has an impressive musical resume. He is a resident at ‘Mix’ which is New Zealand's leading progressive and breaks club. He also plays a nationwide radio show through the Sky Network Channel 107 and he plays the Superbrands. His most recent superbrand gig was the 2002 Godskitchen in Auckland. Godskitchen featured Judge Jules, Armin Van Buuren, John 00 Fleming and other notable New Zealand DJs. Damien and the W.S.N.C crew also organise room support at these major events, with the next event being Sasha in December.
Check out the interview with Damien and find out what the scene is like down south.
Danielle: So, you have a world tour coming up, tell us a bit about it
Damien: Still in the planning phases, but looking to go to the US, Canada, Thailand, Singapore, and maybe do Aussie on the way back. Will be a couple of us going over, but still trying to plan it. Hopefully we can work it all out.
Danielle: What made you get into dance music?
Damien: Always been into music, and I tried to learn the guitar…and sucked arse at it. Good friends of mine have been DJ’ing for years, so it was a kinda natural progression ‘cos I was hanging out with them
Danielle: What range of music do you listen to?
Damien: Yeah, I listen to a really wide range of stuff, from metal to hip hop, classical to downbeat, dub to electronic.
Danielle: You’re part of WSNC, how did that come about?
Damien: Mark Emerson and I started hanging out every Wednesday, drinking beers and playing tunes. Got some other guys along to play tunes as well, and it kinda went from there…..that was six months ago..
Danielle: What is your opinion about genres in the dance scene?
Damien: Yeah…I think its rude if people just stick to one genre…I don’t think calling yaself a lover of dance music is appropriate if u cant enjoy other forms of dance music outside of your safety zone in the same two clubs every week. Dance music is dance music, so go and listen to Dub, D&B, house, trance, electro, breaks - I just wish that a lot more people would get outside their square box.
Danielle: Your sounds range from breaks to chunky beats. Do you have a preferred base sound that you like to stick to?
Damien: I guess I keep it “house” based, but even then sometimes I throw something in that doesn’t subscribe to the normal house ideals. However, it depends where and when I am playing as well. If I was booked to play house music, I wouldn’t stray too far away from house….like dropping in some Pascal Feos or anything!
Danielle: Do you have a signature style that sets you apart from other DJs?
Damien: I think every DJ that has done well has their own style, and ain’t a carbon copy of someone else. I would like to think that I have my own style, and one that I am still developing. I play quite differently now to how I did six months ago…I think if you stick to one way of playing or one genre of music, you really are limiting yourself musically.
Danielle: You have used MC Profound (DnB MC) and you don’t stick to one genre, why don’t you stick to one style?
Damien: Keep it interesting really, there is a lot of good music out there - in all sorts of genres. So why not listen to them….personally I get bored snotless by just listening to a DJ play one disco house tune after another. Bored to tears. So that’s why I pop some variation in there…In one hour you’d hear me play tech house, electro, breaks, deep house, a tribal number, maybe a progressive tune in there as well…
Having MC Profound doing some gigs with me has been fun, we got a lot of positive feedback from our sets together, and again, it’s something different….
Danielle: Apart from Steve Lawler and Lee Combs, who are some other International DJs that have gained your respect?
Damien: Lee Burridge, Craig Richards, Pascal Feos, Lucien Foort.
Danielle: Are there any NZ DJs that are equally as respected?
Damien: Respected by me? Yeah for sure…Ryan Salt from Wellington, he would be my favourite NZ DJ….Manuel Bundy is the man too….that guy is incredible.
Danielle: Where in the world would you like to have a residency?
Damien: Somewhere that’s only a short taxi ride home…..hahahaha. I enjoy playing when I know people around me, ‘cos it is a party after all!
Danielle: Do you see yourself staying in NZ or are you going to travel and take your music with you?
Damien: I am staying in New Zealand for the foreseeable future. I work during the day as an Account Director for a leading design agency, and have a really good career going with them. Plus I guest lecture at A.C.E, so I have built up some good things in Auckland since moving here. Saying that, I do want to see the world, so u never know.
Danielle: Where did you move from Damien?
Damien: Wellington, two years ago
Danielle: You’ve been DJ’ing for four years now, has the scene changed at all since you started?
Damien: Totally. So much has changed since I started DJ’ing, even just this year in Auckland I have witnessed a lot of change. Where its going to go is hard to say, Lots of people are looking into their crystal balls trying to pick what it’s going to do. Talk around the town is that it’s the biggest time of change in eight years.
I can see the whole “Dance Nation” ideals going, and it becoming a little bit more underground again. I think the commercialism on the scene will always be there, but I don’t think there will ever be as many people going out as there used to be.
Danielle: W.S.N.C is a success, how did you make it so?
Damien: HAHA…..how do you measure success? It’s still early days with us, and we have put in a lot of hard work so far, but there is still a heck of a lot more hard work to do yet. I think one of the most obvious things is the enthusiasm that the W.S.N.C DJs have for what we are doing. The guys love playing tunes, and they love being behind the decks at a gig…and that shows in the entertainment. Everything else is a secret. Hahahah.
Danielle: Apart from playing competition squash Damien, what do you do when you’re not DJ’ing?
Damien: Running the W.S.N.C with Mark Emerson takes up a lot of time at the moment, we are planning 4-5 months ahead at the moment. I read everyday. Listen to a lot of music. Radio show on UPFM on Tuesday nights. I love to cook, especially for other people. Otherwise, I take time out to chill. Or head away up north or to the Coromandel - when I can.
Danielle: Any advice to up & coming DJs?
Damien: Get your own style and do it differently to what you hear everyone else is playing. I often don’t get records that one of the other guys in W.S.N.C has got ‘cos I want to be different.
Why copy what someone else is doing? They have been doing it longer, and will be better at it.
Check out other DJs in other genres than the one you want to play ‘cos you can pick up some mean tips from them.
Liver Cleansing. Straight up…you will need to…
|
