Kiwi's love their drum and bass. I don't know if it because they think of their beloved pub dub/BBQ reggae being sped up to 190 BPM. Or they remember their older brothers/sisters catching the likes of the legendary Goldie and Roni Size while in London on their OE back in the 90's.
Is it because of the memorable nights they had out in christchurch visiting their mates at Uni visiting Concrete and Base? Or they can they not get over Shapeshifter's stella performance at R&V four years ago, before they came the biggest live act in NZ?
What ever it is - Kiwis love their drum and bass.
Last year R&V coped a fair bit of flack when we didn't have any drum and bass headliners at the festival.
It didn't matter we had the Bloc-party-starting production team of the year (Major Lazer), a UK number one indie band (Editor) or the hottest export to come out of Australia in years (Empire of the Sun).
It didn't matter we had one of the world most popular mash up DJ (2manydj's), a legendary underground hip hop crew (Roots Manuva), or a bespectable legend with over 20 years in the industry (Moby)
It didn't even matter when we continued our vision to have the stand out kiwi band of the year (Midnight Youth) or established DJ's (P-Money, Dick Johnson). It didn't even matter than we catered for the tried and tested, kiwi love affair with roots music (John Butler Trio)!
Kiwis love their drum and bass, and get shirty when they don't get it.
So I took it upon myself to make sure we had this genre covered this year. Once Shapeshifter declined our offer to perform again, and I found out Pendulum were already playing here in Ocotber, we needed to look offshore.
Dan Maas put me on to the DJ Netsky. I checked out his Youtube links and was mesmorised. Suddenly I thought of this liquid funk creeping up the hills of Gisborne. I listened to the track 'Lost in this World' and could imagine dawn breaking over the Vines stage, the stragglers still there holding on to see the first sunlight of 2011.
The snare was so electric, the bass so muffled, the synths so captivating - and with the provocative lyrics it would be an almost perfectly euphoric way to end what would have been a memorable three days.
The snare was so electric, the bass so muffled, the synths so captivating - and with the provocative lyrics it would be an almost perfectly euphoric way to end what would have been a memorable three days.
I checked out his Myspace. Wow this guy is playing small little clubs in Bristol, Sheffield, Bath. He doesn't have any of the big festivals lined up! Whats going on? Turns out he is only 20 years old from Belgium and was discovered after making tunes in his bedroom, probably every night after he finished his home work!
This could work, he surely would be up to play in a country where Drum and Bass is so revered. So I mailed his agent in the UK. She seemed to be immediatley on the back foot asking me who my headliners were. It was almost - why would you want this young guy on your bill?
I asked if he had been down under before but no, he hadn't even been on an international tour! The agent was looking at working with a couple of the keys touring agents in Australia but nothing had eventuated.
I knew one of them so suggested to her that we put a tour together for him and bring Netsky to New Zealand. She liked the idea and told me to find a run of dates. Wheels were in motion!
In the meantime friends Jeremy and Joe in London who were experienced Hospital Record- heads (the label that signed him) gave me some hugely positive feedback. His album was gaining traction in underground drum and bass circles. His mini-mix on Annie Mac's show blew people away and showed the extent of his mixing skills.
I desperately tried to get him on our first R&V lineup release but the tour was still not confirmed. What would be the reaction if we didn't have any drum and bass!! Would NERD, Justice, Shiahd, Boys Noize, Chromeo, disappoint people again?!
After a few month of back and forth the tour dates were coming together, and R&V had the essential date of 31st December!
Then finally yuss - we got it locked in. Netsky - the world most up and coming drum and bass act was coming to NZ to Rhythm and Vines!
We released it and the hype spread. Facebook seemed to be going nuts. I had DJ's ringing me going 'WTF bro!'
And yet his profile still continues to build. Last month he played at the annual Hospitality at Brixton. BTV was able to get in and have a chat with him - he is pretty damn excited - as are we!
Just last week Nestky held the enviable position of hosting the essential Mix on BBC's Radio 1. It is fair to say this mix will be similar to what he plays at the festival. It covers everything from the Danny Byrd 'Ill Behaviour' to label boss. He even drops in remix's of Swedish House Mafia's track of the year 'One', even some Bloody Beetroots!
So for Kiwis that love drum and bass - here you go. No complaining now. There is something about Netsky AND his music that IS mesmerising, and I look forward to catching him on NYE Vines stage.
And getting lost in the world that is Rhythm and Vines.
