Doing New Years Justice

Justice have been one of my favourite acts of recent years.  My friend Tom Bates introduced me to them when I was in Sydney for a summer holiday back in early 2007. Everyone seemed to be going nuts for the french electro sound and Bondi had become Paris by the beach.


There was something about the weight of the tracks.  Real balls. Guitar music played by DJ's. Drum programming is original as well, staccato and broken.  I loved the sound of the open snare that has become a signature of their remixs.  The slapping, bouncing bass lines also tickled at one nostalgia from watching too many old 80 TV shows.

So I took some tracks back to NZ.  I remember when I dropped 'Waters of Nazereth' on the decks during a friends farwell party. Everyone cupped their ears in horror at the distorted heavy fuzz and thought the speaker had blown.  I had a good laugh to myself and realised NZ wasn't quite ready for this sound!

Justice - Waters of Nazereth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqJu_3CPhC4

In September 2007 I was in London getting ready for my Endeavour concert at Koko when the venue manager asked if I wanted to come to a gig at the venue.  It turned out Justice were playing that week so I jumped at the chance. I asked all my banker friends in London if they wanted to come but none of them had heard of the band, or wanted to go.  I couldnt believe it! So I went by myself.

This was a Wednsday night in trendy Camden and it was full of uber cool hipster kids of the American Apparel generation.  The Klaxons DJ as well then watched from side of stage and it really felt like the center of the scene at the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWpEpmXn8Jo&feature=related

I hung around afterwards and saw the group's manager Pedro Winter loitering in front of the stage.  He is the founder of Ed Banger Records, ex-manager of Daft Punk and is a legend in his own right. I plucked up enough courage to approach him and introduced myself.  I asked if the duo were booked for NYE and interested playing at R&V. He said they were tossing up between Birmingham and Los Angles but would consider up for offers. He liked the idea of coming to NZ for summer and seemed interested in the surfing and wine tasting. So he pulled out his Blackberry and sent an introduction email to his agent.

Pedro Winter aka Busy P

The next day I conversed with the agent over the bands availability. She asked if I was interested in the 'LIVE' or the 'DJ' set? I said DJ like the one I saw at Koko the previous night. Two guys standing over a desk of knobs and buttons, looked like they were playing records to me!

She was horrified saying 'how could that set be 'DJing? Did you not see the guys making music??'  Turns out the LIVE set is performed and mixed in real time on keyboards and computers via software called Ableton live, with a full specced production and lighting show, and a crew of 12. I had a lot to learn.

Unfortunately my kiwi peso offer just couldn't compete with the other extravagant offers from around the world and to my dismay the act ended up being booked in Los Angeles.

My instincts were right and by the end of the 2007 Justice were one of the hottest tickets in the world. They came to Australia for the Parklife tour, an epic lineup with Digitalism, M.I.A and our own Shapeshifter, but didn't come to New Zealand.  However the heavy Ed Banger sound swept through this part of the world and had everyone chanting 'We Are Your Friends' and 'D.A.N.C.E' all summer long.

Justice - D.A.N.C.E http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49esza4eiK4

In 2008 R&V expanded to three days and began working closer with our festival booking partners in Australia and UK.  When the booking options came through they included Pedro Winter - djing as his alter ego Busy P - along with Mehdi, A-Trak and Switch.  We HAD to invite him to come and check out our amazing festival for himself!

Busy P, Switch, Mehdi, A-Trak - Gisborne Airport, Dec 2008

At the festival I made the effort to go up to Pedro and re-introduce myself. He thought R&V was amazing festival and even said he thought it was 'the new Coachella'.  I mentioned to him I still had my sites set on Justice and to spread the good word. His set went off and the guys had a ball playing in the Cellar stage amongst the native trees.   It still goes down as one of the most memorable nights of the festival and those who were there were treated to a set they will never forget.

Busy P and Mehdi at R&V 2008

I thought we would have to wait a full album cycle until we got the opportunity to offer on the Justice boys again. Word was they were not playing gigs just recording their sophomore album.  Even still, I still dropped Pedro my annual email to remind him we would love to host the guys in Gisborne.

This year I got a call in June from the guys at Fuzzy in Sydney asking if we like to offer on Justice DJ set.  They were breaking from their recording schedule to fly out to Australian for three dates only but had a break chance NYE was available! It is fair to say a few fist pumps were going down at the office!

After a bit of back and forth, talk of private jets and crazy 30 hour schedules subsided and we decided that the date of 30th Dec would suffice for a New Zealand show at Rhythm and Vines, meaning the duo could rest before the hectic Australian leg in early Jan.

It will not be the LIVE show I saw in London. The new live edition will be rolled out in 2011 along with the new album.  It will no doubt consist of full production, light show, the walls of Marshalls, black leather jackets and whatever other new tricks the Parisian will unleash on the world.

However the DJ set will be just as memorable. It will be both Xavier and Gaspard playing their favorite tracks in true mash-up party form. It will cover the back catalouge, the hottest tracks in the world right now, and even a sneak peak at the sound they will be unleashing on the world next year. Remember this is their first appearance in months and with a new album out next year it is a huge coup!

So there you go - a bit of back story to how we got Justice to visit our shores.

As a side note I finally met up with their agent in person in London this month.  She said that she had never seen the boys jump at an offer like they did for R&V when it came through this year. She said they get dozens of offers every week and turn them down but replied straight away to our email! Pedro must have put in the good word:)

So they are obvioulsy pumped and so am I! Time to do new years Justice!

Justice - Genesis

H

Netsky - Get Lost in this World

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.

Netsky - Lost in this World

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.

Netsky Minimix - aired on Annie Mac's show, BBC Radio 1

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!

Behind the Vines - Netsky interview, Hospitality, Brxiton Academy

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!

Essential Mix - Netsky - 09/10/2010

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.

Pacha - Another bite of the cherry

I had been there once before 2 years ago.  We with 14 friends who shared a villa.  I enjoyed Eric Morrillo's Subliminal Sessions but I found his sound a bit too sexy/funky house.  My head was squarely in the indie/electro dance scene at the time and there was not a Soulwax/Boys Noise or Justice remix to be heard.  Not that I wasn't blown away but, it was more about talking shit with our friends in a far flung VIP booth, than giving much respect for the club and dancefloor.

So as I arrived up to the doors of the big white castle on the outskirts of the Old Town with 80 other friends.  Friends living in London and abroad had gathered on the White Isle to help celebrate Uni friend's Doc and Gibbo's 30th birthday.  We had come from a 70's themed villa party and were charged and ready to go.  It was a chance for people to catch up, and for many the summer holiday of a lifetime.

There is something about the magic of Ibiza that culminates in the plush surrounds of Pacha.  The fittings are ornate, stylish in a Roman or burlesque setting. VIP booths and platforms surround the dancefloor like a Coliseum, all focused on the DJ booth and adjacent stage.

This glamorous setting is coupled with the fact everyone is on holiday and ready to party.  It draws is sunkissed, relaxed and on full on island time. It is that destination vibe similar to what we experience in Gisborne over New Years Eve.  People are there for one reason and one reason only. To party.

The Swedish House Mafia are the bunch of upstarts who are now the most talked about act on the island. Second only to David Guetta's 'F*ck Me I'm Famous', the Monday night is the second biggest night on the island.  Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Engrosso have now cemented themselves as one of the hottest up and coming dance acts in the world. It surely won't be long til they reach stadium like levels.

There Monday night residency was going head-to-head with Tiesto at Privilege, but most of our friends were with were keen to give the Swedes @ Pacha a decent nudge (and it was a short stumble home to our villas in Talamanca).

As we were on the kiwi peso, the group I was with had purchased general admission passes which retailed at E60 each.  However it wasn't long til we were with our London friends who had upgraded to VIP.  Interesting for one of the most talked about clubs in the world, security appeared to be rather slack. Maybe it is a Spanish thing as we eased passed the doorman to join our friends in their VIP table over looking the DJ booth. Here we had full view of the club, bottles of vodka and champagne at the ready.

Axwell got things warmed up.  When Engrosso arrived at the decks the club was in full swing.  And he played for the crowd.  Flanked by two support DJ's they dropped it all Florence, La Roux, Skream, Tinie Tempah, Justice.  Dan, KB and I made our way for the dancefloor under the booth, only to be blown back by the billows of smoke as we entered the crush of sweaty bodies.

The most memorable part of the night had to be at the finale. Lights on the boys dropped One (Your Name) argulably the tune of the summer.  And to cap it off Axwell's mix of Temper Trap's Sweet Disposition - sure to be a club anthem.

As the final confetti rained down and smoke cleared, it was clear it had been a memorable night.  We stumbled out into the awakening dawn and back to the villa in Talamanca.

What happened next is a whole 'nother story...

Tinie Tempah

You know when you have a feeling when the gloves fits. When the stars align.  When it all makes sense.


I experienced the same feeling when I confirmed Tinie Tempah to perform at Rhythm and Vines.

I recall Mark Kelliher from EMI give me a heads up on this young Prince of Gryme earlier in the year. Said he was the next big thing. At this time I thought this was just another one hit wonder in the vein of Lethal Bizzle or Tinchie Stryder. I thought he was just taking what Dizzee Rascal has created and trying to take the sound of the streets to another level.  How right I was.


Listening to his debut single 'Pass Out' I thought his lyrics were a little naff e.g. 'I live a very very very wild lifestyle...' C'mon buddy, you have to be badder and wittier than that!

'Heidi and Audrina eat your heart out'. Sure mate, whatever.

Tinie Tempah - Pass Out


Then he popped up again, as the young upstart bouncing on stage at Glastonbury with Snoop Dog. Is he that important that the Dogg father just stands barking 'yeows' and gives him mad props, while his Royal Grym-ness Dizzee watched ashen-faced from the wings? The crowd knows all the words, people going nuts in the Sommerset sun for this well dressed, cut-to-pieces young street urchin.

Tinie Temper with Snoop Dogg at Glastonbury 2010


So when I got offered him as a replacement act for our R&V lineup the day before we were about to release, I was slightly taken back. Could this be fate?


Not only was he one quarter of the price of the seminal hip hop act I was chasing, his mix of grime meets dubstep meets electro meets r&b had begun to captivate me.  There was something about the dull buzz of the ShyFX-driven bass line, the rat-a-tat of the snare and the simplicity of the lyrics.  I listened to the drum and bass break down picturing 20,000 sweaty festival goers lose their gherkin on the Waiohika hillside.  And when my marketing team couldn't stop telling me to get 'my mother fcken Pass Out' I knew we were onto something.


So I said lets do it, lock him in, get him on the poster for the launch tomorrow night. One last minute addition.

First person to congratulate me was my accountant.  He was over the moon that we had signed what appeared to be a Dizzee Rascal for a fraction of the price.


Post release I heard nothing. No feedback. There he was nestled in the lineup below Chromeo and Boys Noize. Did anyone care?

My fears were soon overcome when I arrived at George FM for an interview with Nick D.  He knows a thing or two about music and excitedly dove into his record box to play 'Pass Out' during our interview. His enthusiasm for the young rapper gave me shivers up the spine.  He had seen Tinie play at Lovebox in London and had torn the place apart.  Real London sound bruva.

When I met his agent on the 22nd floor of the Centerpoint Tower in London last week my gut feeling was once again confirmed. 'There is not many artists that get me excited' he across the table said, 'but Tinie is one of them'.  Not only is he one of the stars of the EMI stable, they have already pencilled in arenas in the UK for 18 months time. The boy is about to blow!


Which brings me to the present.  Still no interest of Tinie on the facebook site, our blogs or our info@ emails.  Does anyone care?

However it all seems to make sense to me.  I'm going so far as to say he will be the most talked about act at the festival this summer.  Given the two best acts at Rhythm and Vines in recent years were urban warriors Santigold and Major Lazer, I think this man will take out the Tom Gibson Medal for best and fairest act. His song with the Swedish House Mafia 'Miami 2 Ibiza' is creeping up the charts and will no doubt hit our shores just in time for December.

Swedish House Mafia vs. Tinie Tempah - Miami to Ibiza

His hiphop/dubstep/dnb/gryme and now house cross over will then take Rhythm and Vines and New Zealand by storm.   Plus give our 20,000 strong facebook army a new hero to request on the blogs for the duration of 2011 no doubt.


So watch this space...and get your mutha faarken Pass Out