 Have a read of what may just be the last ever interview of the 2 members of Bipolar, NV and Dash, before NV says adieu and leaves the partnership with Dash continuing the legacy on ...
What's your non-djing name?
Nv – Brad
Dash – Jathan
How did you come up with your djing name?
Nv – Back in the good old days of high school drinking, I rather out did myself and spent the night feeling extremely nauseous and couldn’t move myself from the cold driveway because each time I tried to stand, I was overcome with vertigo and would fall straight back over. Hence, the name Nv (Nautious Vertigo). The spelling is just my illiterate touch.
Dash – long story. Plus I can run fast.
Do you have a day job and if so, what do you do?
Nv – Yes, I work at Sanitarium Health Food Company. I am 2IC and senior workplace trainer for my department.
Dash – I work for the QLD Government (no, I’m not on the dole!).
Where did you grow up?
Nv – New South Wales primarily, in a place just south of Newcastle. I also spent 2 years living and going to school in Washington State in The United States of America.
Dash – All over the place: Sydney, Newcastle, Cairns, Adelaide and then Newcastle again.
Do you play any other musical instruments?
Nv – No not anymore. I did spend 4 or so years studying piano and the trumpet when I was in primary school
Dash – As above actually, just not for four years. My trumpet playing lasted about a fortnight, the piano stopped at about grade one. I can still play a hymn that I learnt though from memory, it just stuck in my head.
Do you think this has influenced your music in any way?
Nv – I would have to say yes. It gave me a deeper understanding of how music works and is orchestrated.
Dash – No, not really.
What made you want to be a dj?
Nv – Dash started me on collecting music when I returned from America. I spent a great deal of my time and money doing so and developed a passion for a diverse range of music genres. Years later I helped a friend open up an under 18s night club in Newcastle. I worked with the lights there and watched on as Djs did there thing. I thought I would like to do that and it wasn’t long until I got my first set. Hip hop and commercial techno. Got to start somewhere right?! Haha!
Dash – I collected a lot of music as well, and at parties I wanted to hear the sorts of music I liked instead of mundane rap and pop music. Turns out there were a lot of others who thought the tunes I were playing were a lot more fun to listen to, and it kind of went from there.
Are those things still important to you or do you have a new perspective on the industry now that you have been in it for a while?
Nv – I am still passionate about music and spend too much time really listening, playing and collecting.
Dash – Absolutely, I still don’t like listening to mundane rap or pop music at parties, hahahah!
Did you have any goals when you entered the business, and if so, do you believe you have achieved any of those initial goals?
Nv – I had always had dreams of playing main stage in the Acer Arena, still working on that one. I really wanted to travel and play at different clubs and parties around Australia and meet Djs and producers from around the world. There are always parties I will want to be booked at, so there is always something to strive for.
Dash – Definitely, we’ve achieved a fair bit. We started thinking small and have gradually added new goals with each step that we have completed. We are thinking a lot bigger now and we keep aiming higher.
Who are/were the biggest influences on your djing?
Nv – The Sydney Dj’s have always been the ones I have tried to learn from. Let’s face it, there are many world class Dj’s in Sydney. My biggest influences have been the Weaver and Suae I have always enjoyed their UK hardcore sets and I have based my style around theirs. I can remember I learnt so much one night when I was watching Jumping Jack at Family in Brisbane one night. His mixing technique was flawless! My other top influence would have to be Matrix. That man can rock any crowd!
Dash – A guy named Klinton got me into music that wasn’t being played on the radio, specifically what is now termed ‘old school’ happy hard and hardcore. His cd collection of hardcore is second to none. However, it was a guy named Pete Hall from Newcastle who got me behind the turntables and put up with hour after hour of train wrecks until I started getting it right. Pete didn’t’ really like much over 140bpm, so my hardcore sets must have really tested his patience, sorry Pete! From there the list is way too many to count, I have a diverse set of tastes.
What was your first gig and how did you feel the first time you stood behind the decks and saw the audience dance to your music?
Nv – I had played a few smaller gigs back to back with other Dj’s, and often not my first choice of music. But the first major gig we headlined as Bipolar was for Mayhem EMF 2004 with some other Sydney Djs and the legend Dyewitness. We had the main room closing set, so we had all night to check out the room, the audio setup, equipment setup and stage. It was great to finally stand up there and own the room for an hour. The sensations were indescribable so I won’t even try, haha. (Dash: Dare you to try!). NV - It was a sense of achievement, exhilaration, hype and a HUGE rush!!
Dash – I’ve been playing a bit longer than NV, but Mayhem EMF in Brissie 2004 was the first headlining gig. There was a brief moment of absolute terror stepping up onto the stage and seeing a couple of thousand people looking up expectantly, however the hours of practice paid off as the set went extremely well and the nerves vanished by the second track.
My first ‘first’ gig was aged 14 at a party out the back of Newcastle. The person running the party had hired a band to come out and play, and part of their contract was that at least 100 people must have been confirmed to come to the party, and that they were going to have those people watching them. A few hours prior to them coming on I had been shown some dodgy little denon cd players in this side room, and given a 30 second introduction into how to use a mixer, as the person who was supposed to be dj’ing was more interested in chasing girls in short skirts. I spent a couple of hours playing a range of stuff, mostly Ultra-sonic, Dyewitness, Scooter and Sequential One. When the band came on, I was told to cut the music and go outside. So, like the rest of the people there I went outside and watched this metal band play, however within minutes a stack of people were coming up and asking me to start playing again. Without hesitation I agreed to start playing again and by my second track I looked out the window and saw there were only two people listening to the metal band, meanwhile I had the room packed to the rafters. From that moment I was pretty much hooked.
Was it what you expected?
Nv – And how!
Dash – Better!
Have you seen the scene change much over the time you have been involved in it, both as a raver yourself and as a dj?
Nv – The scene is always changing. Waves of age groups come through the scene and they bring a different trend with them. Each group of party goers will have a different opinion about the scene. The music being created is always changing, getting better and more unique sounds emerging. I still see some ravers who were raving when I was at parties. Some of them are now Dj’s, Mc’s and a few even producers. Some have changed their music tastes, others haven’t. Through my eyes, the scene has lost its atmosphere, but that maybe because of my age.
Dash – Like NV has said, it is constantly changing, and in my opinion not necessarily for better or worse, just different. The important thing is that I, and NV, still love it and aren’t planning on leaving for a hell of a long time.
If you had the power to do so, is there anything you would change about raves and clubs as they are at the moment?
Nv – Oh what a question!! For a more in depth answer, you would have to speak to me face to face haha! I would want the promoters to try cooperating a bit more on party dates, and to not try undercutting each other because the scene does suffer and they loose money ultimately. I would remove a few Dj’s that hold others back from breaking into the scene and getting bookings. I’d also want bigger productions, no noise laws for large events and turf all the trouble makers out for good!
Dash – A lot more people to be a bit more open minded would be a good start for me.
What do you feel have been your biggest achievements over the time you have been djing?
Nv – It would have to be our 2005 tour with Endymion, Evil Activties, Predator and UFO in QLD, NSW and SA.
Dash – Getting to play the tunes that I write at parties and having them go off.
What style of music do you enjoy djing to and why?
Nv – I love playing anything hardcore. Whether is be UK hardcore or some tougher Dutch style ‘gabba.’ I do play hardstyle and hard trance, but I feel that the crowd goes off way more to a higher bpm.
Dash – I feel in any genre there is always going to be good and bad music, and in that sense I love dj’ing virtually any style of music as long as its good, and I have a crowd that’s receptive to the style I am playing on the night.
How would you describe your style?
Nv – Energetic is the best I can explain it at the moment. I like to create an emotional experience with my sets, by using each style of track to emphasize the next. For example making the crowd amped and dance hard to the music and in another track, just stand still and enjoy the sound, atmosphere and the moment.
Dash – Unique.
What makes you an exceptional dj?
Nv – I would have to say that I am known for the uniqueness of my sets. My ability to keep sets original and memorable. That and the acclaimed Bipolar stage antics!
Dash – We try to keep moving on stage and run around a lot, a few mc’s always helps. It gets pretty boring when you have a single guy/girl standing behind the decks and not moving at all. We aren’t afraid to dress up (or down as the case may be…). We are constantly working on ideas to keep things interesting, and we have plenty more things planned!
What other genres of music do you listen to?
Nv – I enjoy listening to house music and trance. I also like some old skool hip hop and rap.
Dash – Kind of said this before, but for those with short term memory lapses, I listen to virtually anything as long as its good. I find it hard to find good music in that genre they call country music though…
Do you think these other styles of music have had any influence on your music and if so, what kind of influence do you think they have had?
Nv – House and trance is what caught my attention and made me see the light of dance music. It was only a matter of time before I discovered hardcore. I do find that when I am playing Dutch hardcore, I like playing tracks that have rap samples, so I guess I am influenced by rap to some degree.
Dash – They definitely have a big influence, keeps my tastes open to new things.
Who is an artist you admire that your audience wouldn't expect?
Nv – It will have to be two! Dj Bounce and Fakkah. I highly rate both of these guys tracks and remixes. I have yet to hear anyone play Fakkah tracks in Australia, even the internationals. Both these names will be on more and more CD compilations very soon.
Dash – I think people who know me understand that I admire a lot of people whom I consider to be talented. But some artists who come to mind that most wouldn’t expect are people like Tom Jones (the man kicks ass, I have a few albums of his on wax [!]), some of the old school rappers like Kool Keith and NWA, and CCR (Creedence Clearwater Revival) got some serious time in my cd player.
What do you see in your future in this business?
Nv – Definitely Bipolar on many more flyers. But promoted more as established hardcore producers, and on that note, seeing the Bipolar name on flyers in a strong Newcastle scene (fingers crossed for Newcastle)
Dash – I’d like to see Newcastle get a lot stronger also, to see Bipolar continue to stand very strong in Brisbane, grow a bit more in Sydney, then form an Aussie alliance with boys like Weaver, Suae, C.O.A and take over the world.
What's the strangest thing that has happened to you at one of your gigs?
Nv – I will firstly say it was more amazing then strange. But we had a guy come up to us in a peak time main room set at Advent*jah in Brisbane 2004. He mumbled something nervously to one of the promoters who then grabbed the microphone and ordered us to stop the music in the middle of a track as we were nearing the end of our set. The entire room was packed to the rafters and this guy jumps up on stage infront of everyone and asks his girlfriend to marry him. She of course said yes!! And for the record, we still see them at every Brisbane party, and yes, they remain happily married!
Dash – Having a guy who I later found out to be an undercover cop tell me to turn the music up instead of down. I’m still scratching my head over that one.
Do you have a favourite album or piece of music that you listen to for inspiration?
Nv - None for inspiration, but I used to listen to the Alice Deejay album as bed time music. Probably still would except a mate “borrowed” it.
Dash – NV I hope you aren’t referred to me as the mate who borrowed it, I have my own copy. I’ve spent years trying to think of a fave album, but I couldn’t narrow it down to one. Mental Theo live in Rotterdam probably still stands as the cd I have listened to the most times. As far as inspiration goes I get it from all over the place, and not just from music cds; amongst other things, movie soundtracks are fantastic sources of inspiration.
Do you have any advice for someone wanting to enter the industry?
Nv – You can never spend too much time doing promotional work. Get loads of demo cds out and go and meet people, promoters especially. If they are still unwilling to book you, promote your own parties to get your name out.
Dash – practise hard and don’t give up. And remember that an hour in front of an audience is worth about twenty in the bedroom, so try and get out in front of people.
Do you have any parting words for your audience?
www.myspace.com/bipolarplanet has some tunes we produce with our friends, we had some ones up there with S3rl recently, and at the time of writing we have a couple of tunes that were written with Jody 6. They kick ass!
http://mixes.djfez.com/nv has some mixes that we’ve done over the years, best get downloading people!
Posted by: kittyhawk, 5 Nov 07, 23:17
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