Celebrating UNDR CTRL: An Australian icon turns 10

UNDR CTRL, iconic Eora/Sydney label, party series, booking & touring agency, and ambassador to Australia's ever growing dance community, turns 10 this week.

The brand has been responsible for the rise and platforming of many an iconic local act in its first decade, including Bag Raiders, Cassian, Set Mo and 1tbsp, run its own festival, Output, and toured countless international artists, including Nikki Nair, San Holo, Horse Meat Disco and Toy Tonics.

On a cultural tip, UNDR CTRL has also been responsible for Musica Copa, Eora's music industry football tournament, which has raised close to $200,000 for charity since its inception in 2013.

Clearly there's a lot to celebrate.

A Decade of Dance is UNDR CTRL's biggest birthday party to date, which will see the brand playing host at some of its favourite venues in Eora, Naarm/Melbourne and Meanjin/Brisbane, and featuring over 30 artists.

To do some celebrating of its own, Mixmag ANZ jumped into the DMs of some of UNDR CTRL's alumni, to get a few of their favourite memories from the decade now passed.

From the wholesome to the cheeky, the desire to celebrate UNDR CTRL and all that it's done is clearly one shared across so many corners of Australian dance music.

A couple of years ago I was playing my first Aus/NZ tour and was booked to play a CLUB Ctrl after NZ legend Frank Booker at Club 77 in Sydney. We’re both kiwis and I knew the vibes would be high as I’ve known him for years. I rolled up to the club and was greeted by the best kind of pandemonium - everyone grinning their faces off, hands in the air, not a phone in sight. It was a joy to be handed over to after Mr Booker and play to a crowd who had a sole mission to dance.

When we all went on the harbour banded together on huge lilos, I can’t remember what year (2015?), but that was a fun one

DJing under the UNDR Ctrl sign at Abercrombie with Set Mo, big fun family energy vibes with the team and dancefloor, also my booking agent doubling down also controlling the lighting for a bit that night, possibilities are endless!

Had a super incredible time at the Abercrombie last year, wild scenes in white, so nice to play music with the fam. Can’t wait for the 10th birthday celebrations.

My favourite UNDR Ctrl memory would have to be my B2B set with Luen @ Club 77 in 2022. I played the opening set with her and within about 20 minutes of the club being open, the place was packed, sweaty and ready to go! Everyone was so receptive and the set felt really raw & intimate. Every so often as a DJ you get those special moments, where you feel as though there's just something special in the air, this night was definitely one of those experiences!

Warming up for Justin Martin at CLUB Ctrl! One of my top 5 artists of all time. Impeccable vibes at the Abercrombie, heads down rollers with like minded party people until the sun came up!

Biggest UNDR Ctrl fam memories... Stixxy’s wedding was wild and we all jumped on the decks and because no one had to work we settled in for a wild weekend of Stix. Similarly my second big memory is when Splendour Friday got cancelled and Mary, Stix, Kyle and I hung out in an Airbnb in the hills getting lit. I’m always very behaved at work ;) so these non work / work events are my favourite memories

Its gotta be the 5th Bday, 2019 at Red Rattler or the year before when we were the special guests and got to pop the confetti on stage at midnight then rip into a set. That was an epic night!

My UNDR Ctrl highlight is the last tour that I just wrapped up. As one of the artists on the booking agency, they have been repping me for a minute. I have done a number of tours around the country with a handful of international dates, but the last one was probably the best ever. DJing is the best way to travel, see the world and connect with people in different places. This last tour was special as every show was a big vibe, and I really saw the traction from the hard work I been putting in on my radio show - House Party on triple j.

UNDR Ctrl threw a party for Vivid Sydney at Club 77 which I was able to be a part of. I played b2b with Close Counters for five hours while Passive Kneeling live VJ’d, it was such a memorable night.

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Tickets to all of UNDR CTRL's A Decade Of Dance shows are available via their website. View the full list of shows below & stay tuned to their socials for more information.

UNDR CTRL'S 'A DECADE OF DANCE'

Mon 04 Nov — Revolver, Melbourne (public holiday eve)

Sat 09 Nov — Chinese Laundry, Sydney

Sun 17 Nov — Greenwood Hotel, Sydney

Sat 23 Nov — Felons Barrel Hall, Brisbane

Confirmed Artists [A-Z]:

AROHA [NZ], Bag Raiders, Banquet DJs, baschoe, Chase Zera, Close Counters [DJ], Dena Amy, DJ Macaroni, Eluize, Forge, Frank Booker [NZ], Happiness Is Wealth, Jacqui Cunningham, Julian Munyard, Just A Gent [Live], Kanion, LA LA LA, Late Nite Tuff Guy, Loosie Grind, Luen, MAD.DAY, Mickey Kojak, Motorik!, POOLCLVB, Set Mo, Shantan Wantan Ichiban, The Essential Stix, Tiff Cornish, Total Giovanni [DJ], UC DJs, Yb.

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Jack Colquhoun is Managing Editor for Mixmag ANZ, find him on Instagram.