INTERVIEWS
Distance turned to devotion: Traumer returns to Australia
The French selector & producer returns to Australia this weekend, after almost 10 years of annual visits.
It wasn’t long ago that the idea of touring to Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand was, to many artists, all too difficult.
Eye-watering flight costs, risk of intense jetlag, and comparatively minimal opportunities meant that many artists chose to forego a tour to the Southern Hemisphere. Those that did, however, have in many instances been rewarded with a local cult following that other artists can only hope for.
One of those artists, a long-time regular of Australian shores before dance music was quite as commercially successful, is Traumer.
One of France’s foremost modern musical exports, Traumer has been visiting Australia for almost a decade, beginning shortly after his own music career began. Across many a venue, he’s been witness to the growth of Australia and Aotearoa’s music culture from an outsider perspective, and playing his own part in the blossoming of many of our festivals, brands and venues.
This weekend sees his latest jaunt across the country, beginning with an all-day-long set for S.A.S.H. To mark the occasion, we secured a moment of his time.
Q: Romain, thanks so much for taking the time to chat. You're headed back to Australia this weekend — a place you've regularly visited throughout your career. What excites you about this visit compared with others?
TRAUMER: Pleasure is mine! Thanks for having me.
Yes, it’s become a yearly rendezvous that I truly appreciate and look forward to — even despite the bloody long journey to get here, haha.
More seriously, Australia is an important place for me. I’ve met some very good friends over here. And I have to say there’s a special energy down here — the crowd is real and fully into the music.
To answer your question more directly, I believe what makes it special is that it’s probably a once-a-year visit, so it naturally increases the excitement. But also for all the reasons I mentioned before.
Q: I remember first seeing you at Subsonic in 2018, right as doof stick culture was really starting to take hold. A friend had a “Traumer Clinic” sign and was dressed as a nurse. How do you find Australian crowds compare to the rest of the world?
TRAUMER: Oh my god, it was a friend of yours?
I remember losing it when I first saw that sign — and then again every time I saw him around. What bloody dedication to carry that sign for a full festival!
I think that’s actually a pretty good representation of what I think of Australian crowds — they’re dedicated. And they can be super funny too, for sure.
Q: After all this time, what makes a dance floor truly special to you? Is it as simple as crowd or sound, or something more intangible?
Honestly, it still comes down to very simple aspects:
- The crowd
- The sound system
- The right musical curation around the event
Q: In your time, how have you seen global dance culture change for the better — or worse?
TRAUMER: Naturally, it’s been sad to see phones taking over our dance floors and slowly annihilating what should be the most important thing: dancing and sharing that joy with the people around you.
But I’m an optimist, and I believe this will pass — thanks to some key figures in our industry who are already starting no-phone policies at their parties. I think we’ll slowly go back to better days regarding that matter.
Q: In an increasingly globalised scene, what can we do to ensure it retains its integrity?
TRAUMER: Stay true. Stay yourself.
Not too much to ask, I believe :)
Q: Musically, we’ve seen in recent years a mainstream shift away from EDM and into more tech-house territory. What does that offer — or challenge — a music scene that’s traditionally been more protective?
TRAUMER: I believe the “tech-house” push you’re talking about can be a nice thing in a way.
Again, being optimistic, I see it as an opportunity to defend more underground music through that channel. At least that’s what I’m trying to do.
I have the chance to be invited alongside big names and big shows, where I defend my music while also trying to be smart — blending in without compromising.
Q: Are we in a bubble, do you think?
TRAUMER: We always are — in the bubble of something bigger.
Q: Playing All Day Long is rare in Australia. How will playing all day to an Aussie crowd differ from an extended set in Europe or elsewhere?
TRAUMER: Honestly, I’m not sure it will.
I’ll just follow my instinct — reading and following the crowd as the day goes by.
What I can say for sure is that I’ll use the chance to play daytime tunes — tracks that are definitely made for daylight, which I wouldn’t play during a night shift.
Q: You’ve been coming to Australia since 2016. How would you describe your connection with Australian crowds — particularly S.A.S.H?
TRAUMER: My connection with SASH is quite unique, for sure. They’ve been my supporter and partners during most of my journey down under. I’m truly thankful for that.
Q: How does that connection impact how you approach an All Day Long set?
TRAUMER: It won’t — I give everything I have, everything I can, for any promoter and any crowd.
Q: To what extent is an All Day Long set an opportunity to play music you wouldn’t normally get to play?
TRAUMER: Obviously, the duration and open-to-close format allow me to go through a large panel of textures, rhythms and paces. I can build my own story, take « risks » I won’t necessarily take during a 2h sets.
It is also a nice exercise for me to « take the time » — for those for who know me well, they could easily say I’m a crazy impatient hyperactive ahah.
And as I said before, the daytime context will naturally lead me towards a selection of music that’s more “bright” than if I were playing a basement in cold Berlin at 3am.
Q: Comparisons are often drawn between fine dining — a multi-course meal — and playing an extended set. How does your love of cooking influence your extended sets?
TRAUMER: Haha, that’s a nice comparison.
It doesn’t influence it tho— probably the other way around.
Q: After more than a decade of touring, what still excites you?
TRAUMER: Seeing that full-on dance move, the passionate eyes, and the huge smiles of the dancers looking me in the eyes while I’m playing.
Not from ego — just because making someone happy is such a beautiful thing.
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Tickets to S.A.S.H pres. Traumer (All Day Long) are still available but in limited supply.
