Mixmag - INTERVIEWS

Venue Spotlight: Angel Music Bar

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 00:22:00 +0000

One of Naarm’s most regularly soundtracked CBD spots has been renewed rather than replaced. We spoke with its new owners Edd Fisher and Jamie Bennett alongside programmer Naomi Salim to find out why.

Ten years of Finding Figaro

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 05:11:00 +0000

For a decade, Finding Figaro has built itself around one kind of night. Here, its founders talk about the blog that started it, the grant that made it all possible and why Echo Beach still feels like their truest of homes.

"How long is Western Sydney going to be up-and-coming for?" BKR on curating SURPLUS

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 04:23:46 +0000

Ahead of their SURPLUS takeover, Western Sydney collective Beat Kitchen Records talk us through the bill, the Marrickville house parties that started it all, and why Sydney's multicultural sound deserves the same respect as London or New York.

CLOVA: Composing her way into club culture

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 03:13:00 +0000

Writer Laura McInnes speaks to the Aotearoa musician-turned producer about paying homage to music's history in a multitude of ways.

Soul Wun: Finding Greatness In Madness

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 05:39:00 +0000

Will Bentley-Hawkins speaks with the rural skater-turned-producer-come-DJ about throwing yourself at music like it's your last day on earth.

Far from everywhere: Simon Wright’s archive of Boorloo rave design

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 03:45:00 +0000

‘Drawing On The Future’ sees the writer and graphic designer compiling two volumes of Boorloo/Perth’s 90s & early 2000s visual identity.

"A scale where we can see everyone's faces": Rainbow Disco Club on 17 years of staying intimate

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 05:20:00 +0000

Almost two decades in, Rainbow Disco Club visits Gadigal Land to share its wealth of experience, as part of SURPLUS festival.

Inside franck’s biggest Australian run yet

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 05:19:37 +0000

Mixmag ANZ up with the hard bounce pioneer ahead of his all-night takeover at Boorloo/Perth’s The Vault.

homebody’s 'prefrontal cortex': Healing, Heritage and Honesty

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 05:56:00 +0000

The Muloobinba/Newcastle artist’s debut album is a refreshing and real addition to Australia’s electronic music conversation.

Coloursound & the bounds of his 'New World'

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 05:49:00 +0000

Writer Edie Hopgood speaks with the producer fresh off the back of his Animalia released debut.

Dance Therapy Records' 'Kanikani Therapy' & vying for local sustainability

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 04:37:00 +0000

Martyn Pepperell speaks with label head & promoter yourFlatmate about what local enthusiasm can really mean.

Full of Air welcomes its first Meanjin-centric compilation, 'foa001'

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 05:54:00 +0000

4ZZZ’s Full of Air celebrates six years spotlighting queer, non-binary and femme artists with their first-ever Meanjin-centric compilation, 'foa001'.

AGONY is not a genre; it’s a feeling

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 06:14:00 +0000

The Gadigal Land/Sydney-based duo’s debut record arrives after many years in the shop; an expertly crafted journey through the mind & body of a local pop star.

SOVBLKPSSY & Rydeen’s Mutant Manifesto: ‘DONT TELL ANYONE’

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 05:30:00 +0000

The pair dive deep on their second collaborative EP.

'Nether': Marcus Whale makes music to keep himself together

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 06:01:03 +0000

The Gadigal Land/Sydney-based artist releases his latest project almost to the day of his now 10-year-old debut. While plenty has changed, plenty remains the same.

Caru & Brandn Shiraz: Putting Aotearoa’s Underground on Top

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 04:43:00 +0000

Writer Laura McInnes speaks to the winners of Best Electronic Act from the 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards.

Doppel’s ‘Harvest’ is a progressive seed, planted over years

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 01:40:51 +0000

The artist’s first LP in five years shows that there’s still far more to progressive sounds than the main stage lets on.

Club nights & community change: Vinyl Vixens celebrates 10 years

Fri, 22 May 2026 03:19:00 +0000

A Naarm/Melbourne platform designed to uplift FLINTA voices, the collective celebrates its first decade this weekend.

DC returns down under: Dreamcastmoe’s Australian POV

Fri, 15 May 2026 03:09:00 +0000

The Washington DC-based artist shares an outsider’s perspective on a local music scene he’s become inextricably linked to.

TWOFACED: From Dunedin to Dancefloors Across the World

Tue, 05 May 2026 04:06:00 +0000

Writer Laura McInnes explores the student party culture of Aotearoa's South Island hub & its power to propel new music to global recognition.

21 years on, Fat Freddy's Drop enters a new era

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:04:00 +0000

Saxophonist Scott “Chopper Reeds” Towers and drummer Cory Champion speak with writer Farah Azizan and reveal how the band is moving forward.

Fatshaudi on making music that feels deeply

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 01:32:00 +0000

Writer Edie Hopgood speaks with the Meanjin/Brisbane-based artist as she celebrates a year of her debut album, ‘Feel It All Around You’.

Kaishandao 开山刀: Bridging Aotearoa & Asia

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 01:03:00 +0000

Writer Martyn Pepperell speaks with an artist, blogger and promoter with two feet proudly at two opposite ends of the globe.

More Than Management: Hasvat Informant & Jordan Borg

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 04:55:00 +0000

The pair have become one of Australian techno’s most recognisable power duos, working in total tandem to benefit not only their own careers, but the broader scene as a whole.

Dean Turnley breaks down 'Actin' Tough'

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 21:30:00 +0000

This Summer, the Naarm/Melbourne-based producer's track has been about as viral as it gets.

The state of Australian Drum & Bass, According to Luude

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 04:04:00 +0000

Ahead of his first Australian tour in three years, we sat down with Australian DnB’s most modern success story.

A mind behind MESS: Meet Robin Fox

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 22:30:00 +0000

Writer Crissy Collins speaks with the co-founder of Naarm’s Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio, and its unlikely origin story.

Eris Drew & Octo Octa: “Dancing is participatory, not spectacle.”

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 01:55:00 +0000

Ahead of the duo’s appearance at this weekend’s final Summer Dance of the season, we caught up on why making a global culture feel local has never been more important.

Resettling the score: Hear My Eyes is a new lens on classic film

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:26:00 +0000

Naarm/Melbourne's beloved multi-media "hybrid artform" launches again this week with Peter Van Hoesen's take on Terminator 2. Its founder & artistic director shared some words on its journey so far.

trickpony & the art of coming together

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 04:23:00 +0000

The downtempo supergroup made up of Roza Terenzi, Mike Midnight & emkay (aka Maria Korkeila) speak on their latest record, '24/7 Heaven'.

Distance turned to devotion: Traumer returns to Australia

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 04:49:00 +0000

The French selector & producer returns to Australia this weekend, after almost 10 years of annual visits.

Channel Tres: Dance music's reluctant trendsetter

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 04:04:09 +0000

Ahead of his appearance at Beyond The Valley & Wildlands Festivals over Summer, we caught up with the Compton-born performer as he returns to Australia yet again.

Naarm through the eyes of Carl Cox

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 05:09:00 +0000

The Naarm/Melbourne local shares his thoughts & feelings on the city, ahead of his appearance at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl this NYE.

How Australia Helped Shape Chris Stussy’s Career

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 05:59:00 +0000

Ahead of appearances at Beyond The Valley & Wildlands Festival, the Dutch DJ & producer shares what Australia has meant to him over the years.

DITA on protecting culture amid globalisation

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 05:19:00 +0000

Ahead of her appearance at this year's Strawberry Fields festival, we catch up with the Bali-based artist to discuss what global collaboration means on a local level.

Syber is Boorloo's worst kept secret

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 02:36:00 +0000

Ahead of the broadcasting platform & promoter's second birthday, founder Tye Turner goes in-depth on their meteoric rise.

Cut Copy on career defining 'Moments'

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 04:39:00 +0000

Over 20 years into the career, Cut Copy remain a rare anomaly in electronic music, a band that continues to reinvent itself while staying true to what makes it unique.

RONA. rejects the race to space on 'It's All Here'

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 06:23:00 +0000

Kaytetye producer and DJ RONA. shares some words on her emotive, enlightening second EP.

HalfQueen on creating meaningful exchange

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 01:34:00 +0000

The Aotearoa/New Zealand DJ & curator speaks on staying true to a DIY ethos, as she prepares for her appearance at BWS' Cool Room event.

Celebrating 25 years of DJing with Barney Kato

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:46:00 +0000

One of Gadigal Land/Sydney's most iconic DJs shares his some of his biggest learnings as he celebrates his Silver Jubilee.

No Time: Big vision, local focus in Meanjin

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 02:20:00 +0000

No Time, formerly known as No Tomorrow, celebrates its official rebrand this weekend, and continues to challenge the idea that Meanjin/Brisbane isn't the home of larger-scale events.

Andy Rantzen, 25 years of 'Black Smoke'

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 06:40:00 +0000

Rantzen, known for his work across Itch-E & Scratch-E and Pelican Daughters, has influenced Australia’s electronic music throughout its various periods. The reissue of his 2001 track 'Black Smoke' by local label Pure Space is no different.

Pretty Girl breaks down her 'fabric presents'

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 02:39:09 +0000

The Naarm/Melbourne-born turned UK-based producer speaks on her inauguration into the revered fabric family.

Shady Nasty, unlikely dance visionaries

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 01:29:00 +0000

The Gadigal Land/Sydney-based post-punk band shares details on the unlikely collaboration with hyped international acts KETTAMA & Fred again..., 'Air Maxes'.

Art breaks Kerfew at AGNSW's Archie Party

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 05:00:00 +0000

The yearly event, designed as a celebration of music, food & art in tandem with the gallery's Archibald exhibition, has this year tapped South Asian collective Kerfew to host.

The return of Signer: Aotearoa's silent dub techno legend

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 23:11:00 +0000

Twenty-plus years on, the Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington-based composer, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer revisits his golden dub techno moment with Martyn Pepperell.

Checking in: 1tbsp's 'Hotel Living'

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 05:15:01 +0000

Coinciding with the release of his latest EP, Mixmag ANZ sat down with 1tbsp for a moment of reflection about momentum, artistic identity and the industry’s growing demand for authenticity.

Underground takes main stage at The Sydney Opera House's Studio Parties

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 04:23:00 +0000

For over a decade The Opera House's Studio Parties have stood as much a platform for local promoters as they are a rite of passage for them.

A state of stasis in Now Always Fades' 'Into The Doldrums'

Wed, 21 May 2025 05:32:00 +0000

The Naarm/Melbourne-based artist's first project under the new moniker sees him dropping a full-length album with little warning, & the reception has been impossible to ignore.

CRIP RAVE THEORY: Expanding sound & club culture

Tue, 13 May 2025 05:30:00 +0000

Ahead of CRIP RAVE THEORY's return to Gadigal Land/Sydney this weekend, founder Riana Head-Toussaint shared what makes it an event unlike any other.

Sleep D, familiar ground, 'Big Sky, Liquid Sun'

Tue, 06 May 2025 23:30:43 +0000

The Naarm/Melbourne duo, heads of much revered label Butter Sessions, share some words on their latest release.

What Teether & Kuya Neil 'YEARN IV'

Mon, 05 May 2025 05:33:00 +0000

The Naarm/Melbourne & London-based artists chat through the release of their latest record, 'YEARN IV'.

The pressure of pace in a globalised dance industry, with Carla Martinez

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 05:43:00 +0000

The Gadigal Land/Sydney artist opens up about her looming set at The Warehouse Project, and the role that international brands have to play in local scenes.

Nū on finding soul and liberation in live coding

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 05:56:00 +0000

The Ethiopian-Australian sound artist and vocalist is one of the few Australian producers pushing the boundaries of music through code in her new release, ‘TECHNIFRO-185’.

Sugar Glider isn't a radio station, it's a 'community listening project'

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 04:56:00 +0000

Gadigal Land/Sydney's newest platform isn't what people may come to expect from a radio station, and that's a good thing.

Adriana's 'Spasta' series breaks & embraces Greek dance traditions

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 03:47:00 +0000

The party series of much beloved Naarm/Melbourne DJ Adriana is preparing to celebrate its biggest show to date.

Prizefight & Trustee on the changing influence of UK Garage

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 02:08:01 +0000

The Naarm/Melbourne-based producers share their ambitions for their latest collaborative release, 'HARD28'

Marathons, not sprints: is Australia ready for more 24-hour events?

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 06:26:00 +0000

Ahead of Moniker's first foray into a 24 hour event at The Gasometer Hotel this weekend, we spoke with its organiser to understand what truly sets a party of this length apart.

BIG WETT avoids a**holes at all costs

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 05:59:49 +0000

Following the announcement of her sophomore EP ‘RISK IT’, Mixmag ANZ sat down with the self-titled 'pop provocateur'.

Genre is irrelevant on Adrian Asher's 'BLACK PEARL'

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 06:07:12 +0000

Across 23 tracks, the singer, songwriter and producer demonstrates why a genre has never meant less.

The ‘Wettest 100’ is a locally focused alternative to music rankings

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 04:33:00 +0000

Though only in its fourth year, the 'alternative' focused alternative is here to prove why local is best.

"There's magic all over": Badger on touring off the beaten track

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 06:43:31 +0000

The UK artist is down under for the first time, & keen to see as much of it as he can.

On 'Blue Violet', CD inks her name into modern R&B

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 06:16:00 +0000

The Naarm/Melbourne-based singer songwriter has proven that 'dance' is more eclectic than ever before.

On 'Mwah', Purient is awake

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 06:12:43 +0000

The Naarm-based singer songwriter describes how time has brought the project even further into its own life.

Making music "incorrectly": ealing & the antidote to club-fatigue

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 02:24:00 +0000

The Eora/Sydney-based producer shares inspiration & lore behind their brand new EP, 'kisseswhipthevision'.

Music is DJ Cooper Smith's voice & captions

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 08:12:00 +0000

The IDPwD 2024 Australian Ambassador shares his story & his hopes for dance music accessibility.

Glitterbox has found a home away from home down under

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 03:57:00 +0000

One of the world's most famed all-inclusive parties, Glitterbox returns this week across Naarm, Eora & Bali.

Boris Brejcha: "The passion for electronic music in Australia is unmatched"

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 06:11:19 +0000

As one of Germany's biggest ever artists prepares for his return to Australia, he caught up with Mixmag ANZ to share his excitement.

Cassian reflects on Australia from an international perspective as he returns home for a string of shows

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 04:38:00 +0000

The Australian-born international superstar is in town for a string of shows, and what better time to get reflective.

A3 Festival challenges the idea of Australia's "festival crisis"

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 04:46:00 +0000

The festival, started by Naarm-based promoter & touring group Novel, is set to have one of the largest first years of any festival in recent memory.

30 years of 'Sweetness & Light': An Itch-E & Scratch-E story

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 05:32:46 +0000

As one of Australia's most influential dance acts celebrates the 30th birthday of their first album, Paul Mac and Andy Rantzen reflect on how the decades since have left them viewing their work.

Frankey & Sandrino prepare for their first appearance down under

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:08:00 +0000

As the German duo prepare for their set at Return To Rio's 'Night Of The Dead', they shared what their most excited to bring to their Australian debut.

RONA.'s 'Burn It' is a reminder that dance floors are a place for politics

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 04:35:36 +0000

A year on from the failure of Australia's Voice Referendum, RONA. released 'Burn It'. She shared a small piece of how the track came to be, & what it truly means.

"Joy, spirit, connection, resistance, hope and homecoming..." Anna Lunoe & her debut record 'Pearl'

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 04:07:00 +0000

One of Australian dance music's biggest exports shares one of her biggest career milestones.

"KEEF IS WITH US," The Prodigy prepare for their 2025 Australian tour

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 04:36:56 +0000

It's been five since years The Prodigy's last appearance down under, and a lot has happened in that time.

Photographer Spotlight: Ravyna Jassani & light as a character on the dance floor

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 03:37:00 +0000

The Eora-based photographer shares her thoughts on modern music photography.

"It's still a dirty word": Ninajirachi on Australia's EDM aversion

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 22:59:00 +0000

Following the release of ‘girl EDM (disc 1)’, we sat down with one of Australia's biggest EDM exports.

Logic1000 & Vv Pete reflect on their latest collaboration 'heartbeat [rebirth]' in tag team interview

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 14:00:00 +0000

"...it's the theme song for a sexy, confident, reckless (in a good way) woman who is unapologetically herself. (Vv???)"

Designer Spotlight: Soft Edges

Sat, 29 Jun 2024 14:00:00 +0000

In our first designer spotlight, we sit down with Naarm-based designer Soft Edges to hear all about her process & approach to making the audio visual.

Photographer Spotlight: Harry Cole & dance's little moments

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 14:00:00 +0000

"Photographers do walk a fine line between preservation, art and intrusion."