So you may have noticed we have gone a little disco friendly and for good reason. That fantastic laidback sound is storming the world with big names like Fred Falke, Alan Braxe and even Australian Miami Horror doing his thing.
There are though a number of youngsters who will be the next step in it all, Shazam, Andy Webb, U Go B plus countless more.
Shazam is not only playing this Friday at NEVERMIND on Oxford Street for the new HUGZ night (caplocks for emphasis haha) but he was nice enough to a little Q and A with Stoney Roads and gave us a little insight into his 19 year old life.
Ubbs – Shazam, we tear open a brand new pack of cards and on the top is a holographic, collectors edition, MVP player of the year card. What pose are you striking and what are your deets? Name, age, hometown, height, single/taken (for the ladies), just the usual
Shazam – My pose would most likely be face down on a bed, I like to sleep a lot. My name is Cam/Cameron. Some people call me Shazameron, but I don’t really like. I turned 19 in February which is a bit depressing, I feel so old. I want to be young and free again (makes me an old guy at 22 – Ubbs)
I was born in Perth and have lived here all my life. Lots of people from Perth are always so negative about their city, yes it has its flaws, but personally I really like it. The air is so fresh, the people are friendly and it is quite laidback. I’m about 182cm tall, which is 6 foot I think – which is quite tall. And I am very happily taken : )
Ubbs – Seems like it has been a bit of a whirlwind from the ordinary to extraordinary, did you slog it out like most wannabe dj’s or found yourself in the right place at the right time?
Shazam – I actually think it is myspace that I should be thanking. I have been making music since I was very young, but it wasn’t until I started putting up tracks on myspace that some interest generated. Some people blame the internet for destroying music, but for me it has been the opposite, maybe it’s something about being part of generation Y.
Also I have all the blogs to thank, I don’t think I would be where I am now if it wasn’t for them (you).
Ubbs – Having not grown up in a major city like Sydney and over in Perth do you think you missed out on anything, some special upbringing or has this privileged you to a different environment to do and create such amazing tunes?
Shazam – Maybe I have missed out on something, I guess I will never know. However I think it has benefited me starting up in Perth, because no one else seemed to be making the music I was so I think my stuff stood out.
If I was in Sydney or Melbourne I would have just been another hopeful, and it may have been much harder to get known. I’m fairly ignorant though, there might have been some massive Perth scene with music very similar to mine that I was totally unaware of.
Ubbs – A lot of dj’s and producers will see that their lifestyles become symmetrical with the types of music they play, be it the people around them, the scene they are in or the music they listen to and it’s always interesting to hear if this new generation still stylises in the same way or really steps away, what are your thoughts?
Shazam – I was making and listening to dance music long before I ever set foot in a club, so when I was younger I never even thought of a scene or lifestyle being associated with it. So I guess this made me appreciate the music for what it is.
Today, I think it is good to keep a broad mind, and not to lock yourself into a just one style of music or one scene. That way you can draw influences from a wide range of sources, and the scene always has something new.
Ubbs – You recently released the Pool Party EP with a few originals and a couple remixes from the likes of Rogerseventytwo, Headman and Hey Today, if there was a project or collaboration you were interested in seeing come to life in the next say 12 months who would be thrown in the mix?
Shazam – I’d really like to work with Breakbot one day, I think that our sounds would work nicely together. I had the pleasure of supporting him the other night, he is a very inspiring producer!
Ubbs - Knowing that not everyone can listen to the same genre day in and day out what else gets high rotation on your playlists?
Shazam – My favourite artist at the moment is Bullion. His music is very unique and makes me feel so good. I also bought the complete works of Enrico Caruso on CD the other day, that has being getting a lot of play.
Ubbs – My favorite question, if you could spoon any artists/dj/producers alive (or dead) who would it be? Or if you can’t pin just one down we’re cool with hearing who’s involved in the ménage et trios
Shazam – I can say with confidence that it would be Patrice Rushen, she has crazy keytar skills.
So there we go, old at 19, wants to mix and match with Breakbot and crushes on Patrice Rushen and a few tracks to give you both an idea of what Shazam does and will be doing in the very near spacey future.
Empire of the Sun – We are the People (Shazam Remix)
Munk – Down in LA (Shazam Remix)
Shazam – Pool Party 2008
Son of Vader sent through something he made a whileee ago but only spilled it today to the public, its a remix of Little Jinder and her track ‘Polyhedron’. Follows along the lines of his freakily good remix of Lilly Allen’s track ‘The Fear’ here.
Real winding beat that opens up to a smooth close kick bass, purrrfect vocals as well.
Little Jinder – Polyhedron (Son of Vader Remix)
Bonus > Duran Duran – Skin Dive (Steve Aoki Remix)
Ubbs
