Catching up with Hot Dub Time Machine


Fresh from finishing the Groovin The Moo tour, Hot Time Dub Machine is hitting Sydney this week for two (one sold out) gigs of non-stop party hits. We caught up with HDTM to find out what you can expect at his show, his fave songs to crank-up and where he likes to have a beer when not behind the decks.


You're well known for bringing out the biggest hits of every decade…what’s your favourite decade to play?

I try not to play favourites! I think the whole point of Hot Dub is that there is no ‘greatest’ decade of music. There is rock music being made now that is just as awesome as the rock of the late 60s, there is hip hop from now just as good 90s classics, and great pop songs are always being written.

The ‘funnest’ decade for me to play live is probably the 90s, because it has such a great mix of grunge, hip hop, rave and pop there are some really fun connections you can create between the songs.

And favourite song?

My favourite song remains 'Hallelujah'… the Jeff Buckley version. To me, it's one of the most perfect pieces of songwriting, recording and performance. But I obviously don't play that at Hot Dub! My favourite song to DJ is ‘Superstition’ by Stevie Wonder, I play it at every gig and will do so until I die!

What about the ultimate party starter tune?

I think starting with classics is a great way to start a party, and the key to Hot Dub's success. 'I Feel Good', by James Brown is a great choice, as is 'Respect' by Aretha Franklin. People of all ages love those songs.

Was there anyone in particular that made you want to make DJing your career?

DJ Shadow was a massive influence on my life for a long time, but I think it was DJing as a part of Fringe Festivals around the world that made me want to make a career out of performing. Watching comedians, musicians and circus performers work so hard and party so hard made me want to be a part of that world. It's work, but it's fun work.

I can't tell a joke, play an instrument or walk a trapeze so I made my DJing into a Fringe show, and now I get to do it for a living!

You’ve sold out loads of gigs, what has been the most memorable?

That's a really tough one! Splendour in the Grass was a massive moment for me - coming all the way from London to be there. I think I ended up paying far more than anyone to attend. My fee didn't come close to covering the flights and production costs, we had 2000 balloons, confetti, LED screens, and it all went of flawlessly in front of about 8,000 people. It was quite a rush and a great moment!

What can people expect for your upcoming show at The Metro and how will it be different from GTM set?

Groovin' the Moo is a 40-minute adrenalin burst of the greatest songs from history. I pack 50 songs into the set and it's stupidly technical and fun to perform. It's an explosion of energy to start your evening at GTM. The Metro gigs will be a full 3 hour time-travelling party, where we have the time to really get into the greatest songs from 1954-2015.

It's an epic adventure, at my favourite venue. I'm doing three shows there this year and two are almost sold-out already. A whole bunch of family, friends and long time ‘hot dubbers’ will be there and I can't wait.

Just a tad bigger than GTM, but what was it like headlining the 100,000 strong Hogmanay NYE Festival?

Cold!!! Hogmanay is Edinburgh's New Years Eve Festival, so it's not warm, but the people there really cut loose. My stage got over-run by people trying to get close to it from other parts of the city, so I had to do heaps of crowd control because crushing issues in a crowd that big is serious business. Having someone get hurt at one of my gigs is my worst nightmare. But it went really well.

I played for four hours, from 9.00pm to 1.00am, New Year’s is such a perfect gig for Hot Dub Time Machine, as we build up to midnight by hearing all the music that came before it, then have a wild, one-hour rave! Scotland rocks. Go visit!

For peeps that haven’t been to a Hot Dub gig before, what the one thing they can expect?

To dance! Hot Dub is all about dancing, singing and enjoying great music. You know how at most parties, the people down the front are dancing, and there's a bunch of people standing against the walls? Well at Hot Dub, everyone dances. And that's not because of weird peer pressure or me making you feel uncomfortable… people dance because the music is great, the crowd is friendly and beautiful, and it's bloody good fun.

When you aren’t killing it on the decks, what are your favourite things to do when in Sydney?

Food: My wife and I are big fans of Una's in Darlinghurst. She gets the chicken 'Gypsy' schnitzel and I get the pork knuckle. We go there for every anniversary,- it's our fifth wedding anniversary on Friday, so we'll be there! And we'll have a cocktail at Eau De Vie before and after because it's ridiculously good.

Drink: I'm an inner-westie so I love a good pub. I really enjoy the Courthouse in Newtown for a Schooner of Young Henrys.

Party: Hot Dub Time Machine of course!!! On the rare occasions I'm not doing a gig, I love seeing my friends perform. That generally means heading to Giant Dwarf and seeing great local comics like Steen Raskopolous and Carlo Ritchie, or heading out to the Enmore, Metro or Factory Theatres. If we can get a baby sitter....

Fitness: Health and DJing don't go together very well. So when I'm home, I try to atone for the punishment I've given my body over the weekend at Camperdown Fitness, or riding my bikes around Canada Bay.


HOT DUB TIME MACHINE 2015 SYDNEY DATES:
Thu 14 May | Metro Theatre
Fri 15 May | Metro Theatre - SOLD OUT
Sat 16 May | Metro Theatre - JUST ADDED

Info and tickets from www.hotdubtimemachine.com