“Where are the radicals?” asks OM UNIT. Having spend years carving out his own particular brand of electronic music, through avenues of hip-hop, turntablisim, drum n’ bass, mysterious remixes and his own label Cosmic Bridge – only to then throw out his own rule book, Jim Coles’s call-to-arms to the countless producers and musicians that have followed in his footsteps echoes through his interview in SOUNDCHECK. Set to his thundering set with his trademark growling bass-lines at Melbourne’s The Forum and Howler, OM UNIT gets personal with The Operatives.

“Forward, forward, forward,” says Steve Spacek of the ethos AFRICA HITECH his collaborative project with Mark Pritchard. Backstage at the Espionage presented closing party of 2013’s Melbourne Music Week the duo talk about the affect of the Australian sunshine on their sound, the strangeness of touring and looking back at their musical work from their illustrious careers.

The Operatives are a collective of multi-talented musicians and curators of the clandestine Espionage gigs. Responsible for presenting tours of ground-breaking international talent and emerging artists, the Soundcheck series offers a rare glimpse underground and backstage with AFRICA HITECH.

At his SOUNDCHECK, Paul Salva is testing the sound system with an electronic cigarette in hand, a backpack full of equipment and wearing a singular earring, he looks completely at ease behind the decks – they are after all – his home from home. Between touring constantly, headlining clubs, playing festivals worldwide and moving to Los Angeles, SALVA’s sound has evolved from ‘Complex Housing’, his captivating and melodic debut release. Using the multitude of music he’s hunted across the United States as inspiration ­- from Chicago house, to Miami drum n’ bass, to San Fran’s hip-hop inclinations – SALVA says, laughingly, his music is made for the ‘dance-floor, but still super weird’. While his and RL GRIME’s remix of KAYNE’s ‘Mercy’ has quickly shot him into the spotlight, he has been a discerning music lover since ‘coming up as a scratch DJ’ in his teens, founding his own label Frite Nite and has plenty to say on the subject of becoming ‘Soundcloud famous’, working alongside the WEDIDIT and Friends of Friends crews and what might be around the corner for electronic music.

Touring and interviewing revolutionary electronic musicians across Australia, The Operatives take you underground and backstage with SALVA.

The Operatives are proud to present a new video series, which takes an intimate look at some of the world’s finest electronic producers as they tour Australia. Combining in-depth interviews and footage of the gigs, the exclusive clips offer a backstage pass into a musician’s world, full of sound, worldwide tours and that quality that drives them to make music in the first place.
“I never really planned this music career, I thought it was impossible…” says Parisian producer, Arnaud Bernard at his Soundcheck. With his unique take on hip-hop, which first ignited his interest in music as a record-collecting ten-year-old, and his ear for unusual samples, Onra has become one of the world’s most sought-after producers. Now signed to Fools Gold Records and after six studio albums, including the game-changing ‘Chinoiseries’ which was crafted from samples of Chinese and Vietnamese records he had discovered whilst travelling, Onra talks Marvin Gaye, playing Budapest, combined with footage from his sell-out second time in Australia.

Video by: michaeldanischewski.com
Interview by: rebeccaflorence.org

The Operatives are proud to present a new video series, which takes an intimate look at some of the world’s finest electronic producers as they tour Australia. Combining in-depth interviews and footage of the gigs, the exclusive clips offer a backstage pass into a musician’s world, full of sound, worldwide tours and that quality that drives them to make music in the first place.

“Maybe in the nursing home all the other grandmas will be knitting and I’ll still be making beats,” says Jennifer Lee, better known by her rabbit-themed alias TOKiMONSTA. Since being the first female signed to Brainfeeder, Tokimonsta has established herself as not only a ‘girl DJ’ but also one of the most talented and diverse producers on the scene today. Backstage at SOUNDCHECK before the Melbourne gig of her Australian tour with The Operatives, she gets personal about starting out her career after loosing her day-job, working with Kool Keith and what her mother really thinks about her music, all set to her incredible live performance at the show.

Video by: michaeldanischewski.com
Interview by: rebeccaflorence.org

Photo by Renee Stamatis

The Operatives are proud to present a new video series, which takes an intimate look at some of the world’s finest electronic producers as they tour Australia. Combining in-depth interviews and footage of the gigs, the exclusive clips offer a backstage pass into a musician’s world, full of sound, worldwide tours and that quality that drives them to make music in the first place.

“Now you’re seeing these crazy hybrids of music and nobody knows what to call it, which is great. It’s like throwing out the blue prints,” says Sepalcure, the project of Travis Stewart, better known by his ‘Machinedrum‘ alias, and Praveen Sharma, who produces under ‘Brallie’ and ‘Praveen’. While both artists have been on the electronic music scene for over ten years their collaboration is based around their shared love for bass and 90’s house music that has seen them create some of the most forward thinking dance music that is equally at home at a late night rave or on headphones. In their debut Australian tour together at The Operatives gig, the interview at their SOUNDCHECK offers a playful side of the producers, their take on their ever-evolving scene and why it’s more fun on stage with two.
Video by: Michael Danischewski
Interview by: rebeccaflorence.org

The Operatives are proud to present a new video series, which takes an intimate look at some of the world’s finest electronic producers as they tour Australia. Combining in-depth interviews and footage of the gigs, the exclusive clips offer a backstage pass into a musician’s world, full of sound, worldwide tours and that quality that drives them to make music in the first place.

First up is LAPALUX, the only British artist signed to Flying Lotus’ label Brainfeeder. “With music, you’re so free. I’ve never really stuck to one particular genre, I like to experiment, and there is always to be inspired by,” says 25-year-old producer, Stuart Howard. His debut album ‘Nostalchic’ was critically applauded for his delicately arranged tracks where layers of sound, field recordings and melodic vocals meet. SOUNDCHECK offers a never-before-seen side of the producer, from his parent’s influence on his music, to his impression of Russian fans dancing to his latest track, all set to his own live performance.

Espionage Feat.

Hudson Mohawke
The Gaslamp Killer
Rustie
Roska
Om Unit
Strangeloop
Harmonic 313
Doc Daneeka
XXXY
Ghost Mutt
Contakt
Fugitive
Lady Banton
Able
Edd Fisher
Silent Jay
Nam
Sean Deans
Cosmo
Dust
Fiend
Amin Payne

Espionage feat Jonwayne, Mono/Poly, JPS, Nam, Fugitive, Remi, Silent Jay, Lady Banton, Mamacita Bonnita Fri Aug 10th 2012 shot and edited by www.michaeldanischewski.tumblr.com