Wobble

DJ Retsa - The Smiling Assassin

Like all good DJ's, Retsa has been sneaking into clubs and raving since he was well under 18. A few years on and finally of legal age he's become one of Melbourne's most exciting young talents. With his unique smooth soulful selection he's stood out from the pack of aspiring young DJ's. So much so that WOBBLE boss DJ Cubist offered him a residency. We caught up with the young DJ Retsa to ask him a few questions.

 

When did you start DJ'ing?

I started dj'ing in high school but I've been listening to Drum and Bass since about 2004.

What got u into DnB?

Well, I was always into hip hop beats and all the old jazz funk and soul and reggae and that. I listened to drum and bass but I didn't hit me it until I heard it in a big system out one night, I couldn't believe everybody getting down and dancing to tunes with all the drum breaks and samples and vibes I was into and I just realised that DnB was the sound I had been looking for.

How's your productions coming along?

I've been working pretty hard lately on trying to get the sound to a level acceptable to play out, but mostly trying to set a good vibe with my tunes and not get too bogged down with all the technical stuff; I feel that will come naturally over time with practice and letting it frustrate me is just pointless. So I hope to be playing more of my own beats in my sets within the next year or so and sussing out what works and what doesn't...

What sounds u into at the moment?

For the last year or so I have been into going to the record stores and buying lots of older second hand tunes, I find drum and bass from every era has a certain sound too it, due to the technology and attitudes of the time etc.. So it's nice to be able to switch up from the latest sounds and take it back a bit to keep things interesting. I've also been getting into a lot of this sample heavy stuff Lenzmann and Mutt have been doing, really digging the stuff Nymfo is putting out on the rougher side of things.. CIA's Deepkut and Advanced are definitely two of my favourite DnB labels at the moment. Then I've really been getting into a lot of Dubstep coming out on labels like HessleAudio and Hotflush, Applepips and even DeepMedi, all those dudes are really pushing the boundaries with their music and I hope to bring the same creativity and playfulness into the Drum and Bass scene!

What do you like about the Melbourne DnB scene?

I like how the majority of the people out at gigs are there for the music, there is such a dedicated and passionate crowd that follow the scene and keep it going and always bring a friendly vibe. It's an exciting time as everyone is getting involved and mixing and producing so I feel it's setting the scene for a creative revolution to break out down here in Melbourne. We don't seem to have established as much of an identity and sound as other larger cities in the world but I think that is about to change..

What don't you like about the Melbourne DnB scene?

There's nothing that comes to mind about the Melbourne DnB scene that I don't like that wouldn't be the same in other scenes. I find some drum and bass nights lack variety, they tend to be too focussed around one 'sub genre' and drone away at the same sound for hours. I'm into all the different sounds in drum and bass but I think it becomes horribly repetitive when you have 5 dj's in a row all playing the same kind of beats!

What advices you got for other young Melbourne DJ's?

Don't be afraid to jump up and play in front of people, whether or not you feel ready it is always going to be a nerve racking experience and you will only improve as you do it more so take any opportunity you can to do your thing in front of a crowd!

Pelican and Rat stranded on a desert Island. Who would survive and why...

Well I think at first the rat with it's ratty instincts would let the pelican gobble it down whole, only to find hours later the rat was eating its way out from the inside. That's just the way a rat works.