EPISODE 10.

This week i’m bringing in a pioneer of one of the countries most successful independent DJ live streaming Facebook communities, Adrian, a.k.a A Shuffle. A prominent name in Sydney’s music industry with a consistently booked out calendar, A-Shuffle has had a quick rise into the club scene and a lasting impact on his many followers. His unparalleled mixing skills and ability to engage a crowd, paired with his infectious energy and genuine love for music makes every A-Shuffle set one hell of a party!

With residencies in some of Sydney’s biggest nightclubs such as The Ivy, The Scary Canary, Cargo Bar, Rock Lily, Crows Nest Hotel and El Topo Basement, just to name a few, wherever A-Shuffle goes, a dance floor fills. Expect to hear his trademark blend of electronic dance music, commercial licks, Hip Hop and RnB anthems and nostalgic throwbacks in a set that is both fresh and distinctly his own. 2020 has seen him step up and make his mark in the charts with his first official release landing in Australia’s Aria Club Chart and staying strong in a top 20 position for over four consecutive weeks. With multiple releases lined up for 2020 and bigger stages on the horizon, A-Shuffle is a name that you won’t soon forget and his guest mix is not one to be missed. 

Check out the interview below and tune in Monday at 6pm.

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Q. Where did things start for you as A-Shuffle and what do you hope to achieve?

A. A-Shuffle realistically started as a 7 year old boy performing on the trumpet! Music has always been a massive part of my life, but it probably wasn’t until after high school that I fell in love with electronic music. I started DJing as a hobby and also took up music production at uni, and only in the last 12 months has it become my full time hustle. I can definitely look back at the past 20 years and say it’s all played a part in what A-Shuffle is today, and I’ve got every intention in pushing as high as I can go into the future.

Q. What single night out has been the most memorable for you? As a DJ and as an attendee?

A. There have been too many memorable nights as a DJ but I can say my two favourite moments would have to be dropping my own material to a capacity Ivy main-room and seeing everybody loving it, and the other would be my first headline at one of my favourite clubs, The Scary Canary. As an attendee, I can’t look past the good old days of Future Music Festival and the lineup they used to bring out here.

Q. Do you have any tips for DJ’s that are in isolation?

A. To be completely honest, my advice is to take time to focus on self-care. Being a DJ means you’re constantly in the limelight, and the pressure is on to bang out a perfect set every night. You now get to have a choice in isolation. If you want to mix, or you want to stream, go for it! If you want to use this time to produce some new music, do it! But if you’re feeling run down and feel you need a break, then this is the time to relax and reset. Everybody’s journey is different.

Q. What would you rather have on a farm, 100 duck sized horses or one-horse sized duck?

A. Definitely one horse-sized duck. I would call him Quackie Chan. I would ride him to all my gigs and he would save me loads on petrol.

Q. What do you try to communicate to the audience when you play in a club or stream?

A. Energy. Plain and simple. If you can’t vibe to the music you’re playing, why would the audience? It’s very easy to spot a bored DJ.

Q. What is your favourite non electronic music song and why?

A. This one is so far left field but i’d have to say Tennessee by Hans Zimmer. Fun fact: I have my Bachelors Degree in Music Composition; Majoring in Film Music and it’s my favourite type of music to listen to when I’m not gigging.

Q. Which dial/button do you think you use the most when playing live?

A. I’d like to say all of them, but I have been told I am quite the CUE button masher after a few beers…

Q. Imagine you’re in the crowd watching yourself play, you hold a phone up to yourself, what does the phone say?

A. “Play The Horses” or “Do a shoey”.

Q. What is the one thing that you love the most about the industry?

A. The variety of people in the industry. I have made some amazing friends who are all so supportive of each other’s goals, regardless of how similar or different they are to their own.

Q. You run a new Facebook page called “The Quaranstream which features DJ live streams from all over Aus, what is one mistake you see a lot of DJ’s making online? And what advice would you give them?

A. I’ve seen my fair share of questionable live streams during this isolation. My advice to DJs wanting to live stream is take your time and make an effort with your surroundings. It’s amazing how much more aesthetically pleasing it is to watch someone who is facing the camera directly in front of a clean wall or a thought out background. No one wants to see your dirty dishes from last night or the cat tear apart the side of your couch. You can definitely notice a big difference in engagement between a well prepared stream and a mediocre one. Another must… DIRECT AUDIO!

Q. Do you have any post gig food rituals?

A. Anything from Fat Noodle at The Star, Sydney is always a vibe at 4am. Korean BBQ is also a winner when I’ve got the crew with me.

Q. How do you see the scene after this whole Covid-19 shit goes away?

A. I am hopeful it’s going to boom! The timing definitely hasn’t been ideal as Sydney was just starting to have its lock out laws relaxed, and then bang… Covid. A small silver lining in all of this is that people are starting to recognise just how valuable the music and entertainment industry is, especially while in isolation. I know everyone is itching to go out again and i’m pretty confident we are going to see the clubs packed out like the old days!