DJ and Sweat It Out label head Adrian Thomas was known by most people as just Ajax. Ajax died last Thursday after being struck by a truck on College Crescent – not far from where he lived in Carlton. A week before that, on Thursday February 21, I had seen him at Liberty Social. He was his normal affable self, discussing what was coming up for him and that he was keen to come on Watt’s On via Beat TV.
It was a previous Beat TV interview with Ajax back in 2010 that our friendship had begun. It was not long after his label Sweat It Out had announced that Yolanda Be Cool and D-Cup had not been given clearance for the sample used in We Don’t Speak Americano. Despite the fact an act on his label had just missed out on millions of dollars, Ajax was philosophical about it and most importantly had a laugh – somewhat sardonically – but laughed all the same.
The second time I interviewed Adrian was in mid 2011 for the online TV show Poncho. It was a very enjoyable 30 minute chat where he expressed to me his excitement for Sweat It Out signing Parachute Youth – an act that from there went on to become one of 2012’s most successful dance acts with their song Can’t Get Better Than This. As a music fan, my most enjoyable work of Ajax was his contribution to 2008’s D Is For Disco, E Is For Dancing. His disc typified for me everything that a good DJ can do: entertain, educate and make you want to dance.
Adrian, you were a visionary and the best local club DJ I have seen but most importantly you were an approachable guy who would have a conversation with anyone whether it be a fan, a music journalist or another DJ. My heart hurts when I see the plethora of Facebook posts paying tribute to your memory, it hurts because it remind me that I will never get to talk to you or see you DJ again. May you rest in peace.
BY DAN WATT
