“It’s not just about getting up there and DJing,” he says. “It’s actually about creating a vibe and a concept for people to gain an experience – taking them on a cosmic trip to try and transform them and make them ask questions like, ‘What is this? Is it a voodoo priest? Or is it a gangster tech lord?’ It’s about putting on a show more than anything.”
Uone’s trippy energy and unorthodox productions, which encompass everything from ‘60s psychedelia to organic sounds from exotic tribal cultures, have seen him take his unique brand of tech house all the way to Europe. He’ll soon embark on another overseas tour to appear in front of many adoring European punters.
“The reception is excellent,” he says. “I would say I’m more popular over there than anywhere else in the world and I’m quite content. It’s going to be jam-packed. Really looking forward to Glastonbury and going back to Portugal, and even though I’m not playing there, Eastern Europe – the scene is really starting to grow and take off over there.”
Uone has scored a month-long residency at the prestigious Chalet Club in Berlin. He’ll be bringing along a bunch of other local producers, such as Thankyou City and Dreems, to exhibit the uniquely Australian brand of minimal tech house that Germans can’t get enough of.
“Both cities have a very vibrant nightlife, there’s a real synergy between Berlin and Melbourne,” Uone says. “A lot of people feel that and it’s only fair to share and promote the two cities together. There’s so much raw talent here based around techno and deep house music, so we’re happy to be pushing Australian, and particularly, Melbourne artists.”
Reflecting on his performances at Burning Man and Robot Heart, two of the most prestigious festivals in the world, Uone says the experience was equal parts fulfilling and unpredictable.
“Playing Burning Man was quite the challenge – there was a dust storm when I was playing. But it was such a great experience seeing all the LEDs moving with the vibe of the crowd. Just the vibe and the crowd response – it was very wild. You never quite know what you’re going to get at Burning Man until the reality comes and it’s just such a trip.”
Before Uone heads to Europe, he’s saying farewell with a bang, starting with last weekend’s monster set on Kiss FM paying homage to two of his biggest inspirations, Prince and David Bowie.
“They were two of the first to work with really deep electronic sounds from synthesizers and that’s had a profound impact on what sounds my ear digs. I like to use a lot of the same hardware they used and it’s always fun to get into the studio and discover those sounds you might have heard on one of their records, and then use it in my own production.”
Uone’s final send-off will be an ear-thumping six-hour set at the Railway Hotel in Brunswick, centred on his renowned theatrical vibe.
“My team at Vision Hound always like to have a theme or a concept for any event we do. This one will be a jailbreak party so I’ll be in a prison cell in a prisoner outfit DJing for six hours straight. Oh, and anything on the stage will be 3D-mapped. This will be such a good chance to go deep into my music collection and play some different styles of house music. I can’t wait to take everyone dancing on a real journey.”
BY BENJAMIN POTTER
