THE CONSUMMATE EXEMPLAR OF A CHILLED SUNDAY SESSION.

Seasoned Brisbane selector Adam Swain digs deep into his collection to provide the perfect soundtrack for a sunny Sunday afternoon, featuring gorgeous downbeat and electronica spanning 1995 - present day. Recorded in one take on both vinyl and digital using turntables, CDJs and a rotary mixer.
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Can you tell us a bit about your journey into electronic music and DJing? When did you first discover electronic music? My roots, passion and obsession with DJing and electronic music was sparked through hip-hop and rap, the golden era to be precise.  I started DJing in the form of Turntablism around the early '90s during my teenage years, when music was organically evolving and new genres were emerging. I was immersed in the culture and always digging for records.

A significant transition on my journey was into electronica in 1996, when DJ Shadow dropped his debut LP 'Endtroducing' on Mo' Wax Records. One label lead to another and I arrived at the robust library of Ninja Tune and Mr Scruff's 'Keep It Unreal' LP.  I was then further exposed to the magnificent sounds of Thievery Corporation, Kid Loco, DJ Cam, Air, Tosca, Moby, Avalanches and many more.

Fast forward to the early 2000’s - after some stints living in Thailand and Japan - I was based in Melbourne, where I met my mentor Jarrod Alty aka Jed.  He taught me the fundamental basics of DJing house music - the principles and essential skills involved. From there, my craft of DJing and exploration of electronic music has continued until this day. 

How did you decide to approach your Lazydaze mix? Are there any particularly special tracks or moments in there for you? The vision was clear and my intention was to let the records create the magic: Give them space to breathe, blend soundscapes and create a musical excursion for the listener to enjoy. The execution of the mix was inspired by Nils Frahm’s 'Late Night Tales’ and the vibe is a true reflection of the type of music I listen to when I am chilling at home on the weekends.

The mix is sprinkled with special moments and tracks and I dug deep into my collection. Some of the records I have never played out and I would generally listen to in private.  Memories and emotions play a significant role during these sessions, so it is my pleasure to be able to share them with your audience. 'Chase The Blues' by Terranova, ’Juliet’ by DJ Cam and ‘Everywhere You Go’ by Mari Kvien Brunvoll are examples.  'King In My Empire' was gifted to me by my dear friend Mark Petler (Erther), so it was an honour to be able to include that record. I wanted to finish the mix off on a not-too-serious note, with the appropriately titled 'Sunday' by HNNY.

What’s your time favourite ambient/downbeat/electronica/experimental track, LP or mix compilation? I honestly have to answer all three. My passion politely insists!

Track: 'Hayling' | FC Kahuna
LP: 'Sounds from the Thievery hi-fi' | Thievery Corporation
Compilation: ‘Jesus Life For Children Under 12 Inches' | Kid Loco

You DJ quite often throughout SE Asia. Where do you play and how did your working relationships within the continent come about? I have been DJing in Hong Kong and Thailand since 2010.  Initially, it started with invitations to come and play a club gig. I was very fortunate to build strong friendships and working relationships in both countries.  Music really does bring people together.  I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities Luke Hall (Delta Sounds - Hong Kong) and Coran Maloney (Kolour In The Park - Thailand) have given me over the years.  I have played  festivals, underground clubs, open-air events, boat parties, islands, resorts, retreats and even 'The Great Wall of China'.  I have also worked with them both in regards to A&R and stage management.

You can check out the tracklist for Adam’s mix over at SoundCloud.

Where can we find you playing in Brisbane these days?  I have four residencies on rotation where I am DJing nearly every weekend. You can catch me providing the soundtrack and chasing the sunset at Mr Percival's, W Brisbane, Super Whatnot and Burleigh Pavilion.