A poised and wonderfully eclectic journey of downtempo & organic chill with a dash of soul.

Sydney DJ and Mantra Collective co-founder Tim Reeves-Smith - better known to the dance scene as Whitecat - lays down an assured mix for the 30th edition of the Lazydaze series.
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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? I first discovered electronic music at university while I was studying Jazz Performance on the saxophone! Around the late 2000s I had started clubbing and purchasing mix CDs like the Ministry of Sound 2007 Annual - that had a profound effect on my musical direction at the time. I purchased my first pair of decks a few months after and taught myself how to mix.

I started to play at house parties and uni parties for a little while until I got my first residency at Candy’s Apartment. I rode that out for a few years and followed it up with another residency in The Cave at Chinese Laundry around the same time that Mantra Collective began in 2012. The rest is history!

How did you decide to approach your mix? Was there a concept behind it? I have always loved the concept of sharing music that you aren't usually known for and have been doing this more and more in the past few years. Lazydaze is such an incredible series that I really took care to deliver something that both aligns with the series while also being uniquely Whitecat.

I selected tracks that I would enjoy on any lazy day - tracks that both soothed me, warm my soul and take you on a journey (if you allow them to). But most importantly, I selected tracks and artists that I have a personal connection to - artists that have come into my life at varying stages over the past 25+ years. Music that was introduced to me by my parents or close friends over the years, as well as music I have personally discovered and have a powerful connection to.

Are there any particularly special tracks or moments in there for you? So many! Each track has its own personal stamp on my life and I could tell a story about how each track came into my life and why it deserves to be in this mix, but I will just mention two here.

1. Billsbry - ‘Drop D’: Off his debut Intoku album. This is played about halfway through the mix. A special moment indeed, as this local Sydney based artist was one of my best musical discoveries in 2020. Check him out!

2. Sade - ‘Why Can’t We Live Together’ : The closing track. Where do I start with Sade? Without a doubt the most powerful and incredible soul singer I know. She can do no wrong. I am endlessly grateful to my parents for sharing and introducing me to Sade all those years ago.

What’s coming up for Mantra Collective this year and what are the plans for the future? 2020 was a tough year for us (and indeed everyone), but it only firmed my resolve to continue the journey I have been on for the past ten years or so. Mantra Collective has a busy year planned with monthly events in Sydney and Melbourne, and with Covid still raging, this year is the time to focus on the locals! With no internationals coming in for the foreseeable future, the locals finally get their time and chance to shine. We will continue to provide spaces in two cities to do this. Additionally our local-only record label (started in 2020) is going from strength to strength and continues to provide a platform for new and upcoming producers to release their music to a global audience.

For this year, keep an eye out for events in new spaces (warehouses, outdoor venues and new locations), a special Vivid event in Sydney, and of course, our 9th Birthday, which will be celebrated across two weekends in Sydney & Melbourne.

What kind of music/artists do you like to listen to when chilling at home? I listen to all kinds of music at home, ranging from hip hop, downtempo, electronica, psychedelic rock etc. A few favourite artists would be St Germain, Khruangbin, Air, Gaussian Curve, Nils Frahm, Tame Impala and Pink Floyd.

Name your all time favourite ambient/downbeat/electronica/experimental track or album. Tough one! So many to list, but I’m going to have to go with Gaussian Curve’s The Distance.