The other day I called up Johnny one half of the legendary club night Optimo, who are coming down to play for us on Sturday the 13th of march. This is gonna be a very exciting night indeed. I had chat with Johnny about the night and how they are taking it to Perth. After ze jump!
Ok, can you tell us how the night came about?
Well me and Keith were both doing residancies at a few different clubs and we found it all quite monotonous with what was on offer. It seemed that most of the were becoming populated by mostly guys and there was a lot of aggression, we basically wanted to make something that was more fun, so we started throwing a few of these big parties as an alternative were we brought together various styles of music and it became a really diverse colourful night. We really didn’t have a marketing plan or anything we just wanted to make a night that was just about having fun, bringing in our record collections and having some local bands play.
So the nights were very eclectic then, did you feel opposed to the labelling and dichotomy that goes on especially in dance music.
We never thought we were having this big movement against it, sometimes it is convenient to “label” for communicating and discussing things about music. But I would say that we never really fit into any mould and we just play what ever regardless of the genre.
So I guess you would really have to rely on your ability to read the crowd and play what you feel is emotionally right for the moment.
Absolutely, but sometimes we like to play something that’s not what’s expect and it goes over really well. I enjoy playing the original tracks that have been sampled for a more contemporary song, or just playing an old rock songs sometimes, like you said it all really depends on the context.
I went to Glasgow a few years ago, and I loved the place. The people have real character and are really passionate, I guess that would have lead to some crazy nights. How has it been taking things on the road and overseas with the night?
I think that’s one of the most rewarding things being able to take things to different social situations sometimes things are a bit reserved, but we have had some really wild nights to. It’s great because we like to adapt, people have been really great about it all.
So when you travel with these eclectic sets you play, I guess you would have to tack a real artillery of music around with you?
Oh yeh, and I only use vinyl.
Oh wow then that’s a lot to lug around!
It’s about 40kg, but I am very selective. I have some idea of the types of places I am playing. But it doesn’t stop me from stocking up my hand luggage and bringing a bag of 7 inch singles as well.
You guys really stock up
Oh keith? He uses ableton and plays off his laptop so he has a phenomenal music collection, but he plays vinyl as well. So we are pretty well equipped. For example we played in Amsterdam last Friday and played for about 7 hours.
That would have been pretty epic.
It was great, but of course it’s not always like that. We usually play for a couple hours or less at the festivals
Yeh it s great your doing Meridith down here, I would really love to go to that.
Yeh It was really wonderful the last time we played there, that type of festival is really rare, there was barely any security and no corporate branding, it was all really relaxed. But we love coming to Australia to go swimming and eat healthy its great, really great for us.
Well I will definitely be seeing you down in Perth. The night they have been doing on the Saturday (Sexy) has been lots of fun and the night is really varied as well, it should be a good’n
Sweet, I will see you down there
