DJ T.I.M

Rip It Up, Issue 251, 1 July 1998, Page 21

DJ T.I.M

When did you first start? "I began around 1991, mainly at small parties and playing for friends." What's your sound?

"I'd have to call it eclectic, including breakbeat, hip hop, electro, reggae and weirdbeat. I'm always looking for new sounds, tracks which

incorporate many elements." Whats drives you? "The absurdity of it all and the underground aspect of DJ culture. I enjoy the search for new music and the discovery of old tunes. I love the risk factor in playing to an audience and I like to take risks with obscure records. You don't know how they'll be received. If I'm not challengeing myself and taking risks with selections them I'm not staying on the ball. I need to be creative."

What do you think of the current Auckland dance scene ?

"It's definitely thriving, but there are a few problems. Some are solvable ,some aren't. People do seem to be saving themselves for the internationals which does seem to stuff it up for the local DJs. I think we easily have the talent here and the records coming in to equal or better than most of the internationals. But that's business , and it's typical. The second problem is of course the small size of New Zealand and the nature of people living here. It means everyone seems to know each other in the dance scene and so they're very inhibited. They cant seem to fully relax or let loose. Everyone wants to be in the 'right' place dancing to the 'right' music, with the 'right' people. But that's not what it's all about. It comes down to the

individual, it's about creating a party of yourown, being open and not giving a stuff about what other people think.