Hot damn, Digital Damage is smoking. And he spins some of the best house music in the country.
And he is coming to Perth this month to play everything from Electro to Progressive House music for the Official Pride After Party at Connections Nightclub. Damage has been on the Sydney club circuit since 2007 and has quickly ascended the ranks to support major acts such as Sam La More and Grant Smilie from TV Rock.
Digital Damage spoke to OUTinPerth and shared his experience of working the gay club scene.
You’re here in a couple of weeks for the Pride party…
Yes, I am very very excited about it, I can’t wait. I’ve never actually been to Perth in my whole entire life so it’s going to be very exciting for me and I can’t wait.
I guess people in Perth also don’t know you, unless they’ve been across to Sydney. What kind of experience are they going to get when they come to see you play?
My idea that I have going into every show I play regardless of where it is, is just to have a good time. I’m a massive music fan myself and I just try to express myself through music so that’s what I’ve been trying to do.
You’re beginning to do some producing as well?
Yeah, I’ve been in and out of the studio over the years. I’ve sort of been chipping away at it for a while. I just do it sheerly for the love of it. I’ve got a few things here and there.
Are we likely to hear anything when you fly over?
Yeah, I always throw my own material into my own set. Whether it’s remixes or mash-ups or whatever it may be, I always try and incorporate my own material. Just as a tester as well, I always try and experiment with it before I put it out there to the public market.
Have you ever played in any other Pride-type events?
I haven’t played a Pride event before. Obviously, I’ve just started playing in the gay scene in the last 18 months in Sydney and the reason I started playing in the gay scene is just because that’s where I am at musically. I’ve been playing in the straight scene for the past six to seven years. The straight scene, as much as I love it and it’s my roots, is kind of not really where I’m at musically with electro and I sort of have a little more of a European influence and that’s what I like.
Aside from the music, do you find the crowd is different in a gay venue?
Obviously, there is a massive difference between the gay attitude and the straight attitude. The gay scene, for me, is a lot more relaxed and a lot less pretentious. Everyone really is out to have a good time. And that’s what I love about it. Everyone has been so friendly.
It’s really interesting because we hear so much about how the gay clubs are becoming like straight clubs and your experience may be the opposite?
Yeah I know it’s funny. I mean, it’s a little bit on the straight side. I have seen a lot of straight people and met straight people in gay venues over the last little while and they pretty much have the same outlook as I do. They have more fun and it’s just a great atmosphere and everyone is just out having a really good time.
How did you choose your name, Digital Damage?
It was just a name that came to my mind when I started playing maybe 6-7 years ago and I was playing in the electro scene and I thought it was a cool name. I think it’s pretty quirky and I like to be original and I just kind of like that name.
I noticed on your website the photography you have is quite quirky and quite funny…
Yeah, I think so. Once again, I think it’s just a little bit out there. There’s a little bit of me. I’m a little bit quirky and a little bit out there and I like just doing different things.
If you look at any artist’s profile picture or press shot or whatever like that, you see the same thing over and over and over again.
Of all the places you’ve played, what is your favourite?
Ooh, that’s a tricky one. I love playing to a Sydney crowd because I know how it works really well and I’ve also loved the thrill of playing in other states. I have had many great experiences and fun times playing in Brisbane. I’ve also had quite a few great experiences playing in Melbourne so I don’t have a stand out club, to be honest.
Digital Damage is playing at ‘Digital Arcade’, the Official Pride Parade After Party at Connections Nightclub on November 19.
Graeme Watson
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