DJ MASON ANDREWS
Rock the discotheque!
DNA: We hear you first got interested in DJing because of a boy!
DJ Mason Andrews: Yes, that’s true! I was dating a DJ and I would watch him on the decks at gigs. That sparked something inside me as I’ve always loved music but I’ve never been able to sing or play an instrument. I seemed to have a natural f lair for mixing, so even when I moved on from the boyfriend I kept on DJing. Don’t worry… we’re still friends. So let’s talk perks of the job! Don’t DJs get hit on a lot? That’s a bit of a myth. People do come up to the DJ booth for a flirt, of course, but they’re usually really trashed. Not ideal boyfriend material! Sounds messy. Any horror stories you care to share? At one gig I was in the middle of my set, it was an absolutely full house, and a sexy bloke came up to the DJ box completely oblivious to the fact that I was in the middle of mixing. He grabbed me for a snog and, in doing so, bumped both of the DJ decks so hard they both fell off the stands. The music cut immediately to dead silence. Ever been standing in a room with 500 people staring at you in disgust? Not fun! We actually ended up dating though, go figure. So what’s DJ Mason Andrews’ signature sound? I guess you’d call it uplifting, vocal house. When I’m playing a gig I make sure
when people hear what I’m playing, they go directly to the dance f loor and don’t leave. I play a lot of really fun, bouncy house that makes you want to start booty-shaking straight away. It’s really high energy with a lot of funky, camp vocals. I always try to make sure that my whole set is like that from beginning to end. What tracks are going down well at the
moment? DJ Grind’s remix of Ghost by Ella Henderson is at the top of my playlist. There’s so much great music coming out of Europe now, too. Plus I’ve started to produce a lot of my own mixes. What’s been your biggest hit as a producer so far? When I had just started producing I did this mash-up which I still play at every gig and it always makes the dance f loor go off! It’s a Lady Gaga/Whitney Houston mash-up called Judas In The Clouds Above (you can probably guess which songs I used). I also do quite a lot re-edits and mixes for other DJs and I’ve just finished my first official remix. It’s of Carmen Electra’s new song, Around The World, and is downloadable on iTunes. It must be competitive out there in club-land for gigs. Is there much DJ on DJ sabotage? It’s actually a lot less bitchy than you’d think! We all know each other really well, and the great thing about the gay DJ scene here in Australia is that everyone is really supportive. When I was starting out, even though I was just a new kid on the block, other DJs really empowered me and helped me to get a foothold. They’re all really positive people who told me, “Yeah you can do this!” Sounds like a very close community. It really is. Most people don’t see the behind-the-scenes stuff – they come in to a club, they party and go home. What they don’t see is the ton of people working their arse off to make sure they have an awesome time. The DJs, lighting guys, promoters, club managers, drag queens, even the bar staff are all part of a big family and it is really tight. To feel part of that is really wonderful. Any other DJ myths you want to dispel? That we’re all boozed up, on drugs, or that we’re basically all trashbags. You need to really concentrate when you’re playing a set; we don’t just press play. Also like most DJs on the gay scene, I try and take care of my body. Of course we have a few drinks, but can you imagine what I’d look like if I got totally shit-faced every weekend!? What do you think of celebrity DJs like Paris Hilton or Lindsay Lohan? I wouldn’t really call that DJing. Don’t get me wrong, there are some really good celebrity DJs out there like Havana Brown or DJ Tiger Lily, but you see Paris Hilton behind the decks and she’s not doing anything! It actually takes quite a bit of skill to match two tracks, mix in between, throw vocals in and make a great sound. I understand that they can pack a club just because they’re famous, but the music has got to be important too, otherwise what’s the point? Let’s talk club etiquette: is it ever okay to request a song? I think there is a time and a place for everything. Although I have been known to confiscate phones from punters who shove them in my face with a message like, can u plz play call me maybe?
Is there a track that you refuse to play? They come and go. At the moment I’m over My Anaconda Don’t! I love all genres of music… except those that sound like two cats killing each other. Would you rather play your best set ever to an empty club, or play to a packed dance floor, but you’re only allowed to play Venga Boys? Definitely the empty club. For me, the music is definitely number one, and besides, once people heard the tracks I’m playing the place would soon fill up! What gigs have you got coming up that we can break a few shapes at? I’ll be playing at the official 2015 Sydney Mardi Gras After Party in the RHI [Royal Hall Of Industries]. This is the biggest party (and the biggest room) of the year, playing to 8,000 people. It’s a dream come true!
“Ever been standing in a room with 500 people staring at you in disgust? Not fun! We actually ended up dating though, go figure.”