The drop: Murphy started out as a teenager DJing with tape decks and turntables. Photo: SUPPLIED
THIS week we chat with ground-breaking local DJ and passionate advocate of the Bendigo underground electronic music scene, Troy Murphy
How did you get into Djing?
I was 16 and started going to weddings, DJing on tape decks and turntables, mostly crossfading between tracks as the BPMs were too obscure between each other. Then, when CDs came out, we had the old DENON DN-2000F that we used to mix a lot of alternative music.
When the late 90s, early 2000s came around I bought my first pair of Technics SL-1200s and started buying vinyl records at DMC records, spending hours upon hours sifting through crates trying to find bombs to play at the next gig. Then Pioneer gear came out and changed everything to what it is today.
What do you think is more important – technical ability or track selection?
To me track selection is very important – to know what’s in your crate – but what’s more important is to be able to read a crowd. It can be a very lonely place if you can’t. But there’s no point trying to put it all together unless you understand how to use your equipment either.
Most turntables and mixers are very similar but can feel very different, so playing on something you have not used before can be daunting for any DJ. So, experience is key to working out your levels on your mixer and the system you are playing on.
What would you say to people who think Djing is just “pressing play”?
It’s like saying all a guitar player does is strum, or a racing car driver just puts his foot on a pedal.
Most people don’t understand the technology behind DJing and the art of transitions between tracks, effects, frequencies, levels etc. I used to be a drummer so it is very percussive to me. It’s all about finding the beat, rhythm and soul of tracks that feel natural to me to be able to mix tracks to build a set.
Can you describe your style?
I like a wide range of genres in electronic music from my grassroots of breakbeats, to minimal, progressive, deep and dark techno and tech house.
To describe my style, I like to play really funky, bouncy, tech house with some deep dark undertones. If it gives me goosebumps and makes me want to dance, then it’s good enough to play.
Which electronic artists inspire you?
James Zabiela, John Digweed and Sasha, Phil K, Gab Oliver and Zero Tolerance Records, the Sunny Crew, Kyle Watson, Saeed Younan, Bizen Lopez, Oliver Giacomotto, just to name a few.
To be completely honest, the ones I most admire are the friends that I have made over the years and get to play with regularly, like Jason Tavener, Dusty Kirk, Darren Tolley, Steve Stratton, Brett Anderson and Luke Moylan, who blows my mind every time I hear him play.
These guys all blow me away when I hear them play and we all feed off each other. They have become close friends for life and I owe it all to this electronic music scene that we are all a part of.
Do you have any gigs on the horizon?
We have something very special in the pipeline at the moment with massive lightning effects and an amazing sound system, so stay tuned and join the BEMS – Bendigo Electronic Music Scene – Facebook page to stay in the loop.
