Damian Gellé Interview

You would think that creating one of the best festivals in London would have most people settled and satisfied, but Damian Gellé has other ideas.

Since the launch of SW4 in Clapham Common in 2004, the dance music event has gone from strength to strength, with the likes of Alesso, Armin Van Buuren and John Digweed taking to the main stage, as well as progressing from a one-day party to an entire weekend. A festival that’s showing no signs of stopping, SW4 was a revolution for dance music fans that wanted something different to the Notting Hill Carnival and Lovebox. But now, the man that gave us this epic event has left the UK behind to create something new and fresh in Sydney.

“It takes a good couple of years to get your head out of London. I’m also originally from Perth so relocating to Sydney and my wife giving birth within the first two weeks was certainly a challenge. London is such a crazy melting pot. It was non-stop social activity for two decades of my life. But Sydney can spin pretty fast too. Now that I’m settled here I’m enjoying the challenge of creating something from scratch. My events are mostly on during the daytime to take advantage of the fantastic climate.”

Such events include CODE at the Greenwood Hotel, which Gellé explains is a “new concept” and “an ever evolving quest to create the ultimate party.” With the launch night in October featuring Hernan Cattaneo and Stacey Pullen proving to be a huge success, Gellé has chosen “God of techno”, Dubfire, as his DJ of choice for CODE’s second event.

“I’ve been doing this type of thing for a long time now and I’m really passionate about it – and I think that shows at the events. My team love electronic music and we love what we do. The DJs are carefully chosen because they deliver.”

Not only does Gellé secure the finest DJs on the planet, he’s also extremely clever, as it becomes clear that not only will CODE be able to enjoy the warm weather of Sydney, it will also not be bound by the restrictions of the city’s lock-out laws, which he stresses are “absurd and “harsh on young people simply wanting the reward of a good night out with their friends after a hard week at work.”

With the success that Gellé has already experienced with SW4 (which he assures us will be continuing), you can’t help but wonder what he has up his sleeve now he’s moved back to Australia. Stressing that he’s doing something completely different to the festival format he’s been used to, he does relate his new project with the beginning of SW4 – “My first event was held in a backyard in East London, so if you trace it all the way back this is where South West Four began” – but he does tease big things, telling us that CODE is a “stepping-stone to something much bigger”. So, for now, it seems, we can just enjoy watching this new event take off and grow.

“CODE is a quest to create the ultimate party – with each event we shoot for the stars.”

CODE featuring Dubfire will take place on 20th December. For tickets visit moshtix.com.au or enter our competition to WIN one free double pass!