Scuba Interview
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Sydney’s – True Crime Tour
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NYE Cruise aboard the famous Mari Nawi – ‘Big Canoe’
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Paul Rose – better known in the electronic scene as Scuba – has never been an artist to shy away from evolving. From his melancholic debut, ‘A Mutual Antipathy’ to the joyous ’90s house of ‘Personality’, the passion he exudes from his records define what you see on stage. Following the release of his fourth album, ‘Claustrophobia’, on his very own Hotflush label this year, Scuba will be returning to Australia this December for small shows in top venues around the country. Looking ahead to his tour, we had a chat with the man himself…
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Hi Paul, how’s life treating you? Where are you talking to us from?
I’m very well thank you, it’s been a great year. I’m in London at the moment, hard at work preparing for my weekly residency at XOYO which starts on 9th January.
We’ve been listening to your back catalogue; do you ever listen back to any of your old stuff? What are your thoughts on it now?
[Laughs] Very occasionally. Actually, when I was making ‘Claustrophobia’ I listened back to my first three albums and was surprised to find that I liked the first one, ‘A Mutual Antipathy’, the most. I’ve thought a lot about how to get back to that way of making music, not so much in a stylistic sense more about being in that kind of headspace.
You’ve spoken out about crossing genres from album to album; what influences you to change direction?
I get bored easily, and that comes out in the music that I make and also the kind of shows that I want to play. The process of making an album I find much more motivating than just churning out dance tracks so what usually happens is I’ll spend a period of time working in the studio in a certain way and what comes out of that will dictate how I spend the next couple of years touring. So at the moment I’m in a techno phase, and I’m very much enjoying playing at techno parties and on those kind of stages at festivals.
How would you describe the music you’re making now? What’s the driving force behind it?
I’m in the techno box pretty squarely at the moment, and have been for a while now. It’s difficult to predict how things will go, but techno was the first electronic music I ever really got into – all the records I bought in the first couple of years of going to shops were techno – so it’s kind of like home for me. And what I play as a DJ is very much in that direction too. I’ve always mixed it up a bit, regardless of what kind of thing is my main focus at a given time. But the majority of what I play now is techno.
Your live shows are bringing you to Australia this December; flying all this way in the peak of summer, will you make it into a bit of a holiday while you’re out here? What can ticket holders expect from your current show?
Sadly, this time I’ve only got a few days to spend in the country. I’m looking forward to playing some smaller shows after having done festival tours the past couple of times I’ve been over. I hope people can expect a great set… and not too much of a jet-lagged one! And like I said, there will be a lot of techno… even during the day!
Saying that, you’re playing three shows during one Saturday, including the Chinese Laundry Garden Party in Sydney and HOLEANDCORNER in Melbourne; with such a schedule, is it hard to keep up with where you are from one day to the next?
Yes, that day is definitely not a typical one for me, but it should be a lot of fun. Touring can get a bit hectic, it’s true, but it’s ridiculous to complain too much about that kind of thing. I’ve had day jobs in the past so I’m well aware of how lucky I am to be doing what I love and getting paid for it.
When you get to enjoy the travel aspect of touring, what is your favourite thing to do in a new destination?
I like to eat the local food and, on my off days, drink the local drink. I think you can get a pretty good idea of the essence of a place from how they do those two things – they’re the basis of civilisation really.
What destinations and performances have stood out for you in 2015?
I had a great time at Labyrinth Festival in Japan this September, that’s the best festival in the world in my opinion. I’ve enjoyed playing and travelling in Italy this year, especially parties at Bunker in Turin and Cave in Gallipoli. And, of course Berghain, in Berlin, where I’ve been lucky enough to play five times this year. It’s still a very special place.
If there was anywhere you could visit next year – to tour or travel – where would you pick?
I want to do more in South America, especially Brazil and Argentina…. so hopefully that’s going to happen!
Scuba Australian Tour Dates
Saturday 19th December – Chinese Laundry Garden Party, Sydney
Saturday 19th December – HOLEANDCORNER, Melbourne
Saturday 19th December – Mercat Basement, Melbourne
Sunday 20th December – tbc, Brisbane
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