Safire has been moulding his craft for the past eight years while running the long-standing night Broken Beat Assault as well as orchestrating the highest quality DnB events in Melbourne.
He most recently set-up his own label, Plasma Audio, launched at the beginning of 2014 featuring some of DnB's top producers, and has collaborated with a number of well-known producers such as Icicle, Sabre, DLR, Cern & Dabs.
Who is Safire... Safire is regarded as one of Australia’s finest drum & bass artists moving from strength to strength over the last couple of years with most recent signings to Noisia's Invisible Recordings, Friction's Shogun Limited and Dispatch Recordings. His deep, techy tunes have been gaining well-deserved recognition across the DnB landscape. Upcoming releases include tracks on Shogun Ltd, Invisible, Plasma Audio & Dispatch Recordings. In 2014 I played shows throughout Europe including Outlook Festival, London and Amsterdam.
I sound like… Hopefully just myself! My influences stem from the likes of Trentmoeller, Lulu Rouge, Prodigy, Konflict, King Tubby and various well known mix engineers :)
My first gig was... I think around 2004 at Seven Nightclub for Fractured; used to be a popular breakbeat night in Melbourne.
When did you settle on your name... It is my birth stone and blue has always been a favourite colour on mine!
In the studio I usually... Use quite a lot of analogue gear, everything is done on an SSL Xlogic console utilising onboard analogue summing and various pieces of analogue and digital outboard equipment. Of late there's been more focus toward using software mainly because of its precision. In future I'm planing for the set-up to be a hybrid balance.
If I could tour with anyone... Noisia Invites.
Noisia Invites - Image © Facebook
Social media... Has its purposes – great for promotion although for personal use it becomes a distraction!
My favourite app at the moment is... FM8, again because of the precision it has when programming certain material. I also really like the sound of frequency modulation synthesis.
To date, my most embarrassing moment was the time... Without a doubt would have to be Traktor playing up on various occasions; since changing to USBs on CDJs life has become a whole lot better!
Life on the road can be... Interesting; love meeting new people although there's good and average events. There is nothing worse than being in an uncomfortable situation at a festival with a lot of people around, see below!
If you’ll have me on your bill, all I ask is that my rider contains... Verve, Moet or 1800 Coconut Tequila.
The most scary scenario I’ve found myself in, was... Having my tent site shat in by an out of control friend while loosing all accommodation facilities at a recent festival! Spent the best part of eight hours trying to acquire a new tent/ somewhere to sleep!
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party... Albert Einstein, Rupert Neve and Fritz Lang. It would be a convergence of the most talented people in each field of my chosen interests.
Fritz Lang
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us? Pasta with authentic, Sicilian pork and fennel sausages.
No matter the expense, send me a case of... 1800 Tequila.
The last time I saw the inside of a gym was... Very long time! I don't enjoy exercising around a lot of people where ego is present; [I’d] rather go for walks in nature where I can draw inspiration and refresh my energy. Creativity levels are very dependent on various things being in balance. I feel the need to have a balanced lifestyle otherwise it’s hard have creativity on a weekly basis.
What’s the one chore you dislike the most? Taking the bins out!
Do you have any phobias... Not really!
Would you ever partake in a reality show? Very unlikely!
If you could prank any of your friends, who's your target, and how are you bringing them down? Most likely the friend who shat in my tent site at a recent festival… it wouldn't be done in the same vein, but I'd take my time to instigate a hefty revenge!
Safire plays Earth Frequency Festival, which takes place on 13-16 February.
