Esteemed British DJ/ producer Eric Powell returns to Australia with partner-in-crime Carl Cox for their much-hyped Mobile Disco shows, this year featuring a live performance from De La Soul.
Carl & Eric's Mobile Disco has become somewhat of an institution in Melbourne, bringing together two of the world's premier DJs and producers selecting and spinning tracks from their own collections.
Firstly, what can we expect from the Mobile Disco shows this time around?
It’s the time of year when we can dip into our record collection and play those tracks that have influenced us over the years.
This year is the tenth anniversary of the Mobile Disco. Do you have any special plans to celebrate the milestone?
Over the last three years the event has sold out within a week (one year within a day); we had lots of people that have attended but could not get tickets, moving the Mobile Disco to the iconic Albert Park means we can increase the capacity (not too much), but enough to cater the discoers. Getting De La Soul back is fantastic for us. We did De La in the Yarra Valley a few years ago, it was an incredible event, but we were not ready for the event to grow at that stage.
We went from 500 people to 2,000 people. So we decided to go back to Dromana, reduce the capacity to 600 and then start to grow exponentially. We have now reached capacity in Dromana, but we hope with the right likeminded people. We have toured De La Soul a couple times and they always ask about ‘that winery gig'.
This year I caught up with them at WOMADelaide (they had 25,000 people in front of them), told them it was the Mobile Disco’s tenth anniversary, asked if they would perform and help us celebrate our birthday – they were on board straight away. We also had the opportunity to do a Mobile Disco in Adelaide. That sold out in 24 hours; amazing. We are also doing a Mobile Disco in NSW at Return To Rio and that has sold out in two weeks – again amazing.
The Mobile Disco tends to be focussed more on soul, funk and house rather than techno. For you, what is the significance of this focus?
Carl and I both have West Indian parents and our musical upbringing was similar. The music our parents played at parties, the music we listened to while at school and then our early ventures into house music, I think defines our current tastes. We both feel that the techno we play is influenced by the funk, soul and house tracks we grew up with.
How have these genres moulded the performer you are today?
Yes definitely, listening to soul, funk and house means we are looking for a particular feel, a particular groove.
Where are some of your favourite places in Australia to perform?
We are not just saying this, but most of Australia has something special. The locations can be amazing, Stillwater is incredible, Immerse in the Yarra Valley was amazing, Bondi Beach: what can you say? We are really looking forward to Albert Park. Internationally there are not many venues that can compete. Going to the McLaren Vale and country NSW: we are spoilt in Australia for amazing venues (the same can be said for NZ). We would love to do something in the Northern Territory or on the steps of the [Sydney] Opera House. WA and Queensland: we are on the look-out for locations.
What other projects are you currently working on at the moment?
We have our techno brand Pure, which was a great success this year. We are close to finalising the line-up for that, but our lips are sealed. But we are really excited for 2017. We have some music that we are finishing off and are pumped about. I just played at Space in Ibiza, Carl has his closing and final party at Space on 20 September.
Coming from Manchester and getting your start during the 'Second Summer Of Love' (1988-89), what are your memories of that period?
Like they say, if you remember the Summer of Love: you probably weren’t there.
What's the biggest change you've seen in the music industry since those early days?
Downloads, disposable music.
You're a bit of a legend at this point, but do you still get pre-show nerves and jitters?
Oh yes, my wife tells me to pull myself together. I’ve always had pre-show nerves, starts three days before the gig, goes away ten minutes into the performance and then starts all over again a day after the gig.
What's the most awkward thing that's happened to you during a live set?
The conversation after a promoter has treated you like a jukebox.
If you could only spin one record for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Marvin Gaye: 'Whats Going On'.
Carl and Eric's Mobile Disco Tour Dates
11-13 Nov - Del Rio Riverside Resort (Wisemans Ferry)Sun 13 Nov - SC Pannell Wines (Adelaide)
Sat 19 Nov - Albert Park Golf Course (Melbourne)
