The first Monday of 2023 (2 January) started off as it should – lounging in a pool float with a tequila soda in hand as The Aston Shuffle (aka Vance) played a set at Perth's Indian Ocean Hotel.
Vance's set was part of another event staged by the Daybreak Club crew, a pool party series organised by locals Ben McDonald and Natasja Reicheld.As expected for a peak summer's day in Perth, the sun seared high overhead as did the loom of hangovers from the New Years period. The pop-up kitchen from Toastface Grillah was put to good use by event goers as deflated souls were nourished with delicious, gourmet cheese sangas.
In classic Aston Shuffle music style, the mix was a fun fusion of deep house, nu disco, and tropical electronic. Vance mixed with creative flair and played a selection of old and new tracks that perfectly fitted the pool-party atmosphere.
The energy in the music mix was high, as the sunburned crowd bobbed along from armchairs and picnic benches scattered around the pool.
A sweltering day turned into a balmy evening as the after-party moved to El Grotto, a watering hole down the road in the heart of Scarborough.
Most days of the week in Scarborough you'll find yourself fighting tooth and nail for a parking spot. However, this particular evening the suburb had a sleepy feeling cast over it.
Vance played another two-hour set to an intimate crowd, some kicking on from the earlier festivities and others wandering in from the main strip looking for a place to dance on a Monday night post-New Year's Day.
I caught Vance for a quick chat about his projects for the new year, and he confirmed we have a lot to look forward to. Based in LA these days, he's been keeping busy with his monthly Monday mixes and working on singles with artists that will be released over the next six months.
"I'm excited to share new music with artists I've wanted to collaborate with for a long time, I can't say too much, but you'll see as projects begin to drop starting later this month," he said.
The Daybreak Club event was Vance's last stint of a huge tour across Bali and Australia, and he said he enjoyed being able to end it playing both poolside and in a nightclub venue. "It's my first time back in Perth since COVID started; to be here when it's sunny and beautiful like today after this tour and the last couple of years has been a treat."
Meeting Vance and watching him play was an absolute pleasure. He was an incredibly down-to-earth and kind artist, and listening to his new music debut will be one to add to the list of things to be excited about in 2023.
