Some nightclubs were always destined to stretch beyond a single setting. UK electronic music institution Sankeys is one such place. Starting as Sankeys Soap in Manchester in 1994, the club quickly attracted hoards of devotees thanks to a focus on underground electronic music of various persuasions.
Staying strong well into the new century, in 2011 Sankeys opened a summer club in the dance music mecca Ibiza. It seems two successful ventures weren’t enough, and in 2013 Sankeys launched another club in Brooklyn, NYC. Running three popular venues is no mean feat, but that still left much of the globe’s electronic music territory untouched. Thus, in celebration of its 20th anniversary, last year Sankeys set off on a tour through many of the world’s major cities.
This Australia Day long weekend, Sankeys’ 20th anniversary tour finally makes it way to Sydney. Headlining the event is Leeds DJ and house music producer Darius Syrossian, who’s long been affiliated with Sankeys.
“I actually went to the club in 1994 when it opened,” he says. “I saw Chemical Brothers there back then. Also Daft Punk, when they literally just started and played for a few hundred pounds. It’s crazy that 20 years on I mixed the Sankeys anniversary album. But I have been DJing for them since 2006 too.
“Even when I signed to Viva Music, I still stayed loyal to Sankeys and played monthly for them for a number of years,” he adds. “Manchester is a strong fan base for me, which is important, because Manchester is one of the cities that has a big history with house and techno. Remember, the acid house explosion happened at two places in the UK when it all started: Hacienda in Manchester and then Shoom down south with Danny Rampling and his parties.”
In conjunction with the 20th anniversary celebrations, last September Sankeys held its very first underground awards ceremony. Syrossian took home the trophy for Best House DJ. Indeed, Syrossian’s deft productions suggest his commitment to house music is almost obsessive. That said, he’s not the type to get on his high horse about genre purity.
“I am not one of these olderDJs that has beef with younger DJs,” he says.“In fact, most of myfan base is younger. I love the fact that the younger generation are really embracing house and techno. It shows the scene is vibrant andhealthy. It always bothers me when I hear DJs complain, saying, ‘Look at the crowd, how young they are.’ So what? It means they’re loving the music we all work so hard to get out there. Regarding people who maybe try to fake it, old or new, I say let them carry on. I concentrate on my own work and let others get on with it.”
Yes, rather than pontificating about stylistic authenticity, a musician’s time is better spent being creative. In addition to performing at and booking acts for Sankeys Ibiza’s Tribal Sessions parties – as well as plenty of gigging around the world – Syrossian has let loose a staggering string of productions and remixes over the last few years. 2015 is set to be his busiest year yet, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I’m such a workaholic,” he says. “Music is my passion and I eat, drink and sleep it. I actually go to bed thinking about what project I want to do next. I work quickly if you think of it in days, rather than weeks. But I work sometimes 16 hours a day in the studio. Because it’s my passion, it doesn’t feel like work. I love it.”
Code Presents Sankeys’ World Tour alongsideYousef, Dillan Joseph, Space Junk, Tristan Case, Ed Wells and more atGreenwood Hotel onSunday January 25, tickets online.
