1. Growing Up
My first real music memory is hearing Aretha Franklin’s ‘Respect’ on the radio when I was about five years old, and it just went right through my whole body like a thunderbolt because I’d never heard anything like it, but I knew that was what I wanted to hear from then on – black music.
2. Inspirations
I love black music. Soul, funk, disco, African, house, jazz. I also love all the classic vocalists from Aretha and Chaka to Ella and Billie. I also love Talking Heads and anything that grooves you. I’m lucky that music has always been at the forefront of my life. From soul and The Beatles in the ’60s to glam rock to AC/DC to disco and punk in the ’70s to so many different styles and flavours after that.
3. Your Crew
I’ve DJed for 35 years so I’ve slowed down and only play at gigs I’m going to enjoy and that I’m suited to. Soul Of Sydney is one of my favourite gigs because the crowd and vibe is so old-school and warm. It’s very late ’70s, early ’80s in its feel and that is right where I’m at these days.
4. The Music You Make And Play
The top five tracks for my set will be ‘Shake Your Booty’ by Bunny Sigler, ‘You + Me = Love’ by Undisputed Truth, ‘Burn Rubber On Me’ by The Gap Band, ‘So You Wanna Be A Star’ by Mtume and ‘What Is My Woman For?’ by Curtis Mayfield.
5. Music, Right Here, Right Now
I live in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales and there’s a thriving scene up here – lots of great live bands and musicians that get lots of local support. Gigs I’ve been particularly impressed by go from Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings to James Blake to Janelle Monáe to Mary J. Blige.
Stephen Allkins, [love tattoo], plays the Soul Of Sydney Larry Levan Birthday Tribute in a secret location on Sunday July 19, along with Danny De Sousa, Phil Toke and Alex Dimitriades.
