“Well, as you’d be aware, the weather has been absolutely woeful in Sydney. We haven’t had one lousy day over 30 degrees during the whole summer! I’m seriously thinking about filling my pool with dirt and growing tomatoes in it; the upside is that it has given me more time in the studio to work on new projects!”
Half your luck, one would think – although he admits to having spent the most recent period working 18 hour days to finish Skitzmix 40 and the new Pump It CD, a landmark achievement for the old boy from Sydney who has always just wanted to be a role model – but I digress. He admits that life in recent times has been challenging given the amount of work and effort that goes into releasing a compilation CD, but hopes that once it’s done and out of the way, he’ll have a small window of opportunity to work on a new solo album which he hopes to release shortly. As for the music, he tends to stick with what’s current and what’s on his CDs but every now and then just to add a little bit of an element of surprise to his sets; he likes to drop something completely different like a rock track or even a really old classic rave anthem.
Yet after 20 years and 40 CDs, he suggests that there is no new approach apart from the music selection. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Skitz suggests. “There’s no real strategy behind any of it either. If I like a song, I’ll put it on the compilation. My philosophy and aim is for people to smile and have fun with Skitzmix. And because I have not taken a break from touring since 1995, basically I’ll release a Skitzmix, do a three month national tour and by the end of it all I’m starting the next Skitzmix and it starts all over again.” A vicious yet rewarding cycle.
Genre-wise, Nick has always positioned himself at the harder end of the spectrum, however, not without some caveats. “Music is funny,” he says. “It goes from house and then goes to something else and then comes around and back to house. But I’ve always kept my style and sound; basically I love Euro beats. That for me is what is great. Everyone can follow a trend; I created a brand and for me it works and I love it. You have different types of houses, like a wooden house or a brick house,” he says, laughing in jest. Interestingly – and given his extensive and illustrious career – Nick has been reluctant to fully embrace new technologies. “Some things I’m into and some I’m not; for example, technology has changed a lot. Sure you had your old purists playing vinyl but I’m still 50/50 on that. Now some people are saying the purists are playing the CDJs. As a DJ you need to stick your head into a box and decide what’s next. I’m not knocking it, but I like the old feel of things from back in the day – then again I’m older too; maybe the next generation will be different, I don’t know.”
Finally, Nick’s impressive resume reflects closely how hard he actually works. From producer, to DJ and label boss, to charismatic and outspoken elder statesman, the name Skitz is synonymous with a big night out. “Mate, I’ll be straight up; I’ve been touring interstate every week for over 15 years; I feel like Elvis and the Rolling Stones! It’s a great plan for me; I don’t get a lot of time off each year. Sometimes you get to these smaller places and it’s really refreshing – that’s why I’m just going to keep touring. I’m not quite passed my use-by date and I want to stay in Australia and while I’m really enjoying myself I want to keep going – that’s the future! As for the shows, I’ll be taking a couple of new MCs on tour just to add a bit of spice to the show – and of course it will feature the usual shenanigans. I try not to take my job too seriously and have fun and enjoy the ride!”
All aboard?
Nick Skitz’s [AUS] Skitz Mix 40 is out through Central Station Records.
