A quick word with… Megadon Betamax

Great name, even better music. Specialising in nu-disco with a positively sunny slant, Megadon Betamax, AKA Mostyn Rischmueller plays audio tonic on Friday February 10 as part of their local showcase. Here\'s what he has to say for himself…

What\'s your favorite piece of hardware or software that\'s in your studio ?
 
Definitely my MPC4000, followed closely by my new power toy,  Dave Smith Tetra synth.
You are a resident in Dubai, what brings you here and what do you do for living ?
 
I originally came out here about 4 years ago as my parents were living here; my girl and I really needed a change from the Sydney rat race.  I work in entertainment media/marketing, hustling for branded content, sponsorship and product placement  deals.. Plus the occasional music production gig (check out new iOS game Subtub for maximum cheese factor).
 
Are all 3 of the Megadon Betamax family with you now in Dubai ?
 
No, just me here, the other two guys who I work on Megadon tracks with are still in Sydney.  That\'s the great thing about the internet, I send them new tracks and they replay/add new parts in their own studios; I get their bits back and mix the final tracks here. They\'ve both got an incredible selection of vintage synths, guitars and magic analog machinery; we really try hard to find \'that\' warm late 70s/early 80s sound. A mate of mine in Dubai has also been pitching in lately, on our latest release for example (Falling), so it\'s nice to have someone real in the lab working with you from time to time.

You been involved in Hip Hop back in the day what made you move to Disco ?
 
I\'ve always listened to, sampled and spun from a large cross section of music, especially soul, boogie, disco and funk tracks (which hip hop led me to discover really). Playing records at the same tempo all night has never been of much interest to me, I much prefer DJs who work there way up from through tempos and genres, from soul through to hip hop through to disco and so on. That being said, I will always love classic and underground hip hop, as it is a big part of who I am and will always be.
 
Is there a record that you would play today and have played 5 years ago …
 
Quite a few most definitely, especially favourites like WIlliam DeVaughan\'s \'Be Thankful..\'
(other notables Mary Jane Girls \'All Night Long\', Freez \'IOU\', Vaughan Mason and Crew \'Bounce Rock Skate\' and Zapp \'Dancefloor\').
 
What advice would you give to young up and coming DJs?
 
Don\'t just play what your favourite DJs are playing or what everyone recognises (or worse still, requests); you have an enormous advantage in comparison to those who started DJing years ago, the web is an amazing tool to discover amazing music (not just to get shit for free), so do your research, learn some history. Dance music has been around for decades and a lot of it still stands the test of time. Oh, and please buy your music: vinyl, CD, wavs whatever. Support those artists you like, where and whenever you can.
 
What’s the funniest thing that has ever happened to you at an event ?
 
Probably while playing at the most recent Rugby Sevens; there was a fair bit of carnage by this stage, a lot of which I missed, but the funniest moment was when this girl slipped over in the middle of the dance floor, which had by then transformed into a big pool of skanky beer. Lying face down, she just laughed uncontrollably; her friends tried to help her up, but decided it was too slippery, so instead they dragged her all the way across the dance floor by her feet, where she proved her worth as some kind of laughing beer mop...    
 
Megadon Betamax … that’s a unique name how did that come about ?
 
I have a bit of a penchant for coming up with funny band/DJ names (especially when down the pub), so Megadon came from an ever expanding list of varying stupidity. We all liked it as it doesn\'t really allude to whether we are human or not, more of a platform to focus just on the music rather then the personalities within which seems to have worked nicely so far. Although I am essentially the constant in the equation (obviously also spinning records under the name) I like to think everything is flexible and interchangeable with Megadon, kind of like some Voltronesque boogie robot.
 
What do you say when someone from the crowd requests you to play something that you know you will never play …
 
Sorry, I only have these two records with me tonight, but perhaps ask the guy playing next. (NB. important to block view of laptop/serato/tractor when running with this response).


Megadon Betamax, will be playing at 360 for more info CLICK HERE