By Nicole Fitzgerald
Who: Hook n Sling
When: Thursday, June 21
Where: Tommy Africa’s
Tickets: $8
Hook n Sling never hit the international stage until the release of his hit single Vegas Heat in 2006, which received multiple airplays on Radio 1, Kiss FM and Triple J across Australia. However, only a year later the up and comer is already partnering with one of Australia’s biggest turntable legends, Kid Kenobi.
“We met in Sydney,” Hook n Sling recalls. “We were hanging out, having a few drinks together and I used to give him a few of my records when I first started out.”
Over the phone, I caught up with Hook n Sling, who sounded like he was having the time of his life in Ibiza. While this wasn’t his first trip to the dance music centre of the world, he was stepping up to the tables as a feature talent for the first time.
He played the Space Nightclub alongside world-class heavyweights Tom Novy, Carl Cox and Danny Tenaglia.
North America is his next stop, with his dirty house touching down in Whistler on Thursday, June 21 at Tommy Africa’s as part of the Party Beats Summer Series kick off.
Both growing up in the music of early 2000, Hook n Sling and Kid Kenobi tuned into the same kind of style and youthful energy. So much so, The Bump, a track that notched up three Pete Tong plays and a Buzz Chart no. 1, came about — literally.
“We have very similar tastes, “ Hook n Sling said. “The Bump came about because we both had the exact same idea for a track before we were ever talking about it, so we are on the same wave length.”
But Hook n Sling bears his own distinct mark, one that is taking Australia by storm.
“He’s almost a combo of Dirty South and Kid,” said show producer Jon Tischuk. “He’s created his own style within the two. Kid is breaks and electro and Dirty is real dirty party vibe. Hook sits right in the middle.”
Big tracks and strong remixes such as Sarah McLeod’s He Doesn’t Love You are helping his climb to fame.
He is currently working on new remixes with the Stanton Warriors and Matijn Ten Velden, but originals are also in the works.
“If I had to describe it, I would call it bass line-driven house music,” he said. “It’s full of techy sounds as well.”
Local DJs JT and Mike Grefner will host opening sets of chunky house, electro and breaks at 9:30 p.m.
Advance $8 tickets are available at The Mix, The Hub Creekside and Tommy’s.
