Nocturnal Spins A Block Party Featuring Wax'o Paradiso, Harvey Sutherland (DJ) & DJ JNETT
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Nocturnal Spins A Block Party Featuring Wax'o Paradiso, Harvey Sutherland (DJ) & DJ JNETT

Melbourne Museum’s commitment to presenting the best live performances continues with the next instalment of Nocturnal, which sees the transformation of the museum into an adult playground that features the latest bands and DJs performing live in the museum, with open bars, great food, roving entertainment, discussions with museum experts and learning experiences across collections, cultures and time.
This month, Nocturnal joins Waving at Trains to present a triple-treat of Wax’o Paradiso, Harvey Sutherland (DJ set) and DJ JNETT.
We chat to the legends, Wax’o Paradiso (AKA Andy Hart, Simon TK and Edd Fisher) ahead of their performance at the museum.
Hey, thanks so much for chatting to Forte. How are you and what are you up to at the moment?
We’re great thanks! We’ve just finished another whirlwind summer and now preparing for our last few parties before we head overseas for some shows in Asia and Europe over winter.
For those in our regional areas who may not have had the chance to experience what you guys do, can you give us a brief rundown of your sets – What type of vibe and music do you guys create?
The brief is pretty simple. Our parties generally feature our residents playing records all day and night (for those playing at home that’s Andy Hart, Edd Fisher, Simon TK, Millú and Pjenné) on a fantastic mixer and sound system. Location always plays a big role in what we do, so we’re always popping up in new and interesting landscapes. Our most recent party was a nice sunny day at the Fairfield Amphitheatre. Musically we’re pretty firmly rooted in soul, disco and their derivatives, though music from all corners of the genre map gets played.
Looking back, you guys are all distinguished record selectors in your own right, and you came together to curate a record party for Sydney’s Cake Wines in Melbourne. What’s kept you guys together, and what are the most important things for you in doing what you do?
We’re all best mates first and foremost, so that just about explains it! Wax’o Paradiso has always been a family affair, that’s pretty core to why we do what we do.
With three minds behind the party, you guys provide a pretty unique and versatile style of music. What are the benefits and perhaps challenges you have found in DJing as a trio? How does it work with all three of you behind the decks?
It’s a different sound to when any of us play solo. We all play very different styles to one another, but when we come together we still each have our own styles but we overlap nicely. Playing in a group of three (or more) people gives you time to roam around the party, see what the space may be wanting for musically, not to mention send someone to the bar on a Campari mission.
You have performed on floating rooftop gardens, luscious convents, shipping containers, train yards, supernatural amphitheatres and smack bang under the Sydney Harbour bridge. Next month you’ll be performing as part of Nocturnal’s Block Party in the museum. What do you enjoy about performing in these types of exciting spaces?
We’ve always tried to reflect our Antipodean location in what we do. We aren’t in Europe and running parties in nightclubs, we’re out in the open under native flora on hot sunny days. Our artwork is always influenced by famous Australian artists. Wax’o parties aren’t married to any venue, they’re free-roaming and very evocative of local context.
You guys clearly love what you do, being an integral part of the wider Melbourne music community outside your parties as well (with PBS 106.7FM’s Tomorrow Land, Club d’Errangé and Voyage Recordings). Where do you see Melbourne’s dance scene at the moment, and for the regional music lovers, why should they come down and experience it?
There are more people than ever putting time and energy into activating beautiful and unusual spaces for parties, Melbourne is quite rightly proud of where it’s scene is at right now. A few key dance venues have closed recently or are closing imminently, and the dance community is responding by getting really creative with how we express the need to have these spaces. Be a shame not to get amongst it!
Thanks for the chat guys! To finish off, what’s planned for the rest of 2018?
We have two more appearances as Wax’o Dystopio (our darker, winter disguise), a month of touring in Asia, then when it gets really cold we’ll be spending the European Summer playing some shows and chasing the sunshine. Thanks for having us! x
When & Where: Nocturnal @ Melbourne Museum, Melbourne – April 6, 7pm to midnight
Tickets via museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/whats-on/nocturnal/.