GQ: Hey Grant, thanks for chatting to GenQ!
How are you?

GS: Going very well thanks... Looking forward to summer arriving very soon!

GQ: You must still be riding high after the tremendous year you have had, including success with TV Rock, Famous, and your new compilation ‘Audio Riot’ and consequent tour?

GS: Yes it has been a great year, we have been very lucky with the success that we have had with TV Rock and on a personal note as a DJ it has been a lot of fun playing a lot of places that I have never been before, especially in Europe and my new CD ‘Audio Riot’ has been great fun compiling and mixing and taking the show around the nation. We took a massive Pioneer rig with us on the road as well, it was a lot of work, but was fantastic.

GQ: You recently enjoyed tremendous success with ‘Flaunt It’ and ‘The Others’(Vs Dukes of Windsor). Tell us a bit about how TV Rock was formed.

GS: We actually met at the Prince of Wales over a beer at the bar. I just finished playing there and Ivan came for a peek. We did one remix together that went quite well and that turned into one day a week in the studio that grew into 2 and then became full time! Our first release as TV Rock was Flaunt It and the rest as they say is history.

GQ: You have also been a household name with fellow DJ John Course in Nova’s ‘Overdrive’ program. What’s the personal benefits you derive from dj’ing on radio?

GS: I just love doing the radio show. We get to play some really cool records on the show and it allows us to break some new things in club land. It’s great that it gets heard in the wider community and we are lucky enough for the show to be rating really well. As far as what we get out of it, I guess it makes you more of a household name and cements your place in the DJ world, but we do it for the love not the money.

GQ: You seem to be a Jack of all Trades, playing live gigs at Festivals, sets at clubs, running a radio program, creating remixes of songs, and releasing your own compilations. What is the most rewarding part of what you do?
GS: I think it is just all an extension of what I do and love- being music. I think if what I do benefits our industry somewhat then I can be satisfied.

GQ: The weather is starting to hot up, and hence so are Australia’s Summer Dance Festivals! What can Melbournians expect from Grant Smillie at the Stereosonic Festival on Dec 1?

GS: A heap of new material that we have been working on in the studio and also the new sound that we are pushing for 2008. Festivals are great because people come with an open mind and a party attitude... Meaning that the atmosphere is electric and you can play lots of upfront tunes... Its going to rock.

GQ: After such a killer year, what’s in store for Grant Smillie in 2008?

GS: I will be doing a couple of mix comps including the first TV Rock mix comp and one mid year that should be a cracker which I can’t announce just yet. TV Rock will also put out 5 new records in the first part of 2008 that we are really excited about and I think will give us a new look and feel while still paying some homage to our past. I think it’s time for some new flavour into our scene here. Also we will be touring Europe, Asia and America at various points throughout the year and Overdrive will be expanding into new markets so its exciting times.

GQ: Do you have anything additional to say to the GenQ readers?

GS: This will be a hot summer and lots of great party’s... I hope you bring your dancing shoes!

Thanks for chatting to us Grant and all the best for future endeavors!

For more information on the Stereosonic Dance Festival, click here

Tags: Grant Smillie