I first met D'mitry and Antonio after an Extra Dirty party a few years back. They'd flown over from Auckland a few times to party with us and had recently embarked on their own queer techno night, SIR.
I had the pleasure of playing at SIR last year and it was incredible! We're now firm friends and consider the SIR crew Extra Dirty fam.
Tell us a bit about yourselves and how you got into DJing.
MBVR / Antonio: I spent my childhood growing up in the magical island of Bali to a Balinese mother and a Peruvian father. My family moved to New Zealand in 2003 where I’ve been ever since. My parents put me and my siblings through music lessons from when I was 5 years old but I lost touch with music after high school.
Growing up with very religious parents and being homeschooled, non-Christian music playing at home was RARE. After starting university I remember feeling this desperate need to catch up on all things music. From Queen to Beyonce to DJ Tiesto.
Apart from my passion for music, I found myself wishing I could dance to more than just the remixes of top 40 music at the circuit parties! So I decided to dabble on my laptop using Virtual DJ and in 2020 I bought my first controller.
I never expected to be where I am now with DJ’ing as I didn’t start it with any intention of becoming famous or playing to large crowds. Since starting, the thing I enjoy most is watching people lose themselves to the music whether that’s on the Extra Dirty stage or a house party in New Zealand.
L2TP / Dmitry: I am a late-Soviet born export to kiwiland who very recently jumped across the pond to Melbourne. I’ve been into music as far back as I have memories.
My first recollection of playing music for others is from when I must’ve been 11 or so. I brought my single tape & CD boombox to the school disco of sorts back in Russia and put on things that I was into like early Prodigy. I didn’t go much further with it until I was at uni in NZ and did a short dj course and learnt the basics of vinyl. I then again put that on hold for over a decade as it was too expensive to get into at the time and then life took over.
I finally rediscovered my interest in DJing when I came to a house party where Antonio was DJing just as he was starting out. I remember sneakily looking over his shoulder to see what he was doing and thought it may be time to finally give this a proper go.
The last straw was helping Antonio set up a PA for the first party he and a friend put on at a club. I dug out my decade old USB mixer, downloaded VirtualDJ and pressed play on “Your Love” by Frankie Knuckles and Jamie Principle. That was just about 3 years ago, so I’d say things escalated pretty quickly!
How’d you boys meet?
D'mirty: Antonio has been very close friends with my sister-in-law since school and we'd met briefly around 10 years ago.
But really it was in early 2020 when we met properly and started hanging out after Antonio and my sister-in-law dragged my wife and I to Auckland's prominent gay party. About a year later I took it upon himself to become an unofficial sound tech for Antonio’s first club party and then our friendship really blossomed. Music and events were really what we initially clicked over.
Tell us about SIR... your motivations and ambitions.
The queer techno scene in Auckland was virtually non-existent in 2020. We first decided to test the waters and see whether there was any interest with a party called “Play”. It would start off with Circuit/House music and then gradually build to techno. We had two sellout events and the feedback was very positive.
A few months later (after covid settled down) we decided to host an after party for one of the largest pride parties in Auckland. Starting at 3am running through to 8am playing pure, unadulterated TECHNO. It was a huge hit and we realised we had something special that we needed to build on.
We created SIR as an unapologetically inclusive queer-first techno event. We try to work with queer people in every part of the production from DJ’s, performers, photographers, etc.
Why SIR, the name? Well. We loved the juxtaposition between a dominating word like SIR paired with the hot pink aesthetic we created. SIR also stands for SLAP IT RUFF.
Since we started with house parties, we loved the intimacy that comes with smaller private events. From the first SIR till now we’ve been working hard to keep this feeling for our crowd. This seems to be working, our people keep telling us how “at home” they feel at the SIR events. [Follow the
SIR page.]
You boys took a tour of Europe last year and found your way into some pretty cool festivals. Have you each got a fave dance floor moment you’d like to share?
Antonio: I quit my job to travel in Europe for nearly 3 months! And I do not regret it.
From the incredible headliners at Loveland Festival to the hot sweaty Church club in Amsterdam. It was a speedy start, but the highlight of my entire trip was definitely the three weeks I spent in Berlin. I got to experience first hand why Techno in Berlin is legendary by visiting venues like Berghain, KitKat, Tresor, OST and even got to meet Extra Dirty Alum, Ben Manson.
Dmitry: So so many… A stunning moment was at Defected Croatia house music festival, when time flew by between 2am and 5am at an outdoor club with an incredible sound system and it started drizzling with the sky becoming full of diamonds from the lights and the lasers. Absolutely magical.
As far as techno moments from the trip, Adam Beyer closing the biggest stage at the Loveland festival in Amsterdam.
What’s currently on high rotation on your spotify?
Antonio: Right now it’s a tie between.. Desire by Tove Lo, SG Lewis AND Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan.
Dmitry: I’ve been spending more time on Soundcloud lately listening to DJ sets. Two artists I keep coming back to are Township Rebellion with their live sets - I want to be as fluid with mixing genres as these guys are! And an Auckland local who we recently booked to play at SIR, Miami Wine Cooler - I absolutely love the vintage italo disco gems she digs out!
Fave techno track at the moment? Fave techno track of all time?
Antonio: Fave track of the moment - “Garten der Lust” by Kalte Liebe. I love these kind of rolling bass lines and the Kraftwerk-esque vocals
Honestly, my answer for favourite track of all time changes all the time! But if I had to say one track that always gives me the butterflies, it’s Give It To Me by Lacchesi and Mac Declos.
Dmitry: At the moment: I’ve been sitting on this one for a while but finally managed to work it into a set recently, “Feel Your Love” by INKONTROL (from Melbourne!). It’s a bit of a monster.
All time: Hard to choose but I think it's got to be Sam Paganini’s Rave in its many variations.
How does the dynamic change from playing solo to playing together/B2B?
We are both known to be quite meticulous with our solo set construction. A lot of crate digging, planning the narrative or “journey”, rearranging, sometimes throwing everything out and starting again on the day of the gig… Over the top, basically, haha.
When we play together though, we have to do everything right there in the moment on the spot, obviously, as we are constantly riffing off of each other. One would play a track, and the other would be trying their best to find the next one to complement it, or to make a change in the pace or mood. So it’s a constant creative “conversation” that we are having. It’s an awesome challenge and thrill for both of us because we have distinct tastes and our music libraries are quite different.
There must be some kind of techno mind-meld going on. You’ll have to join us at ED to experience it for yourself!
Antonio: Like any good homosexual at a party I will never turn down a Vodka + Soda!
Dmitry: I love a good beer but if I am DJing then G&T is my go to.
Five words to describe what we can expect from you at ED?
Ruff, dirty, sexy double trouble.
Anything you’d like to add?
Don’t forget to give somebody a big bear hug on the dance floor! Because who doesn’t love this! Spread the love!
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Mel: Love it. Thanks boys, can't wait for the double trouble. 😁
And if any of you queers feel like a weekend in Auckland, try to line it up with a SIR party. They're a top crew and the techno is absolutely superb.
MBVR and Late To The Party go back to back at Extra Dirty this coming long weekend. Get ya tickets here.
