MIAMI BLOG: DAY THREE
We head to the Sweat It Out showcase to talk all things Aussie house!
Following Thursday night’s epic party proceedings with the Faceless crew downtown, we wake up on Friday with achy feet and a fuzzy head. A bucket of black coffee sets us right, as we get ready to jet out to the Sweat It Out showcase on Collins, after a quick stop off at Maxine’s for a feed.
Responsible for some of Australia’s most seminal releases over the last decade, Sweat It Out’s catalogue couldn’t be more of a perfect fit for Miami – it’s sunny and bass heavy in equal measure.
The party is in full swing by the time we arrive, with label heads Yolanda Be Cool commanding the booth, surrounded by a bevy of Aussie beauties sporting bikinis and bucket hats. Key players in the Australia’s electro scene since the mid noughties, Yolanda Be Cool spin their standard fare of ballsy electro bangers and summertime anthems with added tropical bass, before we head up to the green room for a quick chat and a well timed G&T.
In the green room, the family vibes are going strong, proving just why Sweat It Out remains one of Australia’s most beloved imprints. We spot label alumni and uber trendy DJ, Anna Lunoe who’s just jetted in earlier that day. Lunoe relocated from Sydney to the States around four years ago, so her appearance at Sweat It Out’s Miami showcase feels suitably nostalgic.
We joke about the Brisbane dance scene with local legend and infamous party boy, Danny T, as Wax Motif roll past with a friendly wave. Then there’s MTV golden girl and Triple J radio host, Kristy Lee Peters – AJA KLP – who’s typically smiley and jovial, plus Sydney club heroes and house producers, Set Mo, who wrapped up their first European tour late last year.
As we peer outside the window and down in to the pool area, the crowd is going off to the bass bleeding sound of Aussie house legends, What So Not. Nobody seems to notice the ominous black clouds gathering over the beach at an alarming rate, as thick raindrops start to splash down on the heaving throng. Soon it’s raining so hard that the party is almost called off, before someone whacks a massive tarp over the decks.
After an hour-long chat with Yolanda Be Cool (pictured below), we decide it’s time to call it a day as the sound of ‘This Is Sick’ by Solid Groove blasts thickly out from the Funktion One. As we jump (soaking wet) into a cab, we think momentarily about kicking on. Instead, we decide to save it for tomorrow and arguably the best party of WMC. Roll on Damian Lazarus and Get Lost!
