This is an archived interview from 2001 that ran in TRM, an Australian Street press.
It’s pretty safe to say that as a DJ, Sean Quinn really doesn’t have to answer to anyone. Ten years practice has developed his skill into something special, and ten years solid work has developed his fan base into something… well, fanatical.
It should come as no surprise then that when Stomp announced the launch of a new series of DJ mixed compilations through their newly developed EQ dance label (dedicated to showcasing all that is quality in the world of dance), Australia’s most highly regarded DJ — Quinn — was selected to mix the flagship release.
This release, titled Balance 001, further cements the royal-like status that we’ve all attributed to Quinn in the past few years, and the familiar history lesson is something that doesn’t really require another rehash. Quench, Our House, a “done everything there is to do” Australian DJing career, a “foot already in the door” fledgling international career — all ensured that his name has been burnt into the dance community’s conscience for years to come.
While the double disc, complete with Wallpaper*-esque artwork and quality Quinn tracklisting make for an impressive package, let’s face it, there’s been a hell of a lot of dance compilations to choose from lately. From the high-profile, widely distributed and heavily campaigned through to the obscure imports, the shelves at every dance department in every CD store across the country are groaning under the weight of the DJ-mixed dance compilation.
With almost every compilation bearing the licence of the “huge in Miami” tune or “Judge Jules canes it” track, the broad similarity in tracklisting means that many compilations are more or less the same product — not that this is always the DJ’s fault. What many don’t realise is that it’s generally the record company who chooses the tracks.
What makes Balance 001 a refreshingly rare exception is that Stomp entrusted Sean with complete artistic control — no dictation, no suggested direction.
Does he think that his popularity, possibly as the most recognised DJ in Australia, helped him negotiate that control?
And really, it’s hard to imagine that Sean would tack together an uninspired collage of hard house by numbers, given the pride he takes in weaving together sets for dancefloors every weekend.
His mixing skills have never been contested, and whether it is behind the decks at Summadayze, Republic or Q Bar, his mastery of programming has always been testament to his popularity.
While in front of a crowd his mind may be on the dancefloor, for Balance 001 his focus was to produce a more listenable selection that won’t necessarily have you clearing your lounge room carpet for dancing space.
For those only familiar with Sean’s big-event sets, the pace of Balance 001 may take them by surprise. The beautiful song-like “Mindcircus” by Way Out West and the more driving “Janeiro” by Solid Sessions together bookend a mix that encompasses genre elements of breaks, trance and progressive house, structured together in a carefully thought-out mix.
Like the ground-breaking compilations of Northern Exposure, it may be that Balance 001 will enjoy a more timeless popularity than many of the compilations released today.
While many of Sean’s contemporaries are busy releasing “in-the-moment” compilations featuring the greatest dancefloor fillers in the world… ever, many of the tracks featured on his CD are yet to be commercially released. Others are still currently doing rounds of the DJ elite in vinyl promo form.
Sean suggests this will add to the prospect of the compilation having a longer shelf life than your usual compilation.
To suggest that Balance 001 may continue to enjoy sales over the next few years calls on Quinn to make some serious speculation, but he is happy to predict that the compilation’s use-by date will not come quickly.
With three previous mixed CDs, a DJing schedule that makes the mind boggle, and an increasingly exciting career as a producer, it’s a curious question to wonder where Sean would find the time to do Balance 001. Or rather, why he would make the time.
The emblazoned name of a DJ on a high-profile mix CD not only gives the media something new to talk about, but more importantly acts almost like a public endorsement of the DJ’s popularity or credibility.
While Sean’s popularity or credibility hardly needs any help, it begs the question: is doing a mix CD more about creative fulfilment, or a necessary tool for maintaining a DJ profile?
Sean is quick to uphold the compilation as an important part of dance music culture, noting that a mixed effort can effectively act as a reflection of both the DJ and his or her scene, showcased to the rest of the world.
He does emphasise, however, that there has to be:
Wielding Balance 001 as possibly the closest reflection to what’s in Sean’s head right here, right now, it’s clear that the flagship release lies firmly in the latter category of creativity over commercialism.
It’s always been his ethos, after all, and given our respect for Sean, we wouldn’t expect anything else.\
