Magazines // September 2011 // MENU meets: Sebastian Wild
Half Wild is the brainchild of ex-Christchurch DJ Sebastian Wild. Aimed at only the most discerning of music lovers, the brand has already attracted thousands across the country with two tours in 2010. On a mission to put the soul back into dance music we catch up with Sebastian to find out what it’s all about.
MENU: Firstly, you seem like a man on a mission! Can you quickly summarize what Half Wild is all about?
WILD: That’s a tough one! Briefly, I guess it’s about giving people the chance to let loose for a night around other likeminded individuals and DJs who understand and respect where dance music has come from. And for those who haven’t been around long, a chance to experience what the true art form of DJing is about without getting the Beatport Top 10 banged out all in one hour.
MENU: How did the Carnivalesque tour go in 2010?
WILD: Quite simply - amazing. I was blown away by the support we received all over the country. Our attention to detail, especially to the branding and the programming of the nights didn’t go unnoticed and certainly paid off. Even those who have been and seen the best the world has to offer commented on the quality of our music policy, which I consider to be a tremendous achievement and signs that we’re accomplishing what we set out to do.
MENU: You seem extremely passionate about what you do. Has it always been that way?
WILD: Without a doubt! I’ve been doing events and DJing since I was 14 or 15 and ever since then dance music has been the biggest priority in my life, now at 23, it looks set to continue that way for sometime yet. Half Wild is just the next step in that evolution for me and I’ve designed it so it can grow with me.
MENU: What has been your greatest achievement within dance music so far?
WILD: Definitely the all-age brand I started in Christchurch called Nitrate. I look back now and I’m simply gob smacked at what we achieved. We literally cultivated the youth of a city into loving our gigs – and not with Gaga remixes, but true honest dance music played by the cities best. A highlight had to be selling out our 3rd Birthday event of 1000 people weeks before the gig!
MENU: You’ve been known to play all sorts of music over your DJ career, what are you playing these days?
WILD: Over the past few years my sound has changed drastically and now I’m playing some sort of fusion between progressive & techno with heaps of orchestral & jazzy type influences. I try and play driving and uplifting, without being cheesy or boring which allows me to bring the underground feel to my sets but still appeal to a wider audience. I’m loving the music I’m playing now more than I ever have & I think it’s the first time in my career I’ve managed to completely forge my own sound that is very unique & distinctive. It’s something that’s taken a long time, experience & a wide range of influences
MENU: It sounds like some new age fusion between Carl Cox & Digweed! Where can people hear your tunes?
WILD: Haha, I guess it is. Both those guys have been a huge inspiration for me! As for having a listen I highly recommend people just jump on iTunes and subscribe to the Half Wild: Podcast. On a bi-weekly basis it’s started getting a great following and it’s been an awesome project for me. We even air it nation-wide across stations like BopFM, PulzarFM & Fevah FM so alternatively you can tune in as well!
MENU: Aside for the tour what other exciting gigs are coming up this year?
WILD: The end of November should be a blast – I’m off to play at the Strawberry Fields Festival in Victoria, Australia. I attended last year and had an incredible time. Headlining acts already include the likes of Minilogue & 1200 Micrograms! People can check it out at www.strawberry-fields.com.au.
MENU: Any final words?
WILD: I can’t wait to get back out around the country! Last year I met loads of remarkable people who we’re right into what we we’re doing, and this year I hope to be the same. I’m also looking forward to playing with all the support DJs– many of them are doing awesome things in their local scenes!
Firstly, you seem like a man on a mission! Can you quickly summarize what Half Wild is all about?
That’s a tough one! Briefly, I guess it’s about giving people the chance to let loose for a night around other likeminded individuals and DJs who understand and respect where dance music has come from. And for those who haven’t been around long, a chance to experience what the true art form of DJing is about without getting the Beatport Top 10 banged out all in one hour.
How did the Carnivalesque tour go in 2010?
Quite simply - amazing. I was blown away by the support we received all over the country. Our attention to detail, especially to the branding and the programming of the nights didn’t go unnoticed and certainly paid off. Even those who have been and seen the best the world has to offer commented on the quality of our music policy, which I consider to be a tremendous achievement and signs that we’re accomplishing what we set out to do.
You seem extremely passionate about what you do. Has it always been that way?
Without a doubt! I’ve been doing events and DJing since I was 14 or 15 and ever since then dance music has been the biggest priority in my life, now at 23, it looks set to continue that way for sometime yet. Half Wild is just the next step in that evolution for me and I’ve designed it so it can grow with me.
What has been your greatest achievement within dance music so far?
Definitely the all-age brand I started in Christchurch called Nitrate. I look back now and I’m simply gob smacked at what we achieved. We literally cultivated the youth of a city into loving our gigs – and not with Gaga remixes, but true honest dance music played by the cities best. A highlight had to be selling out our 3rd Birthday event of 1000 people weeks before the gig!
You’ve been known to play all sorts of music over your DJ career, what are you playing these days?
Over the past few years my sound has changed drastically and now I’m playing some sort of fusion between progressive & techno with heaps of orchestral & jazzy type influences. I try and play driving and uplifting, without being cheesy or boring which allows me to bring the underground feel to my sets but still appeal to a wider audience. I’m loving the music I’m playing now more than I ever have & I think it’s the first time in my career I’ve managed to completely forge my own sound that is very unique & distinctive. It’s something that’s taken a long time, experience & a wide range of influences
It sounds like some new age fusion between Carl Cox & Digweed! Where can people hear your tunes?
Haha, I guess it is. Both those guys have been a huge inspiration for me! As for having a listen I highly recommend people just jump on iTunes and subscribe to the Half Wild: Podcast. On a bi-weekly basis it’s started getting a great following and it’s been an awesome project for me. We even air it nation-wide across stations like BopFM, PulzarFM & Fevah FM so alternatively you can tune in as well!
Aside for the tour what other exciting gigs are coming
Firstly, you seem like a man on a mission! Can you quickly summarize what Half Wild is all about?
That’s a tough one! Briefly, I guess it’s about giving people the chance to let loose for a night around other likeminded individuals and DJs who understand and respect where dance music has come from. And for those who haven’t been around long, a chance to experience what the true art form of DJing is about without getting the Beatport Top 10 banged out all in one hour.
How did the Carnivalesque tour go in 2010?
Quite simply - amazing. I was blown away by the support we received all over the country. Our attention to detail, especially to the branding and the programming of the nights didn’t go unnoticed and certainly paid off. Even those who have been and seen the best the world has to offer commented on the quality of our music policy, which I consider to be a tremendous achievement and signs that we’re accomplishing what we set out to do.
You seem extremely passionate about what you do. Has it always been that way?
Without a doubt! I’ve been doing events and DJing since I was 14 or 15 and ever since then dance music has been the biggest priority in my life, now at 23, it looks set to continue that way for sometime yet. Half Wild is just the next step in that evolution for me and I’ve designed it so it can grow with me.
What has been your greatest achievement within dance music so far?
Definitely the all-age brand I started in Christchurch called Nitrate. I look back now and I’m simply gob smacked at what we achieved. We literally cultivated the youth of a city into loving our gigs – and not with Gaga remixes, but true honest dance music played by the cities best. A highlight had to be selling out our 3rd Birthday event of 1000 people weeks before the gig!
You’ve been known to play all sorts of music over your DJ career, what are you playing these days?
Over the past few years my sound has changed drastically and now I’m playing some sort of fusion between progressive & techno with heaps of orchestral & jazzy type influences. I try and play driving and uplifting, without being cheesy or boring which allows me to bring the underground feel to my sets but still appeal to a wider audience. I’m loving the music I’m playing now more than I ever have & I think it’s the first time in my career I’ve managed to completely forge my own sound that is very unique & distinctive. It’s something that’s taken a long time, experience & a wide range of influences
It sounds like some new age fusion between Carl Cox & Digweed! Where can people hear your tunes?
Haha, I guess it is. Both those guys have been a huge inspiration for me! As for having a listen I highly recommend people just jump on iTunes and subscribe to the Half Wild: Podcast. On a bi-weekly basis it’s started getting a great following and it’s been an awesome project for me. We even air it nation-wide across stations like BopFM, PulzarFM & Fevah FM so alternatively you can tune in as well!
Aside for the tour what other exciting gigs are coming up this year?
The end of November should be a blast – I’m off to play at the Strawberry Fields Festival in Victoria, Australia. I attended last year and had an incredible time. Headlining acts already include the likes of Minilogue & 1200 Micrograms! People can check it out at www.strawberry-fields.com.au.
Any final words?
I can’t wait to get back out around the country! Last year I met loads of remarkable people who we’re right into what we we’re doing, and this year I hope to be the same. I’m also looking forward to playing with all the support DJs– many of them are doing awesome things in their local scenes!
up this year?
The end of November should be a blast – I’m off to play at the Strawberry Fields Festival in Victoria, Australia. I attended last year and had an incredible time. Headlining acts already include the likes of Minilogue & 1200 Micrograms! People can check it out at www.strawberry-fields.com.au.
Any final words?
I can’t wait to get back out around the country! Last year I met loads of remarkable people who we’re right into what we we’re doing, and this year I hope to be the same. I’m also looking forward to playing with all the support DJs– many of them are doing awesome things in their local scenes!
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