A chilled sojourn In classic downtempo and dreamy dub

Pip & Garth, aka Sydney DJs Pip Dalton and Garth Linton, slip into back-to-back mode to deliver a chilled 80-minutes of lazy goodness with plenty of halcyon throwbacks. Expect cuts from DJ Cam, Faithless, Dido, Eddie C, Andy Cato and many more.

Can you tell us about your journey into music and DJing? Do you recall a moment when electronic music first hit you?

Garth: The group Snap was my very first introduction to dance music after buying the album World Power from a garage sale in 1991. My mate and I put the record on and danced around like wannabe hip hop dancers in the lounge room. I was only 11 at the time but it’s interesting that I remember that moment so vividly. In terms of DJing, I bought my one and only pair of Technics 1200 MK2’s and a cheap Gemini mixer from Spank! Records in 2002 and started practicing. I still remember the moment when I first mixed two records effectively, it was like a light bulb moment. I literally put pair of DJ headphones on for the first time and meticulously practiced, trying to beat match with these two different Paul Van Dyk records for a month for several hours each day without any progress whatsoever. I didn't have anyone to teach me or give me practical tips so I really had to learn blind. I almost got to the point of accepting I could not do it then all of a sudden it clicked and I was able to split the left and right brain which allowed me to hear each track separately. I remember yelling out to mum and dad, “I can hear it!”

Back then only the elite were good enough to DJ in clubs and to be honest it wasn’t something that ever crossed my mind until I started getting better, which was a good 6 or 7 years later. I have to give special mention to Taylan Sadikoglu, who gave me my first paid gig in the early Church Of Techno days at The Forbes and being a big supporter of mine, later, as the offical Golden Cage resident.

Pip: Once I got through my RnB and hip hop loving phase as a young teenager, I started to fall in love with electronic music more and more. One moment that stuck with me is sharing headphones with my best friend on the school bus listening to Wild FM 9 on repeat on my discman. From there my love continued to evolve and once I finished high school all our friends started to become interested in clubbing and attending festivals and I was always the one who knew who was playing and when.  My dad was also a huge inspiration, as he would constantly have artists like Groove Armada, Massive Attack, Crazy Penis, St Germain, Air, and all of the Ministry of Sound Annuals and Chillout compilations constantly blaring through our house.

The desire to learn to DJ came about when I wanted to surprise my best friends at their wedding in 2012 with a DJ set. Garth and I were friends at the time and he offered to teach me. I only had a few months to learn but Garth was a great teacher so I managed to pull together a set. The hour set I had planned later turned into an 8-hour marathon set well into the morning and after that I was hooked.

How did playing as a duo come about? Have there been any memorable gigs?

Garth & Pip:  We’ve always had a significant crossover of music as well as both admiring each other’s. As our relationship grew so did our crossover of music, so it was inevitable that one day we would end up playing together.  Given the opportunity to warm up for Mood II Swing and Fred P was quite honourable. Also the few times we’ve played at Subsonic Festival have been real highlights, especially 2017. We dressed up as robots and opened with Kraftwerk’s ‘We are the Robots’ to a packed house and so many great friends.

What do you admire about each other’s approach to, or perspective on, music and DJing?

Garth: I still to this day have never seen anyone pick up the art of DJing as fast as Pip. Early 2012, before we were a couple, she told me she wanted to learn and I instantly offered to teach her. On an old pair of CDJ 1000 MK2’s which I had bought exclusively for the opportunity as I only owned turntables. We were literally going back-to-back after about half a dozen lessons. I was in disbelief and knew one day I had to put a ring on it.   Learning to mix records was probably even more incredible. She pretty much got it straight away. Her music selection is equally as incredible. Back before we had kids, we were playing gigs every weekend. We had so much more free time up our sleeve so we’d sit down separately and look for new music most nights. I reckon most of the time, the music Pip found would be better than the music I found, which is why there is no other DJ I’d rather see play than Pip. And also because at the time, we always seemed not to share music, so it was refreshing to hear something for the first time during her sets.

Pip: I know I’m probably biased, but Garth is one of the best DJs I know. Being a perfectionist, he pays extra attention to programming and how two records are being seamlessly blended together, which is probably why the first thing he taught me when learning to DJ was to cover up the bpm’s to truly get my ear in and not rely on the numbers on the screen. When it comes to music, if anyone knows Garth then they know how much that guy can “froth” on a specific tune or someone’s set. I love and admire the excitement and passion that comes out when he hears a good tune or a perfect transition and that excitement always has to be shared with someone…usually me!

How did you decide to approach your Lazydaze mix? Are there any particularly special tracks or moments in there for you?

Pip: Well it all started when we wanted to create a cruisey and relaxed mix for when I was in labour with our twin boys. Once we had both selected tunes we wanted to include and programmed them together, it got us thinking, and we actually joked that it would suit Lazydaze. Fast forward 18 months and here we are.

Garth: I’ve always loved Dido, with ‘My Life’ being my absolute favourite of hers. Also the track ‘Mad About You’ by Hooverphonic - it hit me like a train the very first time I heard it and I always wanted to include the song in a mix someday. I also cherish the Eddie C and Francis Inferno Orchestra records. They are both truly remarkable. I have a big love of the piano and Pip is classically trained so it was important some piano continued throughout the mix.

Pip: For me, each of the songs I selected takes me back to a moment or period of time in my life that brought me joy. Being a life-long lover of Groove Armada I also followed Andy Cato’s productions and mixes, so ‘Woodstock’ (released 2013) has been a firm favourite (or ‘moment tune’ as I call them) for a long time and I’m so glad I finally got to include it in a mix like this. Also ‘Sleepy Meadows of Buxton’ by Fenomenon is a beautiful track. I would often play it for my son, Tevo, in the car to send him to sleep as a baby. 

It’s Sunday afternoon in the Linton-Dalton household. What album are you reaching for?

Garth & Pip: One of us will reach for a clean nappie while the other reaches for a Sade album. We have Diamond Life and Promise, which were her debut and second albums. They really sound remarkable playing through the Carmen Condesa mixer. Every track on both albums are just incredible and so appropriate for a Sunday afternoon. Otherwise, any of Rabbit Taxi’s Smokers Lounge mixes, a Mushroom Jazz mix, or of course any previous Lazydaze mixes. If the fam feels like having a boogie, then a live Tevo Howard or Estimulo set is usually the go-to choice.

What have you got coming up gigs or music project wise? Anything you’d like to share?

Garth & Pip: Being parents of 3 young boys, we don’t get out and as much as we’d like to. And if you’re not regularly out supporting parties, the gigs don’t flow like they used to. We have, though, just been asked to play B2B at the Serenity Now Festival. It’s a little boutique festival in its second year with a strong focus on booking great vinyl selectors, so it was an honour to be recognised. It’s taking place Nov 17-19 in a secret location an hour north of Sydney.

You can check out the full tracklist for Pip & Garth’s mix over at SoundCloud.