Friends of breaks pioneer Phil K really pulled it out of the bag. They curated a 12-hour Phil K tribute show in memory of the much loved DJ and producer. It was broadcast on Kiss FM in Melbourne, on 18th December. You can replay over seven hours of the ‘Phil K – Friday Tapes Tribute’ show on the station’s YouTube channel here.
A celebration of Phil’s life, the show is an epic session of music, memories and laughs. Phil passed away from cancer on 1st November. He was 51. He was our friend.
Production Aliases
An extraordinary human, Phil was at the heart of Melbourne’s electronic music scene from the start. At the forefront of “Aussie breaks”, Phil’s love for music transcended genres and he’d weave ambient, tech-house and tribal into his DJ sets. He loved to collaborate in the studio and produced under a number of aliases including The Free Radicals, Lostep, The Operators, Future Renegades and Hi-Fi Bugs.
Master of Machines
An incredible DJ and producer, Phil’s technical prowess was mind-blowing. He dove into the intricacies of new technology and tamed machines, making DJ kit work in ways that surprised even its manufacturers. An exceptional DJ with natural flair, Phil DJed across Australia, America, the UK and Europe.
“The perfect DJ is someone who is right in the middle, someone who can entertain an audience and capture anyone, at any level, in addition to opening their minds to new sounds,” Phil once said in an interview. “First of all you have to prove that you can make people dance. Then, after that, you can start to educate audiences.”
Tribute Show
The marathon show is packed with Phil’s sets, guest sets inspired by his music, interviews and messages from familiar DJ names. Producers Danny Bonnici and Luke Chable – two of Phil’s studio buddies – reminisce about the tracks they made with Phil.
There’s talk of another Phil K Tribute show in May to mark his birthday. It’s a beautiful way to keep his memory alive.
Photos: Jessica Middleton
