Electro beats will let you shake it till you make it

TWO nights before Christmas, local DJ duo Sweat Dreams are set to give an early gift to electronic music lovers.

They’ll be on the decks at Volta on Friday, 23 December for the third Sweat Dreams Presents gig, featuring Juno Mamba and Frances Inferno Orchestra.

Sweat Dreams’ Julie McLaren said their aim is to run events like this every six months, in partnership with Lachy Anderson from Point of Departure, to build on the electronic music scene in Ballarat, and elevate artists they admire.

“It’s not always going to be just DJs up there playing, but also electronic music being produced live, which is why we’ve invited Juno Mamba along this time,” she said.

Juno Mamba, or Vinci Andanar, is originally from Ballarat and is a former member of successful local band Goldfields, and Frances Inferno Orchestra, or Griffin James, is a Melbourne DJ who plays all over the world.

“Juno Mamba has live elements which have been really electrifying at previous performances,” McLaren said.

Darren Newby and McLaren have been performing together as Sweat Dreams since 2016, playing an eclectic mix of EDM.

While they’re performing, she said they’re always physical and energetic, and have a goal to keep an audience surprised.

“We don’t play the same set each time but take it in turns to play a track each.

“We always respond to each other on the stage and connecting with the crowd is really important to us too,” McLaren said.

“We don’t necessarily go in with a pre-prepared set, but respond to the environment that we’re in, and the mood of people, to create a really good energy in the room.”

However, Newby said they do have one rule; if they dance to it, they play it.

“Sometimes it can be a bit silly, sometimes it will get serious, but everything always comes back around to being fun,” he said.

McLaren and Newby have been performing at Volta, and previously Karova, for many years.

“Without live music venues we wouldn’t be able to put on events like this,” McLaren said.

“Going and supporting live music, after the tough few years the industry has been through, is really important.”

The DJ duo are coming hot off a performance at music festival Spilt Milk and will head up to Byron Bay to play at Falls Festival on New Year’s Eve.

Visit bit.ly/3UOd7nr for tickets to Sweat Dreams Presents.