Pelvis Celebrate All That's Decadent

Sydney dance parties are too often thrown into what I call the "white jeans rave" category. People think that just because people in Sydney jog everywhere they must own 40 "going out" tank tops and dance to Kesha all night. In reality as hard as it is to admit, not only do they have the sun, sea, and babes—they also probably have some of the best parties in the country. You can thank the appropriately named Pelvis for that. This year the DJ crew have been putting on parties, making tracks, and producing videos. In our current human for it's not really possible to make love to the Internet, but Pelvis do come pretty close.

THUMP: So for my own notes, how do you describe Pelvis? You're not really a typical DJ crew.

Pelvis: A naughty nocturnal retreat with that fabulous soundtrack, celebrating all that is decadent in dance.

I should point out that despite being a collective you keep your names out of all this. Why the secrecy?

There's no intentional secrecy. This may appear to be the case because instead of the usual formula where slick disc jockeys stand on a stage and wave to crowds we stay slightly aloof so that the emphasis is on the party, the music, the visuals, the space and most importantly the dancers. These things together form Pelvis. Parties are about who comes to them not who hosts them.

Why Pelvis though? Is there anything especially sexy or important about that body part?

It's a hip joint, the junction of dance and intercourse; the birthplace of the Dalai Lama and also George Clinton.

Yeah I guess they don't get a lot of credit. You guys have a strong design element; do you think there's a natural relationship between EDM and art?

Music is only one dimension of dance. Visually, there is an endless stream of exciting and outrageous sources. We want to celebrate that, just as much as the music. We don't think it's specific to electronic dance music, but it's a natural component of a hosting a party.

How is the Australian party scene unique?

Sydney is unique because a lot of people do their partying with an alarm their pocket set for a swim the next morning. Although there are great parties that go late, they are more the exception than the rule.

Why is that?

The surf is going to be pumping tomorrow.

Such a Sydney answer, beyond the beach is there anything Sydney is doing that stands apart globally and locally?

Sydney stands out in some ways because it's so small, and there are so few venues bringing out quality internationals. Everyone seems to gain a broader appreciation and knowledge of what is going on, people are less solely devoted to genres than they are perhaps in the UK or America,

For a long time Australians have been such Europhiles though, do you think people are beginning to look to Australia for innovative stuff?

Maybe. Although we're pretty boring compared to Africa, Japan and Indonesia. Perhaps people look to Australia for fresh ways of seeing or interpreting things.

What would you like to see more of in the scene?

People putting the effort in to offer an experience outside of a person behind a mixer; more and more fun till later and later, and more and more dancing to better and better music.

What needs to change for Australian EDM and parties to really be recognised on a global scale?

Sound systems need to be better, it would also be great to see people going out more—risk more injuries on the dance floor.

I hope you guys don't get sued. How much time to you spend on the Internet? Web culture seems to be a theme.

Web culture isn't a purposeful theme; it is just something that happens. The web is a great place for learning, living in Australia the only real way you can learn about the history of dance as it's evolved internationally is through books or the Internet. Not to say Australia has not been important in its development as well: Severed Heads, RAT Parties, Mardi Gras, SPK and a whole host of other music and extra sensory elements that Australians are responsible for are important to us.

The Internet is the best record store the world has ever known and a lot of the ideas that have gone into way we throw parties have come from knowledge we've gained online, but the party itself is a smoky reality far removed from anything digital.

When you started did you say: this is what we want to to be—this is what it should look like? Or was it an organic development? 

It has been a simple formula and we've stuck to it since the beginning: a dance party.

Follow Wendy on Twitter: @Wendywends

Check out more from Pelvis here.