Ben Cromack
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Biografía
- In a country where dj talent is in abundance and competition is fierce, the struggle to stand out from the rest is not an easy task. At the age of 23 Ben Cromack has made a niche for himself in Melbourne’s all-embracing electronic music community. His..After a small taste on the turntables at home with friends, Ben developed a love and dedication to techno and the art of mixing. His extensive range of musical tastes stem from as early as his primary school years. Having lived in different cities of the world due to his father’s Army career, he was thrown into a plethora of cultural experiences. Eventually settling in Melbourne with his family in 1993 with a knowledge that very few people of his age were yet to acquire. Ben started to listen to alternative forms of music very early on in his life. Firstly, introduced to Hip-Hop by his older cousin, owning his first record collection at eight years of age. Hip Hop syndicates like Run DMC, Public Enemy, E.P.M.D & LL Cool J were the flavour of his childhood days. From the B.Boy Culture his tastes moved right through to the other side of the music scale, Punk & Metal. Listening to the likes of Sepultura, Suicidal Tendencies, and Dead Kennedy’s. After going to his first “rave” party, Ben started to appreciate this genre that we now call Techno, trading in the Metal for the acetate. His wide musical interests don’t stop there, Jazz and Funk are other genres which have helped shape his extremely smooth and funky techno sets, James Brown and Dizzy Gillespie two of which gave Ben the true meaning of soul in music. Strong influences to his electronic transformation are producers/djs Oliver Ho, Rue East, and Jeff Mills, of course these are just to name a few. His adoration for tribal music from around the world is evident in the style of techno that he plays. A style that is unique, fresh and so very easy to move to. Percussive and funky is how he likes it, minimal yet feverish. From gritty Detroit-like minimal injected with some seriously funky booty house to a sexy and haunting tribal tech, Ben incorporates all these sounds and more into his dj sets. House music also shares an equal part in Ben’s heart and he easily adapts to his surroundings and knows exactly how to read a crowd, whether the crowd be up for some tough bottom heavy techno or warm soulful house, Ben will pick up on the vibe and run with it to get any stagnant dancefloor moving. His precise mixing and layering of tracks on 3 decks is a marvel to watch and has left many a punter and fellow dj awestruck. Richard McNeil a.k.a. Richie Rich, one of Melbourne’s most influential figures in the electronic music scene & the man behind the Hardware Corporation was the person to give Ben his first break, making his djing debut at Hardware Universe 99. Since then Ben has supported the likes of Deetron, G-Force, Dave Angel, Thomas Shumacher, Adam Beyer, Peter Benisch, Charles Siegling Patrick Lindsay, Monika Kruze, Technasia, Jay Denham, Ade Fenton, Pacou, Jeff Mills and been billed alongside some of the world’s finest techno talent; James Ruskin, Surgeon, Cari Lekebusch, Dave Clarke, CJ Bolland, Laurent Garnier, Space Djz, Marco Carola, Gaetano Parisio, Richie Hawtin and Sven Vath. In only a few years Ben has also had two club residencies, Fourplay (Hardware’s Tech-House weekly night) and a weekly techno night; Fokus. He has also made special guest appearances at some of Melbourne’s most longest running and respected club nights; Teriyaki, Filter, Centriphugal, @mosphere, and Maracca. Ben’s love for music spilled into his full-time job as Manager of Hardware records for over a year and a half, where he ordered techno and had a hand in helping to compile the Hardware concept compilation CD’s. Currently Ben is working at Onestop and is in charge of all House and Techno ordering. His good presence behind the decks and the love and dedication for what he does is so evident that he has made quite an impression on his older counterparts. Fresh, innovative, passionate and definitely a valuable addition to the Australian electronic music whirlpool.