Jetsetter. Celebrity Trainspotter. TV host. Partystarter. All in a days work for Tyson O’Brien, the DJ and producer better known as Generik who’s converted a lifestyle of good music and good times into a grassroots following the size of an small army.
Fast-talking and freewheeling, Generik embodies the fresh-faced spirit of EDM. Plucked from the backroom club parties of Australia by Calvin Harris after being discovered by the icon at Stereosonic in 2013, Generik has since sweated it out on stages across the globe and has been championed by the likes of Diplo and Skrillex for his party-starting ways.
A few weeks ago during Miami Music Week, we had the chance to catch up with the DJ for a quick chat. He spoke about working with Calvin, what he looks for in a song he goes to remix and much more.
Check it out below and enjoy!
Being from Australia, do you notice that a lot of the music being produced by artists from there is a bit more forward thinking and complex than what American and European producers are putting out? If so, why do you think Australian artists don’t play it as safe?
Generik: Aussies are pretty laid-back and just do what they like. I wouldn’t say they are taking more risks, we’re just experimenting as we don’t have the dance music culture like the Europeans and Americans have to compare to.
You open for Calvin Harris a lot – talk about how you two first met and what it’s like working with one of the biggest artists in the world. Also, any fun stories you can share?
Generik: We meet a few years ago at Stereosonic in Australia and stayed in contact. He’s a super talented guy and just being around him I learn a lot.
Have you and Calvin ever discussed the possibility of a collab?
Generik: [Laughs] No we haven’t had that discussion yet.
How did you first get into electronic dance music?
Generik: I was at Big Day Out when I was 18 and saw 2ManyDJs play. They blew my mind with the way they were mixing dance music with rock and roll and indie. From that point on I was hooked and I knew dance music was what I wanted to do.
Where did the name Generik come from?
Generik: My mom gave me the idea for it actually. I got my first gig and I needed a name. She said, “make sure it’s nothing generic,” which I thought was funny. And from there I came up with Generik.
How often do you get to go home to Australia and what do you miss most about it?
Generik: I’ve only been home once since I moved to LA in February, and that was for three days. I miss my mom’s cooking, friends and the best beer in the world, VB (Victorian Bitter).
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Generik: Hopefully I’ll be doing what I’m doing now just on a bigger and better level. I wan to keep playing great shows all around the world and working with amazing people in the studio creating fresh tracks.
You’ve done a lot of really great remixes – what do you look for in a song before you decide to remix it?
Generik: Ideally, a great vocal. But part of remixing is creating something yourself as well, so mainly I just need to get good vibes from it.
Tell us something about yourself that people may not know.
Generik: I sang in the church choir when I was younger, so one day you might hear my voice on a record of mine.
What do you have coming up in terms of new music?
Generik: I have TONS of new tunes coming up. I recently finished my next single, “Late At Night,” which should be appearing very soon. I also have a record with A*M*E* which is almost done and a bunch of remixes that I’m currently working on.
That concludes our interview, but we’d like to thank Generik very much for his time!
