Freq.Nasty: Sub Down.

Freq.Nasty plays 33.3 at Family on December 19.

Dreadlocked superstar Freq.Nasty certainly cuts an imposing figure as a DJ. Usually sporting a solid Havana cigar from one corner of the mouth, beer firmly in hand and most definitely a lot of bass in the place. Freq (aka Darien McFayden) has really based most of his career on the role of bass in Breakbeat music, he even backed that rep up by blowing a pretty solid rig at the recent Miami Music Conference. One of the first artists to pioneer the nu-skool breaks sound (even before the Plump DJs) his album Freqs, Geeks and Mutations was one of the best received albums of 2000, with the single Boomin Back Atcha championed by Triple J.

Freq has recently jumped labels, lured from Botchit and Scarper with by Fatboy Slim’s Skint imprint. His first three singles on the label have sold out worldwide, with Freq even bootlegging his own track Amped and jacking it together with the a capella from Public Enemy’s Bring the Noise. He’s a regular visitor to Australia, every summer in fact, and has quite a bit of family in New Zealand. No wonder he likes it out here. We had a brief chat the other day, but he just wasn’t feeling that talkative. Oh well, bass speaks louder than words, with his back to back performance with Krafty Kuts at Family a highlight on the December concert calendar

What made you start playing breaks?

“Coz that's what I make. I play the tunes that I make. I make the tunes that I play.”

Have you got any roots in punk/rock.

“Yes I love AC/DC and KISS and hope to start a break beat KISS covers band in 2003. Oh yeah, and Bryan Adams (only the old stuff mind, before he went commercial).”

You seem to like visiting Australia heaps. What's so great about us?

“It's got fuck all to do with you Aussies. It's the wine and the sun and the beaches. I lie! Lovely country , chilled people and lots of sun and good food . What more could you want?”

So why'd you blow up the subs at Miami?

“I guess I was just having a Bad Bass day.”

What's your top five tracks at the moment?

“Mafia Tones - Reggae Tune, Missy Eliot - Work It, Freq Nasty feat Junior Delgado - Mad Situation, Carl Craig - At Les, Aswad - New Chapter Of Dub."

How's working for Skint?

“It's working for me. Norman makes us tea while Dave Clarke and Express 2 play tiddlywinks in the corner and Midfield General appoints diaper duty.”

When's the new album on the way?

“Early 2003”

Are you and Krafty Kuts going to play back to back in Brisbane?

“Of course. It’s the Monsta Hook up for 2003 and I gotta get me some.”

What do you think of the current popularity electro is seeing overseas?

“Electro wank by shite 80s revivalists.”

Have you started getting retro in your sets?

“I play the same tuff modern Florida tearup shit I've always played.”

Where can you see Freq.Nasty in five years?

“A private beach on Malibu.”

If you could make one person the pope, who would it be? My Mum.