On Saturday March 16th, 2024. With the event hosted by Electric Escape, IntoK Events, Tribunal, and King and Queen Events, Will Sparks took the stage at The Forbidden City in downtown Toronto, bringing us his signature sound of Melbourne bounce and Techno for a fun fulfilled night. For those unfamiliar, Will Sparks stands as a pioneer of Melbourne Bounce, a genre named after his Australian hometown. Coupled with the resurgence of Techno in the EDM scene, this event was undoubtedly a highlight not to be overlooked.
The long-awaited return of Will Sparks finally happened this day, marking a triumphant comeback since the last time he was here in Toronto for Mount Woozy @ Toronto’s TD Echo Beach back in 2015. It was a momentous occasion for fans who had eagerly anticipated his return, and the energy at the event reflected this excitement. Will Spark’s performance not only lived up to expectations but surpassed them, reminding everyone why he's been missed in the music scene here in Toronto for so long. It was definitely a night for Will Sparks to “Blow Your Mind, One More Time”.
That night, with everything set in motion, I was unable to make it to the interview with Will Sparks. In my place, we had Haider, the founder of Canadian Ravers come to interview Will Sparks as Haider has seen him play at Mount Woozy back in 2015. So thank you so much Haider & thank you to Will Sparks for doing this interview with us!
THE INTERVIEW
We are glad you're here with us in Toronto at The Forbidden City! How was your night yesterday in Montreal at New City Gas? How does it compare to your hometown?
WS: Always good. But you can’t even compare, like Australia, they're about one-tenth of the energy that people have over here, and even in Europe. So, I don't know what it is, but yeah, people go crazy, and that's why I love it so much. But I'll never stop playing in my hometown, you know, it's always a part of who I am
Can you tell us about yourself and your musical journey?
WS: I was really into heavy metal when I was fifteen, and I started to play the guitar when I was obsessed with metal and metal bands. I had an older sister who was clubbing in all the Melbourne clubs. And she used to play all this music. And I was like what is this? I was intrigued but not obsessed at the time, but one day it just clicked as she played one of those underground Melbourne underground tunes which changed my life forever.
I thought it was so sick and it was nothing like I ever heard before which was only being produced in Melbourne. Suddenly, I was obsessed with this style of music, back then you couldn’t get your hands on any of this type of music because it was only being produced by Melbourne producers. So, I was like if I can’t get my hands on it or go listen to this type of music out at the clubs, I am just going to make it. One thing led to another, and I became so obsessed with making this type of music. I was chopping things in Audacity at the start, and I remember experimenting by taking things from people’s songs and putting it together. Along with adding a kick and a bass to just work on something. There were no tutorials on Youtube on how to make this music back then. I just had to work it out myself. To sum it up, that’s a brief way of how my musical journey started.
From Melbourne Bounce to Big room Techno, you're not stopping at all and especially with Techno being so hot right now. And with Techno and Psytrance sometimes being on the same wavelength. Have you ever considered doing a bit of Psytrance? Can we call it "Psy-Tech/Psy-Techno"?
WS: I already have, many many songs in terms of Psy basslines. Vienna, Maniac, even and old called Egypt. There was an even older one although it was more Melbourne bounce, it was called ‘Viking’ not ‘The Viking’, which was so old that it wouldn’t be online. But I love Psy stuff, and now that Psy sounds are coming into the Hard Techno scene. It works, it really does. The banging Techno kick with the Psy, it just blows the dance floors to pieces, but in terms of the psychedelic sounds, I haven't really dabbled too much on that. But yeah, I've definitely been influenced by it.
Your latest track “Thunder” with AVAO, can you share with us the collaboration process between you guys behind the scenes?
WS: They send me demos constantly to work on stuff because I think they're great producers and they're making a similar sort of sound as me. They sent me this track and I was like dope I'm gonna work on it and it was just a brief idea of that first sort of hook and lead. You can kind of hear the elements that I put on it afterwards in the second and third drop. And I think that's what I love about what I do. You can really tell which bits I did because it's so distinct that it's like I've got a signature. It's just who I am and every producer is the same, they've got their own signature because it's who they are and that's how they express themselves.
Off the top of your head, what's your favorite memory as a DJ/Producer?
WS: it would have to be in Korova or this dark club in Melbourne. Lady luck in Circus Nightclub. I walk in and I play there once a week, but I walk in there and everyone is on the same vibrations. There were no phones, and the system was pumping, it was dark, and it was five in the morning, and I would get up there knowing I had been working on songs during the week. When I started playing, people would lose their minds and everyone was dancing and frothing. But these days you don’t get that because everyone needs their phone to capture the moment.
So back then there were so many times there were pinnacle moments for me in my career and it was just from a feeling, not from the status I got or how big the crowd was. And this was at Korova, Wawa, even James Barrett Billboard and Circus Nightclub back at home. Pretty much they no longer exist but they were the best days for me, especially with the transition of music and how it was getting better quality, it was incredible.
Who would be one artist that you would like to collaborate with that you haven’t done so far?
WS: That’s a tough one, it’s usually vocalists. I would love to make a song with MIA, that would be dope. I love that style and we’ve been doing that for years. That kind of Rap, that dirty kind of Rap with female vocals over our music and it really works. So I’d say MIA.
How careful/precise are you with your diet? Do you find that the traveling artist/DJ lifestyle can be a hindrance to strict workout routines and diet?
WS: It is a constant mental struggle because I’m always trying to be on point with my meals, training sessions, cardio, and all the other exercises that come into it to keep yourself in good shape. Unfortunately, in my line of work, it really limits you from being your most optimal self. Sometimes I wish I could get enough sleep, or I wish I could get a good meal in and I can’t because I’m at the airport and I’m running around and I’m not getting enough protein in and it goes, but I make do. I make it work with the situation.
Must I say, I don’t think I’ve seen a more jacked DJ than Will Sparks! LOL! Keep up the grind and I hope you get some well deserved rest as well! :)
I am curious about your imprint, “CLUBWRK.” How is running that with TEAMWRK? Will your old imprint, “Bourne Recordings,” return?
WS: Great, but I’m not super involved with the label stuff. I try to be as much as possible, but I’m always touring or producing. I listen to a lot of demos, and I get sent all the new artists and talents that are coming up and try to support them as much as possible. But in this game, you don’t lock anyone down anymore. You give someone an opportunity, they get on your label. And if they’re sick, a bigger label is going to approach them. It’s just how it is and nowadays, you don’t need a big label to do well anymore. In the past, you needed to have a big label push your music but now, it’s good for smaller artists that are just getting through.
What are some projects that you might be working on that you can tell your followers and fans about?
WS: I mean the audience are pretty switched on with the ID’s in the set and they are always like we need it now. Those are always scheduled to be released in the coming months. You will hear things as I make and play it.
LIGHTNING ROUND!
1. Favourite drink to order? Coke Zero
2. Go to meal when you’re sick. Chicken Soup
3. First Rave as an attendee? Creamfields 2011 in Melbourne
4. First celebrity crush? Rachel McAdams and Margot Robbie
5. All-time favourite song? ‘Tear Drops’- Massive Attack, Strangest Disability, and Strobe
6. Go to vacation spot? Home
7. What is your guilty pleasure? Cheesecake
8. What is your hidden talent? Aggressive Rollerblading.
9. Which social platform do you use a lot? Instagram
This photo is from when the boys at Electric Escape took Will out to celebrate his birthday at the Keg here in Toronto!
Happy Birthday to Will Sparks from Electric Escape! We hope you enjoyed celebrating it here with us in Toronto and I hope that guilty pleasure of yours didn’t ruin your diet too hard! Haha :P
As for the night, it was ecstatic and with Forbidden City packed to capacity as Will Sparks brought down the thunder and killed his set with his dynamic mix of dirty techno and Melbourne bounce. He definitely kept the crowd sparked and reminded everyone why he’s a Techno Viking! And with the addition of lasers shooting from the DJ deck, that added an extra element of excitement as it gave us a nice underground vibe to get lost in the music for a night to remember.
To top everything off, there were fans that really showed their love and dedication to Will Sparks that night. Some guy had I <3 Will on his back while other ravers brought the Australian flag to represent their heritage and country together with Will! This is when you know music really brings people together as Australia is the furthest country from Canada!
Once again, thank you Will Sparks for doing an interview with us again! We hope to see you back in Toronto soon! And for anyone that wants to check out the video interview, it will be posted below along with Will Spark’s Spotify and socials!
Don’t forget to give Will Sparks a follow on his socials!
Photos taken by Picjer Photography
Video interview conducted by Haider Warraich
Review by Keith Au