Every so often something new, unique and exciting shakes up the music world and people stand up and take notice. Dirty Laundry is one of those times.

Although in the throes of infancy to the journey that is Dirty, these guys have managed to embed themselves into the most wanted list from east coast to west coast, residencies and festivals – and that’s just for starters.

Not content with the growing number of gigs here in Australia and the growing fan base, 2006 will see DL cleaning up Ibiza and spinning out their own original material.

In between the latest photo shoot, RA managed to grab some precious time to get in between those dirty sheets to see what can be pulled out in the wash.

Fads and trends seem to come and go but you are very much attaining the most wanted list and are going from strength to strength with no sense of your fan base abating. Why do you think this is?

Dean: We relate to the audience and interact with them. Long gone are the days when a DJ can just get by on playing music. In an age where everything is interactive, clubbers want a lot more and we give them everything we have.

I think it’s also got to do with the fact that we are constantly evolving the set. JJ and I spend hours searching and collating accapellas and then working with Sean and Patricia on how to segue between their lyrics and our tracks and hooks to make the set sound seamless.

As one of the forerunners to move away from pure DJing to bringing an eclectic group of entertainers to the clubs with your infused funky house to soulful style, how do you feel about all the imitators jumping on the bandwagon; or do you just see it as healthy competition and part of the business?

JJ: I’ve heard somewhere that imitation is the highest form of flattery. We’re just thrilled that people are into what we do, and that we’ve been successful enough for others to want to try and emulate us. Whilst this might sound cliché, it’s great to see so much new Australian talent which can only be good for the scene in the long run.

Seany B: You can imitate, NEVER duplicate…… we bring blood, sweat, and tears to a live show and that’s what makes it DIRTY LAUNDRY!

Back in July 2004 during an interview with inthemix you admitted “your Basement Jaxx meets 2 Many DJs”. Nearly two years on in what ways would you still agree with this statement or do you feel that your own evolving uniqueness is more apparent?

Dean: That’s actually not quite in context. We have always felt that we have had a unique sound. We have explored the mash up genre that 2 Many DJ’s have become renowned for and fused that with the production values of Basement Jaxx, and created a sound that is Dirty Laundry, and that has not changed.

Our original production will not be sample based or mash ups, but completely original in style and composition, and this is where we hope to truly come into our own.

There is no doubt lots of revelry that goes into being Dirty Laundry but underlying all of this is the music. What has influenced you in the past to culminate with the end result?

JJ: We had all been doing our own thing in the club scene for years and was each looking for another outlet. I knew Sean from when he was performing on the Gold Coast and was also friendly with Dean. We all got to talking one day and realised we had a common vision, to bring entertainment back to the dance floor.

As DJs, Dean and I had often turned up at gigs where a percussionist or sax player would just jam over whatever we played, but there was never any structure to it because nothing was ever pre-planned.

Sean had been rapping in clubs internationally for over eight years and when he hit the Gold Coast he had a similar experience where he would MC over other DJs’ house tracks rather than hip hop, but again, there was a lack of co-operation from the DJs’ who considered themselves 'purists'.

Each of us saw the huge potential in actually synergising a DJ/ MC live show, and Dirty Laundry evolved from there.

You seem to have a knack for choosing dance floor classics spanning different decades. You break them apart, put them back together and with your own blend and style incorporate them into such spine chilling mash ups. Is this all calculated for your set or do you truly play music that’s all about the fun for the people to get dirty, filthy, obscene, immoral?

Dean: We love having fun with the mash ups, it’s such an enjoyable part of the mash-up process to sift through our old records and reminisce about the music and what might work well with that particular track. I think that enjoyment is best represented by that fact that we are probably the only club act in Australia, let alone the world, that plays a mash up of ‘Time of Our Lives’ from Dirty Dancing....and it’s often the biggest track of the night - nuff said!!!

Seany B: It’s about the GREATEST, not the latest!

We all know there is indeed an art to being a good MC, any secrets to divulge to aspiring muses out there?

Seany B: Study the language, expand your vocabulary and manipulate the syllables. I deconstruct words, tones, flows and put them back together to make square pegs fit into round holes... it's all about flow & content. Make sure what you're talking about is RELEVANT TO YOUR LIFE - not some gangster's from Compton! It's not talking shit if you can back it up - that's the golden rule!

Can you tell RA about the rest of the crew that makes Dirty Laundry bubble?

JJ: In Melbourne we perform as a six piece with live sax and percussion. Unfortunately, due to the cost of transporting six people around the country, we are unable to justify bringing Steve (sax) and Cisco (percussion) on the road. It’s a real shame because these guys are awesome musicians and really add to the whole DL experience.

A lot of people who have seen us interstate that come to Melbourne are amazed at how different the show is with Steve and Cisco. However, we’re looking at revamping the show when we finally get around to releasing the album and hopefully then we’ll be able to get the boys touring with us as they really are an integral part of what we do.

But the most important people in the Dirty Laundry Crew, the ones who really make us bubble, are the ones who come and support what we do.

RA knows under good authority that both you (Dean) and JJ have amassed an amazing music collection spanning over two decades. What one tune amongst your prized collection would give you the most pleasure to play when you’re out being Dirty?

Dean/JJ: I think for both of us, the most satisfying stuff to play is one of our own tracks...and then watch the crowd go off to it. Nothing beats that!

You’re branding and creativity totally encapsulates the feel of being Dirty. Who has been the driving force behind the concept and are you planning to clean up the world?

Seany B: My uni degree is in branding; focusing mainly on brand, image and cultural space. So I've always considered the branding my 'baby' along with Dean, who has a Marketing Degree. When we started the group, delineating our ethos and cultural relevance was of the utmost importance for where I saw the band's future. First and foremost, Dirty Laundry is a feeling, an idea, a sub culture that keeps EVERYONE in the community together under a flag of fun, good times, and a shared love of happy, funky music. Making the logos, pushing the artwork, catchphrases and images has been my labour of love from Day One. The music flows from that feeling and under the DL umbrella that shelters party goers from the quicksands of 'cool culture,' (which often alienates the masses and massages the 'beautiful people').

We have endeavoured to create a new culture, with a new relationship between the music and the crowds, just as in personal relationships as we grow to love someone more, the more beautiful they become - so too have our crowds become seas of beautiful people in the culture that is DIRTY LAUNDRY... No pretension, No secret handshakes, just Love Unlimited mixed with blood, sweat and our Dirty Laundry- the tunes that we have always loved behind the scenes!

Dirty Laundry is an integral part of the Sounds on Sunday institution and deservedly so. What makes your sessions at SoS so special and do you have any set format you follow?

Seany B: There aren’t many outdoor venues in the country, let alone the world, which operate year round like Sounds On Sunday. It’s an institution that we wish we had in Melbourne!

Is the crowd different to any of your other residencies throughout Australia?

Dean: There’s something about a day party that puts a smile on everyone’s face. There’s also a lot more sunnies and you get a far better idea of what the crowd really looks like...if you know what I mean!!!

Your first release “Nuttin But a Party” was back in 2004, since then you have released two promotional CDs “Dirty Work…” and “Late Night Filth”. Your legions of fans are surely waiting for the next instalment. Will this be coming any time soon?

JJ: Yes. Yes. Yes. “Nuttin But a Party” was done at very short notice for the “Melbourne: the sex the city” CD, but we were never totally happy with the end result. “Dirty Work…” was very much a mash up CD and “Late Night Filth” was a progression on that theme which featured more of Sean and Pat’s vocal talents.

The next step is 100% original DL and we’re very, very excited about what we’ve got to offer. From about 20 tracks, we’ve currently got three just about ready to go, including a remix of “Nuttin But a Party” which better reflects what we originally had in mind. We recently dropped two of these tracks at a gig in Melbourne just to see how they’d go down and let’s just say we were more than pleased with the response.

So what else is in store for 2006, what do we expect to see from you guys, anything exciting in the pipeline?

JJ: DL’s European Vacation – Live from Ibiza!

Lastly, what is the best thing about being a Dirty Boy or Gal?

Dean: Staying Dirty
JJ: Seeing other people enjoy what we do.
Seany B: No one expects you to be clean.... ; )

To get the Dirty Laundry experience first hand, catch the guys monthly at their Sounds on Sunday residency.

Sunday 16 April
Sunday 21 May
Sunday 18 June