Don Nadi - Music Style: House, NU Disco, Electronica

 

 

Don Nadi is an Australian based creative, working in many fields including graphic design, art direction, composing, music production, remixing, event management and Djing. His music career began about 20 years ago, playing piano in Melbourne strip clubs, cafes and nightclubs. As a musician he's played on countless recording sessions and toured frequently with various Australian artists over the years.

As a producer he's worked extensively in Australia and the UK, with world-wide releases to his credit. It was in the 90’s that he kicked off his production career, producing and remixing for Australian Divas like Tina Arena, Kate Ceberano and Renee Geyer. He has literally worked on 100’s of recording projects, programmed and coordinated music for Melbourne’s Fashion Week and worked as musical director and composer on several Musicals and plays for the Victorian Arts Centre and Melbourne Theatre Company (notably ‘La Car Wash Folle’ and ‘Nothing To Wear’).

After being disillusioned with Melbourne’s ‘Live band scene’ in the mid 90’s, Nadi began his Djing career, choosing to play only the edgiest of Melbourne Clubs. In the late 90’s he was persuaded to relocate to Queensland and help launch Gold Coast’s now legendary Berlin Bar, becoming the club’s musical director and resident Dj. The rest is history. During his 4 year stint at the club, Nadi’s passion for pushing the new without compromise managed to ruffle more than a few feathers. But as a result He carved out quite a reputation for himself and the now legendary venue. During his weekly radio show (radio Metro 1057), Nadi force-fed new global culture down the throats of the complaisant locals for almost 5 years. While at Berlin Bar Nadi acquired a staggering resume, working alongside some of the biggest names in dance music at the time, including Bob Sinclar, Derrick Carter, Derrick May, Dimitri From Paris, Chicken Lips, Dj Pierre, Dj Rasoul, Hipp-E, Dj Falcon, Freq Nasty, Jon Creamer, Kenny Dope Gonzalez, Jonny G, Junior Sanchez, Lee Burridge, Little Louie Vega, Mateo & Matos, Miguel Miggs, Pnau, Sandy Rivera, and Roger Sanchez. His uncompromising and honest approach to his work turned him into a local clubbing icon.

After 4 amazing years at the Berlin Bar Nadi went on to hold residencies at other notable Queensland Venues such as Elsewhere, (the new) Berlin Lounge, Lala Land (Byron Bay),as well as performing at national music festivals Two Tribes, Summerfieldayze, Big Day Out and Good Vibrations, alongside music legends like Snoop Dogg and The Beastie Boys. In 2006 Nadi started his new position with (the new) Berlin Lounge. He took on the roles of creative director, artist bookings, graphic designer, promoter and resident Dj. In the year and a half he was there, working against all odds he managed to turn Berlin Lounge into undeniably one of the most credible artists venues in Queensland, by almost single-handedly spearheading the Indie Dance movement in Queensland. He managed to secure exclusively the whole Ed Banger records roster, including Justice, Busy P, Uffie, Feadz, SebatsiAn and Kavinsky. Doing the same with Modular Records artists Van She, Midnight Juggernauts, Belgium, Kim (the Presets), Bang Gang, Lost Valentinos, The Scare and Pnau. Plus New York’s DFA records indie superstars The Juan Maclean, Tim Sweeney and Matt Saffer (The Rapture). other notable bookings featured Europe’s minimal heroes Mandy, Dj T, Steve Bug, Maurice Fulton, Swayzak, Radio Slave and Tim Paris.

Since leaving Berlin Lounge in March 2007, Nadi started his own club brand: Huge In Japan, concentrating once again on only ‘the cream’ of contemporary dance artists including Dj Mehdi, Surkin, Kim, Para One, SebastiAn & Kavinsky, Franz & Shape, Cut Copy, Knife Machine, Headman, Holy Ghost! Knightlife, Bag Raiders, Mr C, Idjut Boys and D.I.M. just to name a few. Aside from all the above, Nadi is happiest in the recording studio, where he’s just completed producing an album for Australian artist Winston Giles. Recently Nadi has started another club night called Surfers Paradise Garage, based around the Nu Disco movement.