QT: What did you have for lunch today?
DJ: Spaghetti with tuna and tomato - bit of an Upbeats staple - followed by some brownie I found in the car that was left over from the road trip after playing Palmerston North last weekend.
QT: What is your favourite food?
DJ: Woah... Too many good things to list. But I think one of my all time favourite foods would have to be the classic New Zealand cream and jam doughnut - who doesn't like them, really? When I was growing up it was a Sunday ritual to cycle to the dairy with Dad and pick up the paper and half a dozen donuts for the family. And I can't refuse one to this day.
QT: What is your favourite spot in Queenstown?
DJ: Vudu seems to be the spot for post-gig recuperation. Good smoothies and tasty breakfasts, which are essential Upbeats fodder. And for the obligatory tour greasies we hit Fergburger and go and scoff down by the lake. And for the `I'm-feeling-like-a-creature-after-last-night's-gig' dinner we go hit Minami Jujisei for some badboy raw fish.
QT: Queenstown needs more...
DJ: Late hours-opening clubs.
QT: Queenstown needs less...
DJ: Airport closures due to crazy weather! Too many times...
QT: What was the latest CD you bought?
DJ: Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion. Noughties synth Beach Boys epic. Really enjoying it, feels like such a fresh approach to everything they do. Rhythms, vocals and instrumentation are all pretty different from the status quo.
QT: And the latest DVD?
DJ: I haven't brought a DVD ever, actually. It's all rentals here. And going to the cinema. Last thing I saw would have been District 9 and I really enjoyed that. Good, solid sci-fi action with extra gore, no doubt encouraged by Peter Jackson.
QT: What is your favourite way to relax?
DJ: Cup of good pot-brewed tea and a sit in the sun with the guitar. Or a day spent surfing with friends or family in the Wairarapa.
QT: What winds you up?
DJ: Inward thinking people; violence [and] abuses of power.
QT: What cracks you up?
DJ: My crazy friends.
QT: What are you reading at the moment?
DJ: Just starting on The Book Thief. Finished Black Vinyl, White Powder recently and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in music. Basically all about the life of pop music throughout the years in the UK, as told by an artist manager and producer who has seen it all.
QT: Do you have a favourite quote you live by?
DJ: Not really. But if anything, ye olde Carpe diem would do quite well.
QT: If you could do anything, what would it be?
DJ: Live forever, baby! Maybe not actually...
• The Upbeats, tonight, Subculture. Doors 9pm, main act on stage at midnight. With support from Turbohag, Downtown Brown, D-Jade, Blackplanet DJ set and MC B-Rad. Pre-sale tickets cost $15 from Play It Again Records and Subculture, or $20 on the door of the Church St venue.
