Blahnket
[Originally published in BMA Magazine, July 2012]
Many of you may have experienced BLAHNKET through any number of its diverse musical manifestations; whether at intimate nights of laid-back beats at the ANU Food Co-op or the high-energy, foot-stomping seizure that was Machinedrum at Trinity. However, few may be familiar with what lies at the humble heart of this steadily-growing, forward-thinking group venture. Canberra subunit and co-founder of Blahnket, Patrick Morgan, joined by friend and collaborator Ric Lavers (Blahnket/Treehouse), shed some light on his enigmatic brainchild.
Having long viewed it as an events-based organisation, I was surprised (and slightly abashed) when Pat informed me that Blahnket began, and continues to be, an online music-sharing blog. “In 2010 I started the blog with my best friend in Sydney, Fence Tomkins, to promote electronic music that I thought wasn’t really getting enough attention then. We were producing some too, so it was to give our influences some credit and was also an avenue to publicise our own music. If people were going to go look at it for the music I was promoting, they might have a look at what we were making ourselves.”
Not only was a blog the most practical medium for this concept, it also provided flexibility for future plans. “I knew if I started a blog it would be something I could take in different directions… I just let it grow from that into something that still isn’t particular yet. I guess in terms of what we’re currently doing it’s mostly event management and promotions for now.”
Evidently mindful of what this label often connotes, Pat clarified what ‘promoting’ means for him. “I hate how you have to make [Facebook] events and spam people about it. I try to keep it to a minimum but at the end of the day you’ve got to do it somehow. Ideally, I’m trying to promote less and less and get a following, a thing of trust. I want Canberra to trust what we’re doing and just come along and give it a go.” If Blahnket’s consistently satiating shows – including Ras G, Machinedrum and Hudson Mohawke – are any guide, Canberrans have every reason to embrace their future events without reserve.
So how did these headliner shows evolve from a humble blog? “It pretty much all started from Ric and Treehouse helping us out.” Ric, the man behind events group Treehouse, explained characteristically casually, “Jerry [head honcho of Melbourne touring agency, The Operatives] was looking for a Canberra leg of their FlyLo/Gaslamp Killer tour in 2011. I guess we did a good enough show with that to get some other ones from there.”
For Pat, Canberra’s receptive music community was enough in itself to spark his active involvement in events management. In fact, it wasn’t until he moved here from Sydney that the thought of doing so even appealed to him. “I didn’t really want to be involved in the Sydney scene and become a promoter there… There’s so much mess there, it’s kind of hard to get through to people. They don’t seem to want to be exposed to anything that new.” Pausing for a moment, he added, “There are definitely lots of really cool things going on, but in Canberra it seems like you can do something really unique. The crowd is always receptive to new things and it’s easier to get involved with other people doing creative things too. It’s a much smaller city and I think that’s beneficial.”
Involvement and interaction with other creatively-minded, inspired individuals is fundamental to Blahnket’s whole ethos. In fact, the name itself was chosen to describe the group’s non-discriminant nature – “I wanted it to be something that could include everything” – a quality which is reflected through not only the music featured on the blog, but the artists and individuals that compose Blahnket: “Anybody can be involved as much as they want to be. At the moment it’s DJs like 2fuddha, Aeon, Beat Smugglerz, Digby and Cream Crops from Canberra, Elliot from the Blue Mountains, Onetalk in Sydney… those guys are the fucking best!” After a short interlude to all partake in this last sentiment, Pat continues, “I mean, I’m trying to keep – without being a wanker about it – a standard, but I’m making it inclusive instead of exclusive.”
The beauty of having a web-based music-sharing community means that this ‘inclusivity’ can reach as far, for example, as Nashville, Tennessee: “One of the closest artists involved is Bornagen Baldwin, a duo who play hazy hip hop… I’ve never spoken to them but they’re actually in the process of trying to work out passports so they can get over here!”
While remaining open to all kinds of electronic music, Pat says that over the years he’s narrowed his focus to ‘the beat side of things’, essentially comprising the music you’ll find on the blog. “It’s one of those things I want to expand on, include more genres. I’m on the hip hop tip right now so that’s what I’m focusing on.”
While Pat remains passionate and committed to introducing people to underground music via the blog, he clearly recognises the complementary value in physically bringing Canberrans the music he endorses. “Hopefully people look at the blog and listen to the music and get a bit of a feel for it so that when we do play it live they can appreciate it a bit more.”
So which upcoming events will showcase Blahnket’s freshly-picked sounds? As well as their monthly shows at the ANU Food Co-op, Blahnket’s next big event will be MONO/POLY (LA/Brainfeeder) at Hippo on Thursday August 9, as part of their monthly Method-B nights. In November, Pat’s looking forward to bringing electronic hip hop producer and visual artists Teebs (LA): “I would probably say he’s my favourite producer over the past three years.” As for next year, “I really want to bring Young Montana [UK] out. That guy is just…bullshit. In a good way… like, in a really good way.”
Well, if that’s the case, then I implore you to check out Blahnket’s upcoming events. They’re bound to be bullshit – in a really good way.
Having long viewed it as an events-based organisation, I was surprised (and slightly abashed) when Pat informed me that Blahnket began, and continues to be, an online music-sharing blog. “In 2010 I started the blog with my best friend in Sydney, Fence Tomkins, to promote electronic music that I thought wasn’t really getting enough attention then. We were producing some too, so it was to give our influences some credit and was also an avenue to publicise our own music. If people were going to go look at it for the music I was promoting, they might have a look at what we were making ourselves.”
Not only was a blog the most practical medium for this concept, it also provided flexibility for future plans. “I knew if I started a blog it would be something I could take in different directions… I just let it grow from that into something that still isn’t particular yet. I guess in terms of what we’re currently doing it’s mostly event management and promotions for now.”
Evidently mindful of what this label often connotes, Pat clarified what ‘promoting’ means for him. “I hate how you have to make [Facebook] events and spam people about it. I try to keep it to a minimum but at the end of the day you’ve got to do it somehow. Ideally, I’m trying to promote less and less and get a following, a thing of trust. I want Canberra to trust what we’re doing and just come along and give it a go.” If Blahnket’s consistently satiating shows – including Ras G, Machinedrum and Hudson Mohawke – are any guide, Canberrans have every reason to embrace their future events without reserve.
So how did these headliner shows evolve from a humble blog? “It pretty much all started from Ric and Treehouse helping us out.” Ric, the man behind events group Treehouse, explained characteristically casually, “Jerry [head honcho of Melbourne touring agency, The Operatives] was looking for a Canberra leg of their FlyLo/Gaslamp Killer tour in 2011. I guess we did a good enough show with that to get some other ones from there.”
For Pat, Canberra’s receptive music community was enough in itself to spark his active involvement in events management. In fact, it wasn’t until he moved here from Sydney that the thought of doing so even appealed to him. “I didn’t really want to be involved in the Sydney scene and become a promoter there… There’s so much mess there, it’s kind of hard to get through to people. They don’t seem to want to be exposed to anything that new.” Pausing for a moment, he added, “There are definitely lots of really cool things going on, but in Canberra it seems like you can do something really unique. The crowd is always receptive to new things and it’s easier to get involved with other people doing creative things too. It’s a much smaller city and I think that’s beneficial.”
Involvement and interaction with other creatively-minded, inspired individuals is fundamental to Blahnket’s whole ethos. In fact, the name itself was chosen to describe the group’s non-discriminant nature – “I wanted it to be something that could include everything” – a quality which is reflected through not only the music featured on the blog, but the artists and individuals that compose Blahnket: “Anybody can be involved as much as they want to be. At the moment it’s DJs like 2fuddha, Aeon, Beat Smugglerz, Digby and Cream Crops from Canberra, Elliot from the Blue Mountains, Onetalk in Sydney… those guys are the fucking best!” After a short interlude to all partake in this last sentiment, Pat continues, “I mean, I’m trying to keep – without being a wanker about it – a standard, but I’m making it inclusive instead of exclusive.”
The beauty of having a web-based music-sharing community means that this ‘inclusivity’ can reach as far, for example, as Nashville, Tennessee: “One of the closest artists involved is Bornagen Baldwin, a duo who play hazy hip hop… I’ve never spoken to them but they’re actually in the process of trying to work out passports so they can get over here!”
While remaining open to all kinds of electronic music, Pat says that over the years he’s narrowed his focus to ‘the beat side of things’, essentially comprising the music you’ll find on the blog. “It’s one of those things I want to expand on, include more genres. I’m on the hip hop tip right now so that’s what I’m focusing on.”
While Pat remains passionate and committed to introducing people to underground music via the blog, he clearly recognises the complementary value in physically bringing Canberrans the music he endorses. “Hopefully people look at the blog and listen to the music and get a bit of a feel for it so that when we do play it live they can appreciate it a bit more.”
So which upcoming events will showcase Blahnket’s freshly-picked sounds? As well as their monthly shows at the ANU Food Co-op, Blahnket’s next big event will be MONO/POLY (LA/Brainfeeder) at Hippo on Thursday August 9, as part of their monthly Method-B nights. In November, Pat’s looking forward to bringing electronic hip hop producer and visual artists Teebs (LA): “I would probably say he’s my favourite producer over the past three years.” As for next year, “I really want to bring Young Montana [UK] out. That guy is just…bullshit. In a good way… like, in a really good way.”
Well, if that’s the case, then I implore you to check out Blahnket’s upcoming events. They’re bound to be bullshit – in a really good way.