Noise In My Head is a freeform sonic excursion piloted by Michael Kucyk. From early beginnings as a long-running radio show on Melbourne’s 3RRR FM, it has become a vital nexus in the Australia music scene, and now the identity spans radio show, label and Kucyk himself.
A proud advocate of bourgeoning Australian scenes and the rising artists within them, NIMH has brought together producers, DJs, label heads, compilation selectors and record collectors from around the globe through his radio show, forming strong links between Australia, Japan, Poland, Norway, Greece, Canada, the US and beyond throughout the process. With the exalted and esoteric likes of Juan Atkins, Andrew Weatherall, Lexx, Lovefingers, Raphael Top Secret, Salem Rashid and Jarrod Zlatic lending their talent to the show, it’s no wonder Noise In My Head has now found a new home on NTS.
NIMH’s quest to share mind bending musical rarities doesn’t end there. The freshly coined Noise In My Head Records is a platform for sharing new material. The first release, a 12″ from Suzanne Kraft has just come off the press with an EP from Lucy Cliché (Naked On The Vague) to follow shortly. With time as the former head of Nervous Jerk, releasing early cult classics from Animal Collective, Kiosk and Eddy Current Suppression Ring under his belt, along with a more recent stint heading up A&R at Modular, no doubt we’re set to see some quality releases from NIMH in 2015.
You can catch Noise In My Head – the man – in all his glory playing alongside Soul Clap, Funkineven, Wax’o Paradiso and LA Pocock live from the Boiler Room stage at Sugar Mountain on Jan 24. And in preparation for this, BR’s Erin Flanagan caught up with him to get some more background.
ERIN FLANAGAN: How did the NTS show start? What inspired the crossover?
MICHAEL KUCYK: I was looking for a new home after moving to Sydney and leaving 3RRR FM. My buddies behind Future Times were doing a fortnightly show and put in a good word for us.
What were the major milestones for NIMH? Any specific artists you featured early on who have gone on to do big things? (I know there must be heaps)
Juan Atkins and Andrew Weatherall come to mind. Polar opposites there. Juan and I barely said a word but Weatherall was of course chatty and charming. Yamantaka Eye from the Boredoms? His DJ style is way out and rarely documented so that was a privilege. To be honest profile isn’t really that important. The best mixes have come from the likes of Lexx, Lovefingers, Raphael Top Secret, Salem Rashid, Jarrod Zlatic etc.
By local scene do you mean Australia, or more specifically Melbourne and Sydney where you live?
Mainly Melbourne and Sydney. I’m sure there’s incredible music coming from every corner, I’m just not exposed to it.
Are there any more details you can tell me about the forthcoming label?
Noise In My Head Records is our platform for new material. The first release just came out – a 12″ for LA young gun Suzanne Kraft. An EP of wavey techno from Lucy Cliché from Naked On The Vague will follow in February. Select titles will eventually be made available digitally but vinyl is the focus. Next year will see a few non-dance music reissue projects on our Efficient Space sub-label.
Does your connection with the Sugar Mountain crew go beyond just performing this year?
I played the first year and have been impressed by every instalment since. Good people with impeccable taste, slaving to give us a new experience.
