Cityscape jams with Craig Shaw, one half of Dirty Cash – local DJs and music producers extraordinaire – on rocking the local scene, the secrets to a killer set, and what not to do when creating a hospo playlist.

Tell us about your name. The name came from the track of the same name on the single ‘Adventures of Stevie V’. It works for a back-to-back duo – two guys with different tastes in music (aka ca$h) getting dirty on the decks.

How did you guys get into DJing? Pylonz/James Meharry (aka PZ) started in the early 90s collecting jungle and breakbeat, producing underground rave parties and weaving epic selections into seamless mixes. I started in the bedroom at 15 with some of his dad’s records, got one of my own and was away. Next stop Palladium Niteclub at 18, and moved through all types of clubs and genres from hip hop to house to producing parties in the 2000s.

What’s your medium of choice – vinyl or electronic files? Vinyl is the go-to medium. It’s a tangible, tactile form of music to work with, a physical process to master and so long as you have Technic 1200’s to drop them on, relatively reliable! All mediums are acceptable though as each gig is very different. Recently at Electric Avenue we used vinyl, CDJs and a controller – always be prepared!

How did your musical partnership come about? We’ve grown up in the same town, coming from different backgrounds with a mutual respect for one another’s skill and insights when it came to music and mixing.

What does Dirty Cash get up to on any given weekend? Excellent company immersed in great music, food and beverages.

What’s the secret to a killer set? Finding the funk, whatever that means to you, mixing it with versions or dubs or remixes to get a feeling… a movement… then dropping it hard and loud on the night to find the flow!

What’s your never-fail dance-floor filler? I would say it’s a hip-hop title with a four to the floor… plenty to choose from but they all seem to get heads noddin’ and asses bobbin’.

Tell us about your craziest/wildest gig. Any of our Stone Cold Dirty Cash theme nights at Civil & Naval in Lyttelton – 5–6-hour sets!

What three songs will we never hear in one of your sets? Tough call. We have mates that played after parties in the late 90s and had to play a worse tune than the last DJ back-to-back-to-back. Time and a place!

What are the pros and cons of drinking on the job? It can get the party started, and it can be the end of it too.

How do you wrap a set? Throw in a song everyone can sing along to. Let everyone get it out of their system – a cathartic release to close.

What’s your fave way to unwind after a set? Loiter with a few usual suspects and some top shelf.

What’s on high-rotation on your stereo? RDU98.5FM, Headland & Akcept, Samory I, Dirty Cash at Electric Ave 18, Roxy Music, Pylonz at Nostalgia 18, Grace Jones, Mixcloud, Pushing On – Craig Shaw, SoundCloud, Bob Moses, Pional, Kendrick Lamar and Dr. Dre productions.

You also create killer playlists for hospo venues – what’s the biggest mistake people make with these? 1. SKIMPING on the audio system. I seriously do not understand that hospitality venues in CHCH cannot get sound right. Clarity and warmth are essential to keeping people in your establishment longer, along with music choice. 2. Playing Spotify with ads and generic radio channels. 3. Letting staff play their music! 4. Not having a style that makes you different! Generic is boring.

Where’s your go-to spot in Christchurch? Civil & Naval, youthful and clever people with tasty produce. And Lyttelton... we big! City-side of the hill, OGB in the Square.