Late Nite Tuff Guy Q&A

As Late Nite Tuff Guy, Cam Bianchetti is one of the new guard of house music defenders, bringing the best disco cuts of the 70s and 80s to 21st century clubs across the globe.

Since his first international tour in 2013, Australian-based Bianchetti's alter-ego has won wide acclaim on the European circuit. Yet prior to adopting the Late Nite Tuff Guy moniker, Bianchetti was already highly regarded for his work as the acid-techno originator DJ HMC, with seminal 90s tracks Phreakin and 6am cementing him as a pioneering force in Australian dance music. 

Having introduced techno to audiences Down Under, it’s only in recent years that Bianchetti has turned his attention to disco and funk reworks, yet his tracks have already been played in sets by the likes of Jackmaster, Heidi, and Frenchman and fellow disco vigilante Dimitri from Paris.

A number of personal issues (not least a fear of flying which kept him grounded in his hometown of Adelaide for the better part of his career) forced Bianchetti to take stock of his career direction in the early 00s. The result was a kind of rebirth; the emergence of Late Nite Tuff Guy, an alias that shines a spotlight on Bianchetti’s lifelong love of music and his prowess in the production booth.

A spin-off of this reinvention was the creation of Tuff Cut, Bianchetti's Sydney-based label. The label's EP release Tuff Cut 01 then followed, with lead track Bless The Rains (a re-worked, sparkling synth version of Toto's Africa) delineating Bianchetti's wade-ranging influences in no uncertain terms.

Ahead of his upcoming headline show at SMD's Boat Party Summer Special at Glasgow's Riverside Museum, we asked ‘the godfather of Australian techno’ a few questions about his disco influences, the art of a good edit, and a very special Sub Club gig back in 1999...

Your Late Nite Tuff Guy alias is a surprising step away from the house and techno of your earlier work as DJ HMC. Was your transition towards a more disco-oriented sound a deliberate decision?

No. It was really something that happened naturally. I like to joke that I've mellowed out as I've grown older.

Where did the name Late Nite Tuff Guy come from?

It was given to me from a friend I was sharing a house with back in 1990 – I would stay up late almost every night making techno music. One night she just came out with it, and it's stuck ever since.

Early disco evolved from the secret jazz clubs of WW2-era France, to the domain of gay, Latin and black communities in the 70s – what is it about disco that you think appeals to modern-day audiences?

I love dancing (who doesn't, right?). I think out of all the genres of music, disco really allows you to be free on the dance floor.

What new techno and house records are you listening to at the moment?

I really love the music of Detroit’s The Oliverwho Factory.

How did you get into editing tracks? And what is your golden rule when editing a classic track; what should the DJ be trying to achieve?

I wanted to quantise and beef up some old disco cuts so I could mix them seamlessly with house tracks. I don't think there are any rules to editing, except to say I really like to try and keep the integrity of the original material.

How does the Australian techno scene differ from that of Scotland, or of Europe?

I think the major difference is that the Australian scene is smaller than that of anywhere in Europe, but we do have some great venues and very dedicated followers of techno here. I've played some amazing gigs across Australia this past summer.

From your previous experiences in Scotland, how would you describe playing to Scottish audiences?

It's always amazing playing in Scotland. My first ever Scottish gig was at the Sub Club in Glasgow back in 1999, and to this day it has remained my favourite gig of a 34-year career.

Which disco artists do you most enjoy playing in your sets? And which tracks get the biggest audience reaction?

I always enjoy playing a Chic track. My edit, One Nite In A Disco (Sister Sledge's He's The Greatest Dancer), always gets a massive reaction.

Tell us the best set you’ve ever played?

Well as I have already mentioned Sub Club, but having said that, I have just played at Revolver (Melbourne) last Sunday and it's a big contender.

What’s next on the horizon for Late Nite Tuff Guy?

Well I've recently uploaded an official remix of Rise by Herb Alpert, which comes out internationally late July, and I've got some exciting projects coming up for a couple of major labels, but I can't really talk about that just yet. And I really need to finish my LNTG original LP.

It's hard to do studio work when I’m touring, but I’m really looking forward to being back in the UK and Europe doing shows over your summer.

It’s been a rough year for our music greats, having sadly lost the likes of David Bowie, Prince and Maurice White. What’s your favourite Bowie track?

Yes it has been a very hard year and I'm just glad you didn't ask me what my favourite Prince track is! I love a lot of Bowie’s music, but I'd have to say my favourite track would definitely be Ashes To Ashes.

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Late Nite Tuff Guy plays SMD's Boat Party in Glasgow on 6 Aug.