Who are you & what are you up to musically?
I am a child of the universe + my parents… I am also a musician and DJ based in Wellington. I’m currently in multiple bands as a bass player, singer and guitarist. I have been playing DJ gigs and radio sets and I have also been promoting and organising gigs. On top of this I have been working away at a solo album.

How does the scene down in Welly compare to the Waikato?
The Welly scene is healthier in the sense that there is more variety, support and opportunities for musicians and arts folk alike.

What was it like playing Sound Splash main stage with Tiki fkn Taane MCing?
Bloody wicked. I only expected a small stage set earlier in the day but when the chance arose to do a main stage set I was keen as. Bloody nervous, but keen.

What inspires the sound of B-Tello?
I think I take plenty of inspiration from what’s happening around the Welly scene, plenty of breaks, garage, hardgroove and techno around. I also get plenty of inspo from a friend up in Tāmaki as he has had a radio slot that I tune into as often as I can.

How different are the scenes for your DJing compared to Pineja?
The scenes can be pretty similar but also far from each other at the same time. Sometimes the crowd crosses over between the two and sometimes it can be completely different. Setting up shows for bands is usually more admin.

How different is the musical process from electronic to acoustic?
In terms of writing songs I will sometimes write a riff/bassline/chord progression on an acoustic guitar and start out like that whereas other times I will take the stune right onto a Logic project and start producing it from the get go.

Fave venue?
San Fran in Wellington, Nivara Lounge in Hamilton.

Is it easier to get sets as a band or DJ in NZ atm?
Dj gigs are easier to put on but when it comes to getting booked I think Pineja gets booked more as there is more of a reputation than my dj work.

Any Welly or Waikato musicians/bands worth a shoutout?
100% Too many to list for the moment but some standouts at the moment for me are: Park Flyers, Manakin, Raffla, bush.t.e.c.h and The World Is Against You.

All time fave album?
Can’t say I have an all time favorite but some albums I have been loving recently are: Music Is The Answer by SHEBAD, Blowout Comb by Digable Planets and Stop Making Sense (Live) by Talking Heads.

Working on any projects atm or have any gigs coming up?
Sure do, Pineja are having our first Welly show in May. I have a DJ gig and a couple of recorded DJ sets in May also. I have started working on a new project called Funk The Band with a friend of mine Jackson Mackwood. On top of this I am putting on and promoting a few gigs all the while trying to work on a solo album.