Full Pupp and Internasjonal label boss Prins Thomas will visit Australia for a four-date tour this month.
This will only be the Norwegian disco artist's second trip to Australia ever, following his 2010 appearance at Playground Weekender. In the two years since then, Thomas released his warmly received self-titled album, completed a handful of notable remixes (both solo and with regular production partner Lindstrøm) for artists like The Chemical Brothers and DJ Harvey, and released more than two dozen records on his three labels, Full Pupp, Internasjonal and Internasjonal Spesial.
We checked in with Thomas over email ahead of his upcoming Australian visit:What's been keeping you busy since your album came out in 2010?
Making music, travelling, moving houses, putting together a band, being a husband and dad...
Are there any artists you're particularly into these days?
Three that immediately spring to mind are Orchestra of Spheres, The complete Smile Sessions by The Beach Boys, Kurt Vile's Smoke Ring for My Halo. And tons of new things too though they're for some reason harder to remember... anonymous 12-inches picked up at Rush Hour or arriving via Dusseldorf to my local post office. Todd Terje's return to original material is something I'm very excited about too, hearing it in progress through my studio door from day to day... And the best stuff hasn't even come yet ;)
Norway has had another healthy year as far as music goes. Is the scene there continuing to grow?
I think so. I'm not sure I have my finger on the pulse but there seems to be more going on both in bedroom studios and clubs, and still the old guys continue to come up with new and fresh variations of slightly gay and colourful four-to-the-floor... I've moved out of the city recently and my usual route is either by train to the airport or train directly to the studio so I'm sure there are people out there with better knowledge about what happens in the Norwegian scene than me.
This will be only your second time playing in Australia, are you looking forward to coming back?
Oh yes. I don't mind a little bit of summer in the middle of the cold Norwegian winter. Hopefully I'll have time to soak up some sun and come back a little tan too....
What can the Australian audiences expect from you this visit?
From what I hear I'll be playing the four coolest parties possible which means I'll bring the finest records known to man. Nothing less.
What do you have planned for 2012?
Catching one of the deer that's passing through my garden in the winter, continuing to keep myself entertained and excited by new (and old) music and being in the studio, an EP by my band "Prins Thomas Orkester", a new solo album which hasn't been titled yet, continuing to work with The Mole on our joint project, possibly get the finger out on me and Lindstrøm's 3rd album, various production work for or together with others, making babies...
Prins Thomas' tour will begin in Perth on January 25th at The Spiegeltent as part of Fringe World Festival 2012. The following evening Sugar in Adelaide will be on hosting duties, with the night presented and supported by In The Deep End DJs. On January 27th he'll hit Melbourne with the Animals Dancing crew at the Mercat Basement with local artists Tornado Wallace, Andee Frost and Otologic. The final show on the 28th is hosted by Future Classic at Keystone Festival Bar as part of Sydney Festival 2012, where Thomas will be billed alongside German house artist DJ Koze, with each playing three-hour sets.