When Tim Sweeney comes to Australia to play the Stereosonic festival in November, he’ll miss, for only the third time in ten years, his weekly Beats in Space radio slot. That’s something like three less than 520 shows, which, no matter how you look at it, is a stellar effort.
Vice: Hey Tim, where do you broadcast Beats in Space from now?
Tim Sweeney: From right next to Washington Square park, which is part of New York University. We just moved to the basement of a freshman dormitory. It’s pretty sweet.
Ha, do they love it? Is it just like continual keggers and frat initiations? Do they even happen in real life?
Actually, they never come down to see me. It’s weird, I think right now they’re still petrified.
You went to NYU, didn’t you?
Yeah, I went there about ten years ago to study music. That’s how I hooked up with the radio station. I can’t believe it’s the 10th anniversary already.
Was it a good course?
My major was music technology so it was all about music production, engineering and sound design – a whole broad range of stuff. I had used this nerdy program when I was in high school called MAX/MSP, which is like a programming language for music. One of the professors running this course had written a book specifically about that program so that’s what inspired me to enroll.
Yeah right. Do people still use it to make music?
It was popular with people like Aphex Twin and musicians making crazier shit but it’s not so good for making disco. There are so many programs available now that it’s really easy to make music compared to how it used to be.
Does having to turn up every week to do your show ever become a drag?
Well, it used to be on Thursday night, which was often really difficult so I switched to Tuesdays, which is fine. I’m conscious of missing shows because the reason I got the show in the first place was as a result of the guy who had it before me travelling too much and missing too many of his slots. That pretty much set the tone for me. It’s also why I have a lot of amazing guests on the show – so I can sit back while they play the music.
Yeah, you’ve had great people on the show.
I love record nerds because I love learning about music. Every time I have someone on I realise how much I don’t know about music
Really? I guess there would be music nerds even nerdier than you.
Yeah, some of the guys I’ve had on the show are like serious, full-time record collector dealer guys. This guy Joel from Quiet Village is a regular dealer and the Soft Rocks guys own a record store, so they’re always getting the newest music. It’s really endless and I love having them on my show.
Great, and now it’s time for a series of random questions. What are your favourite shoes?
I have a pair of crazy looking pair of Comme des Garçons shoes which kind of look like sneakers but they’re not. They seem to work with a lot of different outfits.
Do you watch TV?
Yes. My favourite show is Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Do you like to gamble? What’s the most you’ve ever lost/won?
I have never gambled before. I play Texas Hold’em on my cell phone on the subway all the time but I’ve never done it for real. I’m ready though. I’m up to six million dollars on my phone so I know I’m good.
Were you a bully or bullied at school?
I was definitely bullied. I wear glasses – what else would you expect from a glasses guy?
Did you have to wear braces as well?
No I have naturally pretty teeth but bad eyes.
What are you reading right now?
I’m reading a book by this writer from Brooklyn called Paul Auster. It’s called Moon Palace. He did the Brooklyn Follies and a New York Trilogy. I really like his stuff and it’s good to read about places that are familiar.
How many glasses of water do you drink a day?
I’m going to say four.
Tim Sweeny is one of lots of people playing at the Stereosonic festival around Australia late November – early December.
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