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Flow Dynamics
 Despite the demise of his legendary Australian electronic act, Rhibosome, Dave McKinney couldn't stop writing and producing music. He confesses to needing a musical outlet, and it was from this intrinsic need that saw him win the WAMI electronic song of the year in 2006, and the creation of his Flow Dynamics project, which culminated in its debut album release earlier this year.
"It's great actually having that release out on CD," McKinney ecstatically states. "There's some stuff in there from previous vinyl singles which people haven't been able to get as easily, so it's nice to have it all in one album."
And the album has been a huge success for McKinney. It has been touted as one of the biggest releases in the breaks scene, and has received enormous accolades from figures and fans from the scene. But it hasn't been all smooth sailing for him in his new project. "It's always hard to try and get something happening when you are an artist," he explains. "A lot of it comes down to lucky breaks. Someone might like your tune, or you know someone who knows someone; it is really fickle and really hard to get anywhere. I've had lots of tunes out now and I still struggle to get stuff happening.
"It is amazingly hard to make a living as a musician," he continues. "And I struggle with that. And these days the music industry has changed a lot, where the main income streams for artists nowadays is not about selling records, but performing live is really where you can earn a living as a musician, cause selling records these days is almost impossible to make any money with the changes in the music marketplace. But Australia does have a great scene, and it has been great being part of that for sure."
And with a Flow Dynamics national tour starting in August, he is understandably a little frantic and extremely busy at the moment. "I am trying to make it something more than just a DJ set," he confides. "I didn't intend it to be so technically challenging. I wanted to be able to play some of my own stuff, other people's stuff and a lot of old funk tracks, but setting them up with fat beats. It has been a bit of a journey to get it all happening, and I am still at the moment furiously working on stuff, trying to get it all together. Hopefully I get a chance to practice.
"I think it'll be cool," he says with confidence. "The ultimate goal for me is to keep things funky, so I am just going to make a set for the dance floor. No matter what, that's my aim. I don't think people are gonna get too worried."
With his stock rising in an exponential rate, McKinney still keeps himself grounded, and he uses his university studies to be able to do so. "Science is a pretty reckless and analytical process sometimes; that is the complete opposite to music really in some ways," he explains. "It [science] is very logical and mathematical, where for me music is mostly about feel and all that sort of stuff, so they're completely opposites. So that tends to keep me balanced. Science is great for earning money, but music is my passion so I do both and it keeps me ticking on."
And tick on he will with international tours scheduled to occur later in the year, with gigs in Spain, Austria, Belgium, Hungary, France, UK and Scotland just to name a few. Not only is he making an impact here in Australia, but he has become a staple name in the international breaks scene, with many legendary figures of the genre, like A-Skillz, Fort Knox Five, Krafty Kuts, Adam Freeland and Nick Thayer, all holding McKinney in high esteem. "I just feel really lucky actually," a humbled McKinney explains. "It's a bit of a gag I think. It is great to get that kind of feedback. I find it to be a little bit unexpected sometimes so I feel really, really lucky. I have such great support from those guys, it has been fantastic. When I go to the UK later in the year, I might try and do a few hook ups. That'll be pretty cool."
And that is definitely something to look forward to. Bring on the funk!
Leo Varona
Flow Dynamics plays Sat 18 Aug at the Crown & Sceptre Hotel.
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