Trading nightlife between countries. What a neat idea to switch music, parties, food, places, drinks, people and the inner workings of far-flung cultures for a night and just see what happens. We’re into it, so we figured that a good way to support would be to discover what nightlife means to some of our favourite Aussie creatives.

We’ve just wrapped the interview series during which we heard about a tight knit community from Pat Stevenson, food and friends from Jai Pyne, lurking in shadows from Anthony Lister (ha!), more food and friends from Luca Ionescu and a fistful of music and good times from Dan Single.

Can’t help but wonder how many kebabs and Four’N Twenties snuck into the crate before it was sealed up. We’ll find out on November 27 when the world swaps nights and the Aussie crate is cracked open somewhere across the pond. Not sure which country’s crate is landing in Australia, but if you’d like to be at the party in Sydney head over to Smirnoff Australia for a shot at attending. [Taj Alexander is pictured with his crate artwork in Melbourne]

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We asked Dan Single of Sydney’s Ksubi and Bang Gang Deejays what Aussie nightlife means to him. Just like the rest of the series we asked for one thing that represents Aussie nightlife, but Dangerous Dan refused.

‘One thing? More like 10 things. It’s exciting, its fresh, its original, music consistently pushes boundaries, drinks are new, people are way up for it, door policies are generally cool’. As for the difference between Aussie nightlife and other countries Dan parties in? ‘There’s a no rules, no expectation type feeling. If the music is fresh the party is fun’. Dan cited Cut Copy, Beni, Ajax, Bag Raiders, Temper Trap, The Presets and Little Bambalam in his list of fave Aussie nightlife tunes. What does Aussie nightlife mean to you? Fill the crate with your fave tunes, artists and places.

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We asked Sydney-based creative director Luca Ionescu what Aussie nightlife means to him. Like musician Jai Pyne, it’s all about food and friends. ‘A recent night out was at a friend’s apartment in Potts Point, where a small gathering of friends converged to share good food and wine and listen to music. We spent the evening talking about art and design and the hours rolled by without notice’. [design by Luca Ionescu]

Fill our crate with the best of Aussie nightlife. Your fave food, wine, restaurants and cafes.. Go!

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We asked Sydney artist Anthony Lister what Aussie nightlife means to him. In typical style, his answer was blunt and a touch mysterious: ‘sticking to the shadows is paramount’. If we were to elaborate, we’d suggest a handful of monsters and superheroes are sneaking between shadows, stealing cover in the gritty darkness of building enclaves and alleyways. Or perhaps on his canvas. [artwork by Anthony Lister]

Fill our crate with the best of Aussie nightlife. Your fave artworks, galleries, artists and late-night haunts.. Go!

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We asked Jai Pyne of indie-rock band The Paper Scissors what Aussie nightlife means to him. ‘A night out in Sydney for me is probably not the most thrilling experience compared to others. I could lie and tell you about how much I love Ching a Lings, or Shadey Pines. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad there are some nice bars in Sydney now. But the truth is that I lay pretty low. For me, the best nights happen when food is involved. I think that’s one of the things that keeps me sane and keeps me in touch with Sydney. I often doubt the city and my reasons for living in it, but when I go out and eat, it reminds me of the reasons why I stay and why I begrudgingly love Sydney.’

‘The thing that represents nightlife to me is eating amazing food with friends. My partner and I will often make the trip to Lakemba to eat Lebanese food. Driving down the main street, it’s so far removed from the inner city that it’s refreshing; the smells are different, the faces are different, and the hours people keep are later. You’d be hard pressed to find a shop open in some inner city suburbs after 9, but here you can still buy nuts in bulk or bunches of herbs for a dollar. But the garlic and the mint and the hommous are the things that suck us back. And you don’t always have to venture that far for an awesome dinner. There is Thai food that has blown my mind and chilli rushed my head into oblivion and sleeplessness only a suburb away. Living in Newtown, I am surrounded by Thai restaurants, although a lot of them are very standard – edible but underwhelming. But there are a few places you can go and get flavour that kills these wok rockers.

‘Even with my band The Paper Scissors – we are the least ‘rock n roll’ guys ever – we always try to find the best spots to eat in the different places we pass through. We often take the piss out of ourselves – and deservingly so. One time we ate Gelati between sound check and show, and on a trip to Adelaide for a festival, we went wine tasting. I think my friends all have worked in the hospitality industry to support themselves or maybe sadistically for the joy of it, but I think it helps when going out. These people know where to eat, how to eat, to share dishes, to tip enough, and to drink well.

‘I spend all my money on food. I always wonder where it all went, but then I remember all the nice meals I’ve had and the fun I’ve had with friends. I think the term ‘foodie’ evokes pictures of Matt Preston or some wanker who reads Good Living religiously, but most of the people I love and value in life love food and the best memories of Sydney involve food.’

[audio:Howl.mp3]

Fill our crate with the best of Aussie nightlife. Your fave bands, DJs.. Go!

[Track by The Paper Scissors]

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We asked Hobogestapo photographer Pat Stevenson what Australian nightlife means to him: ‘I believe the main characteristic that makes Sydney and Australia stand out from the rest of the world is how tightly knit our community is, everyone knows everyone. This may sound like a bad thing, but it actually makes things great. I find in Sydney we are like one big family, everyone is on good terms with each other and for the most part it’s a very positive, supporting group of very talented musicians and creatives pushing each other to achieve something truly unique’.

‘I found when I first started shooting social stuff, that a lot of things were very bland and generic. You had your small pockets of creatives trying to push things in a new direction, but for the most part, it was all very tame and safe. Each time I go out to shoot, I am always trying to think of something new and innovative to try to change things up a bit. It’s great working with five other guys under the Hobo banner in Sydney as we all basically live with each other in our small office space in Surry Hills and we are constantly punching ideas into each others heads and feeding off each other.

‘I just came home from shooting an entire portraiture gallery with ‘The Kid’ in three different clubs around Sydney, just using two iPhone ‘flashlight’ apps to light our subjects. It is this thirst for creativity that is keeping me happy and active three years down the track. Still going strong!’ [photos by Pat Stevenson]

The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange crates have arrived in fourteen countries across the globe. Be a part of the day the world swaps nights by filling Australia’s crate with the best of Aussie nightlife. Get started!

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The Nightlife Exchange Project involves 14 countries around the world filling crates with the best of their local nightlife and exchanging their country’s crate with another. It kicked off in Australia with artist and China Heights curator Ed Woodley giving the Aussie crate a good lick of paint at Sydney’s Darling Harbour [pictured], and the crate will be making it’s way around the country before enjoying a send off party in October.

To support the Nightlife Exchange Project we’re running an interview series with 5 of our favourite Aussie creatives; we’ve asked what Australian nightlife means to photographers, designers, musicians and artists, and we’re publishing the responses over the next few weeks.

Read the interview series on Australia’s inspiring nightlife.

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