Back To The Top 2008

history LIFE AT THE TOP The BACK TO THE TOP TOUR has redefined alpine entertainment. Discover why this year’s Tour will raise the bar even higher.

If you’ve spent much time at all on the Australian mountains over the last Decade, it’s likely that you’ve stumbled across one of Nausz Music Back to the Top Events. If you’ve spent a lot of time on the mountain every winter, the Back to the Top Tour is almost certainly one of the highlights of your year (though some say they’re like the ‘60s – if you can remember them, you weren’t really there).

An enterprising young Melbourne gent, Will McLean formed Nausz Music 10 years ago with the idea to bring the infamous Melbourne party spirit to the mountains, aiming at nothing less than the best alpine night of the year.

Each year, Nausz Music has refined the Back to the Top Tour, adding bigger and better entertainment and prizes and this year, their hip hop breaks,ROCK and house events sees musical madness from The Galvatrons,Bliss & Eso, Kid Kenobi and many more.The 2008 tour will also re - introduce a street art/graffiti exhibition thanks to Melbourne’s Rancho Notorious posse. To find out more, Smulch Boston shone the interrogation spotlight on Nausz Music Executive Director Will McLean.

Tell us a little more about the history of Nausz Music and Back to the Top.
"Nausz Music started in 1999 and its objective was to create the best off-snow alpine events in Australia. After years of refining, Nausz Music launched Back to the Top which has now become one of the most popular and reputable Tour Curcuts on the Australian alpine calendar. Each Back to the Top tour incorporates the best that Australian and international music, fashion and lifestyle elements have to offer.

Mountain resort entertainment has come along way in the last decade, when did it start changing and where is it at today?
Anyone who has been around the resorts for the last 25 years, or longer, will tell you that great entertainment has always been around however sometimes it was just a little difficult to find.
Over the last 15 years there has been a greater emphasis placed onto the entertainment that is showcased at the major venues. Thankfully, fantastic entertainment is now commonplace at venues such as the, The Man, Swindlers and The Station Resort.

Do you think there has been an injection of younger mountain goers generally over the last decade with snowboarding and other snow sports developments?
"Snowboarding has certainly opened the eyes of the people regarding what else could be achieved whilst cruisin' down the slopes and there is now doubt that snowboarding has been instrumental in the development and direction that skiing has taken over the last five years. As for the injection of younger mountain goers - that just goes with the territory.”

Often people are only up at the snow for a short period and want to make the most of their time up there and really party, does that figure in how you structure the Back to the Top Tour Events?
"The most important aspect is the people. Our focus is to try and bring the mountains something out of the ordinary. We combine the best that music has to offer and incorporate guest make-overs, give-away of skis, boards, clothes, CDs, magazines, lift tickets, the list goes on and on and try and make the events the best night of the year at each of the resorts.”

There seems to be two schools of young music loving mountain goers: rock and electronic. Do you try to construct parties that will cross those boundaries?
”Don't forget hip hop! Nausz Music constructs each Back to the Top event so that each genre is covered. Different rooms or carefully constructed timing schedules and fusion acts provide seamless transfers from acoustic to rock, to hip hop and house.”

Can you tell people more about what to expect from the exhibition?
”In conjunction with Koan, a local designer and curator and our sponsor Oakley, we have put together a band of Melbourne based designers, graffiti artists and illustrators to create a collection of snowboard designs giving our audience a unique overview of the talent which has earned the Melbourne design community so much respect worldwide. We are very lucky to have the involvement of, Phibs, Reka, Bonsai as well as head honchos are Rancho Notorious, Monkey and Two. It’s going to be an inspiring show Nausz Music, Oakley and Koan have provided artists with the opportunity to design their own boards. The final products will be exhibitioned online at www.backtothetop.com.

Why do think street art and boardsports/action sports have become so closely aligned?
”This is a first and is a result of the merging of the many entities. It must be said Force has always pushed the boundaries with board construction and design and this association is a natural continuation. Extreme art meets extreme sport - the synergy mirrors society.”

What are the best festivals you’ve ever thrown?
”The ABOM, August 2004 - 1200 Techniques, Downsyde and DJ Selekt on the one bill equals Mt.Buller's biggest night of 2004.
Lake Jindabyne Hotel, August 2004 - Scribe, Rogue Traders and Gerard assisted to make one of the biggest nights at the LJH.
Kooroora, September 2003 - They said it couldn't be done - we proved them wrong!”

What’s the best lesson you’ve learned?
”The bible says: 'Do upon others as you would have done unto you.' Not everyone lives by this rule. Inspired by Nfa - 1200 Techniques - Karma will come and get ya!”

Favourite Australian ski run?
”NSW - Thredbo back country is the BomB!
VIC - Moonlight Ridge.”



			LIFE AT THE TOP The BACK TO THE TOP TOUR has redefined alpine entertainment. Discover why this year’s Tour will raise the bar even higher. If you’ve spent much time at all on the Australian mountains over the last Decade, it’s likely that you’ve stumbled across one of Nausz Music Back to the Top Events. If you’ve spent a lot of time on the mountain every winter, the Back to the Top Tour is almost certainly one of the highlights of your year (though some say they’re like the ‘60s – if you can remember them, you weren’t really there). An enterprising young Melbourne gent, Will McLean formed Nausz Music 10 years ago with the idea to bring the infamous Melbourne party spirit to the mountains, aiming at nothing less than the best alpine night of the year. Each year, Nausz Music has refined the Back to the Top Tour, adding bigger and better entertainment and prizes and this year, their hip hop breaks,ROCK and house events sees musical madness from The Galvatrons,Bliss & Eso, Kid Kenobi and many more.The 2008 tour will also re - introduce a street art/graffiti exhibition thanks to Melbourne’s Rancho Notorious posse. To find out more, Smulch Boston shone the interrogation spotlight on Nausz Music Executive Director Will McLean. Tell us a little more about the history of Nausz Music and Back to the Top. "Nausz Music started in 1999 and its objective was to create the best off-snow alpine events in Australia. After years of refining, Nausz Music launched Back to the Top which has now become one of the most popular and reputable Tour Curcuts on the Australian alpine calendar. Each Back to the Top tour incorporates the best that Australian and international music, fashion and lifestyle elements have to offer. Mountain resort entertainment has come along way in the last decade, when did it start changing and where is it at today? Anyone who has been around the resorts for the last 25 years, or longer, will tell you that great entertainment has always been around however sometimes it was just a little difficult to find. Over the last 15 years there has been a greater emphasis placed onto the entertainment that is showcased at the major venues. Thankfully, fantastic entertainment is now commonplace at venues such as the, The Man, Swindlers and The Station Resort. Do you think there has been an injection of younger mountain goers generally over the last decade with snowboarding and other snow sports developments? "Snowboarding has certainly opened the eyes of the people regarding what else could be achieved whilst cruisin' down the slopes and there is now doubt that snowboarding has been instrumental in the development and direction that skiing has taken over the last five years. As for the injection of younger mountain goers - that just goes with the territory.” Often people are only up at the snow for a short period and want to make the most of their time up there and really party, does that figure in how you structure the Back to the Top Tour Events? "The most important aspect is the people. Our focus is to try and bring the mountains something out of the ordinary. We combine the best that music has to offer and incorporate guest make-overs, give-away of skis, boards, clothes, CDs, magazines, lift tickets, the list goes on and on and try and make the events the best night of the year at each of the resorts.” There seems to be two schools of young music loving mountain goers: rock and electronic. Do you try to construct parties that will cross those boundaries? ”Don't forget hip hop! Nausz Music constructs each Back to the Top event so that each genre is covered. Different rooms or carefully constructed timing schedules and fusion acts provide seamless transfers from acoustic to rock, to hip hop and house.” Can you tell people more about what to expect from the exhibition? ”In conjunction with Koan, a local designer and curator and our sponsor Oakley, we have put together a band of Melbourne based designers, graffiti artists and illustrators to create a collection of snowboard designs giving our audience a unique overview of the talent which has earned the Melbourne design community so much respect worldwide. We are very lucky to have the involvement of, Phibs, Reka, Bonsai as well as head honchos are Rancho Notorious, Monkey and Two. It’s going to be an inspiring show Nausz Music, Oakley and Koan have provided artists with the opportunity to design their own boards. The final products will be exhibitioned online at www.backtothetop.com. Why do think street art and boardsports/action sports have become so closely aligned? ”This is a first and is a result of the merging of the many entities. It must be said Force has always pushed the boundaries with board construction and design and this association is a natural continuation. Extreme art meets extreme sport - the synergy mirrors society.” What are the best festivals you’ve ever thrown? ”The ABOM, August 2004 - 1200 Techniques, Downsyde and DJ Selekt on the one bill equals Mt.Buller's biggest night of 2004. Lake Jindabyne Hotel, August 2004 - Scribe, Rogue Traders and Gerard assisted to make one of the biggest nights at the LJH. Kooroora, September 2003 - They said it couldn't be done - we proved them wrong!” What’s the best lesson you’ve learned? ”The bible says: 'Do upon others as you would have done unto you.' Not everyone lives by this rule. Inspired by Nfa - 1200 Techniques - Karma will come and get ya!” Favourite Australian ski run? ”NSW - Thredbo back country is the BomB! VIC - Moonlight Ridge.”