At the time we speak, Australia’s same-sex marriage survey is just
starting to hit mailboxes. It’s a topic Streten has spoken out about
before, urging his million-or-so Instagram followers to ensure they’re
enrolled to vote, and he wants to make sure he comes across the right
way. He pauses to ask how we’re going to report what he’s said about
the issue, which is this:
“It’s kind of ridiculous. Ireland, the UK, New Zealand – I feel like
we’re super behind with that and it would be nice to catch up. I hope
it’s a ‘yes’ vote – I hope it goes through. It’s kind of crazy that it’s
still a thing we have to talk about, that it’s still a discussion. To me,
love is love.”
It’s not exactly a
controversial stance. But
while American pop stars
are often vocal in their
views – even campaigning or
performing alongside political
candidates – many of their
Australian counterparts are
surprisingly mute on the big
issues. Streten’s honesty is
refreshing. Still, he’s also aware
it’d probably help his career if
he just cared a little bit less
about what people thought –
maybe even sparked a feud
with another artist or two.
“I feel like if I did say more
controversial stuff, I would
probably be a bigger artist.
Saying shit about other people
totally helps because you get
[written] about more often,” he
says. “I feel like Deadmau5 is
good at that – he talks shit about
people and he doesn’t give a
fuck, which is great. Maybe
I could give less of a fuck. But
I kind of just want to make music
and be left alone. It stresses me
out, drama like that.”
When he’s not working, which
is most of the time, Streten’s
been trying to explore the States.
“I just try to be in nature as
much as possible,” he says.
“I have a van, which has a bed in
the back and I just take my surf board and drive up and down the coast.
I built a little studio in it, too, and I’ve got solar panels on the roof. So
it’s like a little mobile studio, which is pretty sweet.”
Besides the mobile studio, Streten struggles to think of what he
actually spends his money on these days. There are no chains or
diamond studs. The Thom Browne glasses are the flashiest thing he’s
wearing. “Furniture,” he settles on, finally. “The house I’ve got is 100
years old and I need to fill it – and I’m realising that if you’ve got an
old house you need some old stuff. So I’m trying to figure it all out.”
But does he ever look up to Diplo’s Hollywood Hills pad and think
he should just head off to Ibiza for a few months, land a steady DJ gig
and let the cash rain in? He could have all the old furniture he wants.
Maybe get himself a few chickens.
“Yeah, the Vegas residency is where the money’s at,” he laughs.
“Look, I’m not going to lie – the money would be awesome. It’s not cheap
bringing our show around – you can’t just rock up with two USB sticks
– but I look at it as more of a long-term thing. I plan to be doing this for
a long time and I want to give my fans the best experience I can.”
Electronic music is often dismissed as a bunch of guys with laptops.
But as anyone who’s been to a Flume gig can attest, Streten’s not one
to simply show up and press ‘play’. Each concert delivers an epic
sensory experience, which he’s created with long-time collaborator,
Australian Jonathan Zawada.
“We’ve made a really curated, awesome experience,” he says.
“We’ve done live visuals for
each song and the lighting
show takes them on a journey. I
like that theatre.”
Already an accomplished
artist in his own right, Zawada
is perhaps best known for his
images of flowers on dreamy,
digital backgrounds – the kind
featured on the Skin album
cover, as well as singles ‘Never
Be Like You’ and ‘Smoke &
Retribution’. Though some fans
couldn’t help but notice that
when Apple released its new
iOS 11 update, some of the
wallpapers that came with it
seemed awfully familiar.
“I keep getting tweets about
it,” says Streten. “Looks like
they’ve taken some inspiration
from old Zawada!” For the
record, Zawada has said he
thinks the similarities are a
coincidence. We’re not so sure.
Streten is hoping to head back
into the studio and start on
some new music. But he feels
like he’s in a good place in his
career. One hit album means
the pressure is on to make
a second; two hit albums is
a different matter. “There’s
a thing called ‘Second Album
Syndrome’ and I definitely felt
that,” he says. “After the first
record, I was freaking out trying to do Skin and I put a lot of pressure
on myself. But now I’m feeling quite free and relaxed. I don’t have to
prove to people who I am – I’m just excited about being creative.”
Not only is the heat off, but Streten feels he has a better idea of
what he wants to do next – and what he doesn’t.
“I don’t really want to do another album,” he says. “It really takes it
out of me. I’m enjoying just creating. I’m thinking maybe a few EPs
and keeping the music coming out more regularly.”
And though he’s just 26, Streten says it’s nice to think he’s helped
inspire the next generation of Aussie musicians.
“I hope so,” he says. “I was just a kid who made beats in his room- but if you fuck around with it long enough, you might actually
get somewhere.” n
MEN OF THE YEAR 2017 GQ.COM.AU 139