In the lead up to Justin Jay’s and Billy Kenny’s Australian tours, Claude VonStroke sat down with online zine Dancing Astronaut and ‘fessed up four key tips for any aspiring producers looking to send their stuff to San Fran label Dirtybird.

The main label man who recently remixed Rihanna quotes that he listens to every single demo that gets sent his way. These four tips might help you get his attention a little better!

Tip: One

‘I’m only getting what people think should be on Dirtybird.. which is limiting. I get a lot of stuff that’s just the same thing over and over again.’

Tip: Two

‘It’s having your own personality. It sticks out so quickly if you’re not just copying a style. Like boom! That’s it’s own thing. Immediately you can tell. I really respect those demos, even if I don’t end up signing them.’

‘That Shiba San track was like that. It just came in randomly. It just has to be amazing.’

Tip: Three

‘What I’m not looking for.. is like UK garage-converted house music. It’s like, ok, that’s over… for us at least..’

Tip: Four

‘The advice I would give you for your long term career: it’s better to have your own thing. It’s not really going to get you anywhere if you’re just the guy who tweaked it one millimeter to the left.’

So there you have it, any inkling on trying to get signed by the famed San Fran label and you now know what to avoid.

While you nervously twiddle your thumbs waiting for a reply from the mighty VonStroke, cop the ‘10 Years of Dirtybird’ mix that pretty much summarises easily one of the best labels in the last decade.