twentysomethings at Matt & Tenille’s Wedding

twentysomethings are our most recently signed act and they’ve been making a seriously huge impression since we started working with them in early 2014. A 4-piece outfit consisting of lead vocals/keys, guitar, bass and drums, these guys have a flexibility and sound affiliated with a much larger lineup; owing majorly to front woman Tash’s masterful handle on both lead vocals and keys, and additional backing vocals from the rest of the band. Their dynamic, Like A Version style take on current Top 40s tunes and retro favourites conveys both an edginess and a fresh, exuberant energy totally unlike anything else on the Sydney covers scene; culminating in non-stop dance floor vibes. Subsequently, when Tenille and Matt approached us with the brief for their wedding reception – a good mix of classic and modern tracks that would keep their guests pumped and moving – we knew twentysomethings would be a perfect fit.

Having selected a range of  both new and vintage soul-funk style hits to be played on the night  (including Uptown Funk, Cosmic Girl, The Way You Make Me Feel, I Want You Back, Signed Sealed Delivered and Get Lucky), as well as a cheeky cameo of Living On A Prayer, Matt and Tenille managed to provide something for every demographic in attendance. The couple also chose the following songs for a few stand out moments in the night:

Bridal Waltz: Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran. Matt and Tenille put a personal spin on this current wedding darling by having Matt’s sister sing lead with the band. A very nice touch!

Bouquet Toss: Single Ladies – Beyonce. Everyone knows that this one was made for the bouquet toss!

Garter Toss: Like I Love You – Justin Timberlake. With its noughties-nostalgic r n’ b dance groove, this was a great track to finish the night on.

Congratulations Tenille and Matt! We had a blast working with you guys in the lead up to the big day, and we’re absolutely thrilled that you loved the band!

All the best,

The Funkified Team

Congratulations Kristy & Ben!

What a lovely couple  Kristy and Ben are! We had so much fun collaborating with them in the lead up to their wedding at The Boathouse in Palm Beach. As a member of the wedding industry (currently working as part of the wonderful team at WEOA), Kristy found us after watching our MD Gus give a talk at The Wedding Planner Workshop – apparently his presentation on our live acts, namely The Usual Suspects, made her rethink her decision to book a DJ for her entertainment!

The brief Kristy gave us was for her guests to have ‘an amazing time and be up all night dancing! I really want it to be an ABBA and John Farnham free zone’ – which with TUS was certainly something we were able to deliver. Ben and Kristy chose the following songs for their special moments:

Bridal Party Entrance: Feel So Close – Calvin Harris. That drop never fails to get the party started.

Bridal Waltz: The One I Love – David Gray. A personal favourite of the bride and groom.

Farewell Song: Everlong – The Foo Fighters. The lyrics ‘And I wonder/When I sing along with you/If everything could ever feel this real forever/If anything could ever be this good again’ convey a beautiful message of togetherness, as well as so much love and positive hope for Ben and Kristy’s future together. After the official farewell, Kristy came back into the venue to request a cheeky last-minute encore of Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson. This feel-good crowd pleaser was the perfect high to end the night on – when the groom ends up crowd surfing, you know it’s been a good gig!

On the monday following the event, Kristy sent through a little note that absolutely made our day. Our whole month even.

Let me just start by saying….. WOW – WHAT A BAND!!!!!!!

We had the most incredible time last weekend, the dance floor was packed all night, I have had countless people ask me who the band were and how I found them, followed by ‘best band ever!’. From the very beginning TUS had people on the dance floor and many never left – there was one point where I walked away for a second and when I came back I couldn’t even find room on the dance floor – lucky for me though I was the bride so was able to kick people out of the way ha! 

So many people have said it was the best, most fun, wedding they have ever been to – and I honestly believe if it weren’t for the The Usual Suspects the feedback wouldn’t have been so amazing. I don’t know what else to say but thank you, I am almost disappointed I won’t be getting married again, but if I do I will be sure to book The Usual Suspects haha! Ben would say the same thing so I don’t feel bad 🙂 

Again, thank you – the usual suspects helped make our wedding day one of the most memorable, amazingly fun and best days of our lives.

Thanks Kristy and Ben! It’s been so fantastic getting to know you guys and it was a complete pleasure working with you both!

All the best,

The Funkified team

Funkified’s Top 5 Favourite Party Songs For 2014!

We’re often asked for our favourite dance-floor fillers, and for our first blog of the new year we thought it could be fun to take a look back at what you guys were moving to throughout 2014! Each of these songs work amazingly well when played by either a live band or a DJ, and will bring even the most reluctant dancer to their feet. So without further ado, here’s our Top 5 for 2014. Let us know in the comments if you agree!

5) Shake It Off – Taylor Swift

Representing Swift’s seamless segue from Country music to Pop, Shake It Off’s uptempo rhythm and catchy hook mingle cheerfully with its punchy horn-line and playful, humorous lyrics; resulting in an instant crowd pleaser.

4) No Diggity – Blackstreet ft. Dr Dre & Queen Pen

Having experienced a recent revival owing to the 2012 Chet Faker cover, the Blackstreet original was one of our most requested songs of the year. A powerhouse rap single that was ranked at no. 32 on VHI’s 100 Greatest Songs of the ’90s, No Diggity brings a welcome nostalgia element along with Blackstreet’s trademark energy and timeless vibe.

3) Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

A late comer to 2014 and a short-priced favourite to become the no. 1 song of 2015. Topping charts in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and the USA, the MJ-influenced funk anthem fuses 70s horn lines reminiscent of Earth Wind & Fire and KC & The Sunshine Band with Mark Ronson’s trademark dominant bass and kick-heavy electronica – it’s been playing on repeat in our office ever since its release.

2) Happy – Pharrell Williams.

Possibly the most-played song of the year, but we aren’t sick of it yet! A family-friendly fave, it’s the ultimate feel-good hit. Featuring a jaunty beat complete with catchy handclaps and fresh, exuberant vocals, you can’t help but sing and dance along to this one – no matter how ‘over it’ you claim to be!

1) Get Lucky – Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams

Technically released in 2013, but we aren’t even close to done with it. A fresh, modern take on the classic disco style; owing to the harmonious collaboration between French house music duo Daft Punk, ‘Grandfather of Disco’ Nile Rodgers and the smooth vocals of Pharrell Williams. Get Lucky is 70s funk meets present-day electronica, an intoxicating fusion which has been succinctly described by Sasha Frere-Jones of The New Yorker as being ‘as close to magic as pop music comes.’

So that was 2014… Looking forward to seeing what 2015 brings!

Til next time guys,

The Funkified team.

Congratulations Sineva & Jim!

Sineva and Jim’s reception was a truly unique and awesomely festive affair; combining elements from their Samoan heritage with The Usual Suspects’ go-to set list of current Top 40 tunes and old-school classics. They opted to further personalise their night with a traditional solo dance by the bride to ‘Tama Samoa’ – written in 1991 during the Rugby World Cup, inspired by the performance of the Manu Samoa Rugby Team – and by having her cousin Jennie sing ‘Le Manu Tagi e’ – another Samoan favourite – as a dedication to Sineva’s late father. When interspersed with The Usual Suspects renditions of party tracks such as ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ (Whitney Houston) and ‘Get Lucky’ (Daft Punk), there was a really fantastic vibe in the room – the overall aura of love, warmth and fun really something special!

Sineva and Jim chose the following songs for the other formal moments of the evening:

Bride & Groom’s Entrance: Happy – Pharrell Williams. ‘Happy’ has become a hugely popular choice for entrances of late, and it’s no mystery why. Its infectiously upbeat nature sets a great tone and it’s just the perfect introduction to the celebratory section of the night!

Cake Cutting: Just The Way You Are – Bruno Mars. Romantic and heartfelt, this is a great accompaniment to what is always a rather poignant moment.

Bridal Waltz: Kisses In The Moonlight – George Benson. When it comes to your first dance, you can’t go wrong picking a personal favourite!

It was really wonderful to work with Sineva and Jim, and it really made our day when Sineva sent us this beautiful note after the wedding:

“We wanted to send a quick note THANK YOU and TUS sooooooooooooooo much for making our wedding an amazing one.

 

 Our family and friends haven’t stopped raving on about TUS and me, Jim and my sister Ivona were beyond impressed and so proud to have TUS play at our day!!!!!!. We were blown away when we heard your demo’s but you exceeded our expectations on the night. The team were absolute professionals, really warm and friendly and unbelievably talented . WOW!!!! Awesome, amazing! We can’t stop smiling.“

Congratulations guys! All the best for your lives together – if the wedding was any indication, they’re going to be absolutely filled with love and smiles! X

Congratulations Tanya & Matt!

Tanya’s biggest priority for her wedding was that people would dance. She wanted a band with an energy and repertoire that would guarantee that the dance floor was never quiet and her reception would be one that her guests would never forget. Fortunately, a work friend put her on to The Usual Suspects, and a vision was fulfilled.

Tanya and Matt had very definite ideas about what they wanted to hear on the night and brought a whole lot of suggestions to the band in the lead up to the big day. Must-haves included The Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce, Bruno Mars, Daft Punk and Michael Jackson – once we saw these names, we knew we were going to love working with them; and that The Usual Suspects would indeed be a perfect fit! For the special moments in the evening, the happy couple chose the following:

Bridal Party Entrance: September – Earth, Wind & Fire. Starting the party with a disco classic!

Bride and Groom’s Entrance: Finally – Cece Peniston. Showing their sense of humour with a subtle bit of tongue-in-cheek. ‘Finally’ is not only a hilarious choice for weddings, but a go-to dance floor hit.

Cake Cutting: Everything I Do I Do It For You – Brian Adams. A sentimental option always works well to heighten the moment.

Bridal Waltz: At Last – Etta James. Effortlessly beautiful and so romantic – this classic is a bridal waltz favourite for a reason.

Farewell Song: Hit The Road Jack – Ray Charles. Ending the night on yet another humorous note!

Congratulations Tanya and Matt! It was a pleasure to be involved in such a wonderful celebration, and we hope your night was everything you envisioned and more!

Congratulations Steven & Kate!

Fort Denison is such an incredible venue to work with. Nestled in the gorgeous Sydney Harbour, this iconic, heritage listed site always makes for a truly unique event experience. Which, of course, made it the perfect spot for Kate and Steven’s elaborate, Gatsby themed extravaganza!

As a massive fan of Baz Lurhmann’s The Great Gatsby, Kate wanted her wedding to be as dazzling and as epic as the film itself. Our DJ Damo entertained guests with some vintage jazz standards, mingled in with pop favourites from the movie’s soundtrack – the end result was an authentic 20s vibe with a fun and modern party edge. The marquee looked absolutely amazing draped in delicate fairy lights; and the bride was stunning in an elegant, flapper-inspired lace gown.

 

The couple stayed thematically on-point for the special moments of the night, opting for the following song choices:

Bridal Party Entrance: Crazy In Love – Emeli Sande. The catchy, quirky cover of the Beyonce hit from Lurhmann’s masterpiece set the tone for the night perfectly!

Bridal Waltz: Power of Love- Gabrielle Aplin. This dreamy piece was absolutely lovely and so, so romantic for the first dance. They chose to liven things up afterwards by kicking straight into A Little Party Never Killed Nobody – Fergie, Q Tip and Goon Rock (also from the Gatsby soundtrack) – definitely got the dance floor going!

 

Farewell Song: Young & Beautiful – Lana Del Rey. Winding down the party with this hugely ethereal and magically sweet track was such a nice touch. The lyrics convey such a wonderful message for Kate and Steven’s future and these perfectly planned musical details really brought the night together!

Congratulations Kate and Steven! It was great working with you guys and we wish you both so much for your lives together – if the wedding was any indication, they’ll be filled with romance, happiness and fun!

From Sydney’s Premier Wedding DJ, DJ Damo: DJ + Live Band = Perfect Marriage!

All you wonderful brides and grooms have so many decisions to make… Set dessert or candy buffet? Roses or orchids? Where to seat Uncle Dave so that he will cause the least embarrassment?

And then it comes to choosing wedding entertainment, and you’re wondering, do we go with a live band or DJ?

A live band will take your wedding reception into the party stratosphere with the excitement that can only come with live musicians. But a DJ can play virtually any song in recorded history, and comes in a budget friendly package.

So, here’s the solution. As the little girl from the Old El Paso Taco ad says, “Why not both?”

In the last year, Funkified has started putting a DJ with live bands as a premium wedding entertainment package. As a DJ, I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside the best two bands in Sydney, The Usual Suspects and Lets Groove Tonight. And I can tell you from six years experience, they’ve been the best wedding receptions I’ve ever had the pleasure to attend. 

Here’s how it works. When the band takes a break between sets to breathe, regroup, and plan out their next party busting set, the DJ takes over the performance duties, seamlessly segueing into the next track to keep the dance floor pumping! As a DJ I can easily take requests that a band might not be able to do at the last minute, and I can also play more recent songs so that everyone’s musical tastes can be satisfied.

So for your reception, consider adding the versatility of a DJ to the blistering energy of a live band and get the absolute best of both worlds! 

The Usual Suspects at Amanda & Sam’s Wedding

So, so much love for these snaps from Amanda & Sam’s Gunners’ Barracks wedding! Absolutely stunning work by Lisa & Pete from And A Day. Take a look:

Such a party! In honour of the occasion, The Usual Suspects rolled out the following requests:

Bridesmaid’s Entrance: Run The World (Girls) – Beyonce

Groomsmen’s Entrance: Do Ya Think I’m Sexy – Tom Jones

Bride & Groom’s Entrance: Another One Bites The Dust – Queen

An upbeat party song is exactly what you want for your entrances. It sets the tone for the whole reception and gets everyone pumped for the night ahead. Amanda & Sam opted for tunes that were a little cheeky & sassy, which really helped to get their guests into the party mindset (as you can see below!)

Cake Cutting: Better Together – Jack Johnson. This is a great choice for cake cutting. It’s romantic & sweet, but mellow enough to simply compliment -rather then dominate- the moment.

Bridal Waltz: Everlong – The Foo Fighters. Amanda & Sam really demonstrated that you can never go wrong with a personal favourite for this special dance. It’s purely about the two of you – if you can choose something you both love then you’re on to a winner!

Farewell Song: I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston. Ending the night on a high with a dance floor classic! Flawless.

And there you have it. Just a few of many beautiful memories from a very special night 🙂

Jay and Simon’s wedding

Nightingales Wedding Designers are renowned for creating absolutely sensational events, but they really outdid themselves last weekend with Simon & Jay’s!

The couple celebrated their reception at Opera Point Marquee, overlooking the glittering Sydney Harbour. A particular talking point throughout the evening was the massive ice sculpture, inscribed with the couples names and decorated with delectable offerings of fresh oysters and sashimi! A perfect compliment to the waterside location and balmy weather.

The Usual Suspects (with guest vocalist Jessica Lingotti) and DJ Damo were on dance-floor duty; a collaboration that absolutely wowed the room! Everyone was on their feet until closing time.

Here’s a couple of Simon & Jay’s top picks for the night:

Bridemaid’s entrance : “Crazy in Love” – Beyonce.
An absolute show-stopper of a song that never fails to make an impression on the crowd.

 

Bride and Groom’s entrance : “Feels so close” – Calvin Harris.
Ditto the above! Also a particular favourite of The Usual Suspects to play.

 

Cake cutting : “At Last” – Etta James.
A beautiful song that is a perfect accompaniment to the sentiment of the moment.

 

Bride Waltz : “If I Lose Myself” – Alesso vs One Republic, played by the DJ.
Not a traditional choice for a bridal waltz, but a great way for Jay & Simon to show their personalities and have a little fun 🙂

Jay was kind enough to send us this little note a few days later:

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“Thanks for a great night guys! We received many many many compliments on how awesome you guys were 🙂“

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We were absolutely touched to receive such lovely feedback. Thanks Jay! We wish you and Simon all the best!

Linda & Ben’s Sensational Fort Denison Wedding!

Congratulations to Linda & Ben, who were married earlier this year. After a fairly major hiccup that entailed their original reception spot losing its liquor licence just three weeks before the big day, we suggested Linda call up the lovely Liz Taylor from one of our favourite venues, Fort Denison, who was miraculously able to accommodate them on the same date!

Linda was absolutely gorgeous in a gown by Pallas Couture; and Ben just as handsome as when he was in the running for Cleo Bachelor of the Year back in 2002 😉

The Usual Suspects were in charge of the evening’s entertainment, and as always did a spectacular job – to the extent that a good handful of the guests refused to leave the dance floor when the boat came to take them off the island!

The weather left something to be desired, however the sheer happiness and great music on the night made everyone forget about the cold and the rain. And on that note, here are a couple of Linda and Ben’s top song choices of the night:

Bridal Party Entrance: Get Lucky – Daft Punk. Perfect party song to start the night!

Cake Cutting: At Last – Etta James. A vintage classic – some tunes are a cliche for a reason.

Bridal Waltz: If I Ain’t Got You – Alicia Keys. The quintessential modern R n’ B love song.

Farewell Song: Feel So Close – Calvin Harris. No wonder no one wanted to leave the dance floor!

Congratulations again Linda and Ben. It was great working with you guys X

Thanks also to bkaptured photography for the above images – beautiful work!