When your mum sends you texts like the above it’s perhaps not surprising you find yourself with a musical career. For the Helliker-Hales brothers in Chaos In The CBD, it’s strictly a family thing. They may well be one of the hottest propositions in the current house firmament, but they’ve still managed to maintain the homespun vibe that comes from growing up in the idyllic suburbs of Auckland.These days the duo – Louis and Ben (aka Beans) – are part of the tight knit Peckham dance community, but the chill summers of New Zealand’s North Island still hold a place in their fertile imagination. Having been schooled in the wares of bands like The Cure and Joy Division from their music-mad parents, it’s now the boys turning them onto house music and, yes, John Tejada.
The pair has always had a certain drive to succeed right from their early forays into electronic mu-sic after Louis’ Damascene conversion from rock to house at a Melbourne rave. He returned a convert, guiding Beans’ meandering explorations on Fruity Loops towards the sound of Chicago. They’d stand and watch local heroes like Soane, Dick Johnson, Bevan Keys and Greg Churchill and imagine themselves in the booth. Later, they received lucky guidance from Detroit-born Re-cloose, who washed up on Auckland’s shores and stayed several years.
Their move to Peckham, however accidental, couldn’t have been timed better if they’d tried. They met local scenester Bradley Zero on a train, the week they arrived.“I said, ‘That's the guy from Boiler Room’,” recalls Louis. “Beans went to say hi andBradley said, ‘I’ve actually got some of your records.’And we were like, ‘You got to be kidding. This is crazy.’ He told us about Rhythm Section and the parties and we became regulars.”
That fortuitous connection became part of their new network in the buzzy, emerging Peckham, with Bradley later releasing the vaunted breakthrough EP, Midnight In Peckham. Beans’ job in Yam Records, round the corner from Peckham Rye station, closed the circle. They might have funny accents, but this was now home.
Nevertheless, it’s the memories of New Zealand – and Beans’ chilled outlook – that produces those characteristically mellow house sounds. “It’s testament to just how chill we are; we grew up by the beach,” claims Louis, while Ben chimes in: “It's very much a representation of our childhood.” Despite their horizontal approach to studio work, their live sets are on a different level.
“Our DJ sets are completely different to how we produce,” says Louis. “We play heavy – not techno heavy – but it’s very rare we’d play a song like that Midnight In Peckham.”
Dress Code
Casual
Doors open
23:59
Age Req.
20+
Venue
INPUT High Fidelity Dance Club
Large Venue
Club
In the heart of Poble Espanyol lies INPUT High Fidelity Dance Club, the techno temple in Barcelona. Born to create unforgettable experiences, crossing its door transforms your night. Senses heighten, minds expand, and unparalleled acoustics elevate music to art.
Its circular layout fosters intimacy, uniting diverse crowds in dance. Towering ceilings house a pulsating Funktion-One-based sound system, complemented by LED lights and cutting-edge AV tech for a psychedelic journey.
Open Fridays, Saturdays, and select holidays from midnight till 6 am. Dress comfortably; trends don't matter—just bring sturdy shoes for the dance floor. Tickets available via Xceed or at the door, but advance booking saves money and time. With its stellar lineup, INPUT often sells out—don't miss out on the experience.
Tip: Don't forget to follow INPUT on socials: @inputdanceclub (Instagram) and @inputbcn (TikTok)!