[Love] Tattoo

[Love] Tattoo

Genres: tribal, Disco, australian dance music, house music, Australian House Music

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About [Love] Tattoo

LOVE Tattoo is the long-running creative project of Sydney icon DJ and producer Stephen Allkins, one of the true founding figures of Australian dance music culture. A legend not a term used lightly, Allkins has been an integral presence in the country’s club and electronic scene for more than two decades, known for his impeccable taste, technical skill, and deep understanding of dancefloor energy. From the early 1980s, Allkins helped define Sydney’s emerging club sound, bridging disco, funk, house, and electronic experimentation. His name became synonymous with seminal venues including Palms, Stranded, Patches, Glamourworld, the Phoenix, and Sublime. His legendary Class Act nights and marathon six-hour Phoenix sessions became essential fixtures on Sydney’s nightlife calendar. During the late 1990s, his residency at @Home made the venue one of the most celebrated house nights in the city, drawing sellout crowds through the 1998/99 summer season. Recognised for his long-term commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and as a creative force behind Australia’s biggest dance events, Allkins received an award acknowledging his contribution to two of the southern hemisphere’s most storied dance parties, the Sydney Mardi Gras and Sleaze Ball, having headlined both nine times over his career. From the underground days of Rat, Sweatbox, and Fun, to the peak years when visiting international legends like Paul Oakenfold, Pickering and Parke, and Frankie Knuckles praised Sydney’s scene, Allkins was always at the centre of it, shaping its sound and spirit. Over the years, Allkins has performed alongside many of dance music’s most influential names including Frankie Knuckles (three times), David Morales, Kings of Tomorrow, Roger Sanchez, Boy George, Danny Rampling, Deep Dish, Armand Van Helden, Fatboy Slim, Miguel Migs, E-Smoove, Felix Da Housecat, Crazy P (Crazy Penis), and Dick Johnson (Shaboom Records). He has also appeared on stage with Ultranaté, Eve Gallagher, Chance, The Village People, Peaches, Paul Capsis, and Wicked Beat Sound System, and performed at major events such as Ministry of Sound, Renaissance, Gatecrasher, Homebake, Big Day Out, the Adelaide Festival, and the Sydney Festival. The Emergence of LOVE Tattoo By the late 1990s, Stephen turned his focus from dancefloor curation to music production. Having worked with his late friend and influential producer Robert Racic, and collaborated with Australian acts like the Rockmelons, Allkins began developing his own project, LOVE Tattoo, as a vehicle to merge his deep disco roots with modern electronic sensibilities. His debut release, History of Disco, created in collaboration with Paul Mac (of Itch-E and Scratch-E), became an instant club anthem. With its soulful disco homage and forward-thinking house production, the track caught the attention of UK tastemaker Pete Tong, who released it via his Essential Records imprint on ffrr. The success of the release earned Allkins a guest slot at Home Ibiza with Carl Cox, launching LOVE Tattoo onto the international stage. The track soon became a fixture in clubs across the UK and Europe, spinning, as Allkins described, like the proverbial mirrorball. Building on that success, Allkins joined forces with local producer and remixer Justin Shave, evolving LOVE Tattoo’s sound into a more tribal and groove-focused direction. Standout follow-ups such as Drop Some Drums and The Bass Has Got Me Movin’ became club staples both in Australia and abroad, appearing on influential compilations like Renaissance: Ibiza and receiving widespread global DJ support. Fatboy Slim notably closed his Brighton Beach party with Drop Some Drums before an audience of tens of thousands, later including the track on his 2006 Live in Brazil release Fala Air. Albums and Recognition LOVE Tattoo’s debut album, released through EMI, confirmed Stephen Allkins’ reputation as one of Australia’s most innovative producers, seamlessly bridging underground credibility with crossover appeal. Following the momentum of the singles, Allkins released Burnin’ Up (Casa del Discos, 2004), a vinyl-only underground hit that drew praise from DJs internationally. By 2006, LOVE Tattoo returned with the album Bodywork, on ABC’s Fly Music label, a full-length journey through the many shades of dance, house, electro-funk, and chillout. Across its 11 tracks, Bodywork captured the feeling of one of Allkins' DJ sets: energetic, sensual, and authentic. The album included standout tracks Burning Up and Put Ya Body In It featuring Merenia Gillies, a funky vocal anthem that reached the ARIA Club Chart Top 10. Critics and peers widely praised Bodywork, with Sydney’s 3D World magazine calling it “a live instrument-dominated disco-funk, electro-funk approach that kicks the soulless pretenders into touch,” naming it Album of the Week. Following the release, Allkins embarked on an extensive national and international tour, performing to packed dancefloors across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart, Byron Bay, Wollongong, and the Gold Coast, with additional appearances in Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur, each show reaffirming his dedication to the art of creating smiling, sweaty, thinking dancefloors. Legacy and Influence To this day, Stephen Allkins remains a pillar of the Australian electronic community, a DJ’s DJ widely respected for his deep musicality, technical mastery, and ongoing mentorship within the scene. Whether behind the decks or in the studio, Allkins continues to bring the same passion, curiosity, and authenticity that have defined his career since the beginning. As Stephen himself has said: “Producing and arranging are great fun for me. I love collaborating with people, producers, vocalists, and musicians. I love the process of bouncing my ideas off others and them throwing ideas back at me. For music to speak, it must be sexy.” Through LOVE Tattoo, that creative philosophy continues to resonate, uniting the raw emotion of disco with the pulse of modern dance music, and reminding audiences everywhere that the history of disco is still very much alive. More: 'New York had Larry Levan, Chicago had Ron Hardy, Sydney HAS Stephen Allkins..' It is safe to say that Stephen Allkins aka [Love] Tattoo could rightly claim the trademark of "Mr.Disco", his extensive record collection & his infamous sets over the years. "New York had Larry Levan, Chicago had Ron Hardy, and Sydney has Stephen Allkins." Stephen Allkins—aka [Love] Tattoo—is an undisputed icon of Australian dance music. A DJ, producer, and pioneer, he has been shaping the sound of disco and house music in Australia since the late 1970s, laying the foundations for the vibrant club culture that followed. From the earliest disco nights in Sydney’s gay clubs to underground warehouse parties and mainroom raves, Stephen’s sound has consistently pushed boundaries and inspired generations. Affectionately known as "Mr. Disco," Stephen began DJing in 1978, spinning vinyl in a scene still forming its identity. He was among the first in Sydney to champion disco and later house music, earning a reputation as the "DJ’s DJ" for his impeccable selections, deep crates, and intuitive ability to work a dancefloor. His sets were spiritual experiences, blending deep disco grooves, vocal house, and electronic soul with an effortless mastery that helped define the sound of a city. As [Love] Tattoo, Stephen stepped into the studio and brought his musical vision to life with a series of genre-defining releases that bridged the golden era of disco with the pulse of modern house. His breakout single “History of Disco” (2001)—a lush, soulful tribute co-produced with Paul Mac—was quickly signed by Pete Tong to Essential Records and released on the legendary UK label ffrr. The track resonated internationally and marked Allkins as not just a DJ, but a gifted producer with a reverence for dance music’s roots. Building on that momentum, [Love] Tattoo followed up with several acclaimed releases, including: "Drop Some Drums" – a tribal house stomper that found its way into crates around the globe. "The Bass Has Got Me Movin’" – a deeper, groove-driven cut that fused house and electro sensibilities with Allkins' trademark style. "Drums"/"Body Heat" – a powerful 12" double-header that brought together percussive intensity and sensual energy. "Moonlight", "Daydreaming" and other deep cuts further established the [Love] Tattoo name as synonymous with quality, groove-heavy house and disco edits. His critically acclaimed album, "Body & Soul", released in 2001, cemented his status as a major force in Australian electronic music. The LP was a masterclass in production—honouring the roots of dance music while pushing it forward with taste, soul and authenticity. It showcased Allkins' wide-ranging influences, from classic disco and Chicago house to funk, soul, and 80s synth. Stephen's live shows as [Love] Tattoo brought his music to life with the same energy and passion he delivered behind the decks. Whether playing to intimate dancefloors or massive festival crowds, he remained laser-focused on the essence of the music: groove, emotion, and connection. Today, Stephen Allkins stands as one of the most important figures in Australia’s dance music history. His influence is felt in every corner of the scene—from crate-digging selectors and disco revivalists to mainstage house DJs and producers. With over four decades of contributions behind him, his legacy continues to inspire the next wave of artists and dancers alike. ̸ Discography Stephen Allkins aka [Love] Tattoo – Discography Studio Albums (Love) Tattoo (2001) – Hussle Recordings Bodywork (2005) – ABC Music Singles & EPs "History of Disco" (1999) – Essential Recordings "Drums" / "Bass" (1999) – Hussle Recordings "Drop Some Drums" (2000) – Hussle Recordings "The Bass Has Got Me Movin'" (2001) – Hussle Recordings "Love's Theme (Party)" (2002) – Hussle Recordings "Put Ya Body In It" (2007) – Fly Music (Australia) DJ Mixes & Compilations DJs Downunder Volume 3 (1996) – Reach'n Records Superstar DJ: Stephen Allkins (2002) – Ministry (Magazine) Australia Notable Remixes "Just The Thing" by Paulmac (Stephen Allkins with Stereogamous Remix) – Featured on The Rhythm Method 001 compilation (2001)

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