A Tribute to Melbourne: Mike Rish on the City That Shaped His Progressive Sound

Mike Rish is a Melbourne-based progressive house artist who’s built his reputation the slow, honest way, through a steady run of deeply considered releases and real support from heavyweights like Guy J, Hernan Cattaneo, Nick Warren, Jamie Stevens, GMJ, and Matter. 

Never tied to one sound, his music leans into emotion, atmosphere, and experimentation, earning Beatport #1s, a debut album on UGENIUS, and standout releases on Lost & Found and Anjunadeep. One quick dig through his discography, its easy to realize how Rish has become one of Melbourne’s most trusted and quietly influential progressive voices.

On December 20, Miller Genuine Draft and Beatport bring the final stop of the Miller Mix World Tour to Riviera Balcony, curated alongside Melbourne heavyweights Thick As Thieves. Headlined by Lost Miracle and featuring a stacked local lineup including Mike Rish, the night promises a sunset-soaked celebration of Melbourne’s past, present, and future.

Ahead of his performance, Rish has put together a playlist that pays homage to his city's eclectic sound – featuring stellar selects from some of Melbourne's finest producers and labels. Check it out below.

It’s hard to condense all of the tracks that influenced me over the years that came from Melbourne producers. The select few here represents a tiny slither of what Melbourne has to offer when it comes to Progressive House both past and present.

The influence Melbourne has had on me is phenomenal. Melbourne producers and record labels were enormous in feeding the “golden era” of progressive house (2000-2006) with a steady flow of absolutely amazing music.

Even now, Melbourne continues to be a very deep well of inspiration and influence on the Progressive House world. When you think of labels Balance, Vapour, Meanwhile, Zero Tolerance, Late Nite Music it’s hard to debate the impact these labels have had on the scene both past and present.

Of course, I’m biased, but I can’t think of another city in the world that has produced so many talented producers over the course of multiple generations in the world of progressive house. – Mike Rish