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Cong Josie is the hedonistic alter-ego (and anagram) of Nic Oogjes, also known to many as the bandleader of heat beat icons, NO ZU. Nicolaas says inhabiting the Cong character allows him to plunge the depths of his psyche and drag forth what he finds there - beyond the real and into hyper-reality. Cong Josie is a mirror; on one side 'the singer', an archetype, preening and peacocking masculinity, the other “the artist” questioning what he sees in his reflection, tearing apart his own sense of self. Nicolaas began his musical life by performing in punk bands in his teens, before falling in with a Parliament-Funkadelic inspired odd-funk, hip-hop band. Who he played out with under age all over Melbourne. By the time of the early noughties ‘indie sleeze’ explosion, Nicolaas was, fittingly, drumming in a spikey post-punk band, Tik Toc Tokyo (TTT) with influences from Wire to Love of Diagrams to The Birthday Party. The earlier schooling in funk music quickly connected the dots for Nicolaas to punk-funk acts like The Pop Group and the first two LP’s by Hunters and Collectors, whose influence was mainlined into the group. Eventually he found his way to the front, sharing the mic and smashing a set of cheap roto toms. These influences and a newly discovered bravissimo led directly to the formation of the band for which he is most well known: NO ZU (Nicolaas Oogjes Zoo Unlimited). Formed in 2007 as a solo project with little ambition other than to create some mutant no-wave inspired rhythmic experiments, the project rapidly expanded to become an 8-10 piece live extravaganza performing what Nicolaas coined ‘heat beat’ music. Several EP’s, 12”s, two critically acclaimed LP’s and incalculable Dyonesian performances followed. NO ZU became a force. Collaborations with many of their heroes, including Sal Principato (Liquid Liquid), ESG, Konk, A Certain Ratio and James Chance saw surreal full-circle dreams come true and link NO ZU, as an antipodean mutation of this music. NO ZU became the go-to hi-energy late night act for festivals in Australia, Europe, Mexico, US, Russia and beyond. In 2023, after a hiatus however, Nicolaas decided to end the project. The tragic passing of close friend and band member, Daphne Camf (SaD) was the main catalyst. A final EP, ‘Heat Beat’, featuring her last vocal recordings provided a fitting and emotional finish for his beloved project. Two massive farewell shows in Naarm (Melbourne) proved to be a cathartic, loving and euphoric full stop shared with their close knit music community. And here Cong was born. While it is ostensibly a solo project, Nicolaas has again enlisted talented friends to contribute both to the recording and production of all his work and as a live band. Cayn Borthwick (aka, Johnny Cayn), has provided the most significant contributions performing the majority of the tonal instrumentation on recordings and writing with Nicolaas. Live, Cong is backed up by a leather-clad, Warriors-like gang; The Hell Raisers. Mainstays, Mona Rêves (Simone-Page Jones), Milla McQueen (Camilla McKewen) provide Shangri-las via Julee Cruise vocals, Mickey Dollar (Michael Jenkins) makes his guitar cry 96 tears and then some and Pinky Madeleine (Maddy Macfarlane) will threaten both you and your safety with her sax skronk. Now, with the release of the wild-west EBM stomper, ‘1300 Scorpio’, as the first single from forthcoming sophomore LP, Moto Zone, Cong Josie is set to build on his growing status as Naarm’s subversive rebel of ‘Speed n Roll’. Equally at home on thrashy punk lineups, EBM/darkwave performances or Strictly Ballroom level-of-camp-ness happenings, Cong knows no bounds. Moto Zone, due later in 2024 on It Records, sees a bold and sleazy development on the niche that debut album Cong! (2021) and recent special split 7” single, ‘Nocturne Baby’, have carved out. Moto Zone is a complete statement of sonic speed racing, post-doo-wop romance dreams, self confession and plenty of kicks! Jump on the back of the bike, hold on and burn the bitumen with Cong Josie.