Bunbury education assistant selected to DJ at week-long ‘floating festival’ in Croatia

An education assistant at Bunbury Catholic College has been selected to DJ at a week-long “floating festival” in Croatia.

Last month Liam Northcroft, also known as DJ Noshboy, got the call up to attend Yacht Week — an exotic sailing celebration in August held off the Dalmatian coast which includes historic islands, medieval towns, secret bays, sailing regattas and a plethora of party venues.

The 25-year-old was selected for the event on the back of winning last year’s Your Shot DJ competition, which offers the winner a rare opportunity to perform at one of the world’s biggest music festivals.

Northcroft said he was “fulfilling every DJ’s dream” by taking his talents to an international stage, which he hoped would be a launchpad for his performing career.

“I still can’t believe it,” he said.

“I’m just a guy from Bunbury going overseas to DJ in a different country and do what I love.”

Originally pursuing a career in rapping, Northcroft switched the microphone for the headphones and mixer about four years ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic — when festivals he was scheduled to perform at such as Groovin’ the Moo were cancelled

“I’ve always had a thing for music,” he said.

“I used to make music with my cousin and then I started rapping, but then COVID hit, and it kind of stopped.

“Once the clubs started opening, I was like, ‘you know what, I can give DJing a go.’”

Northcroft said he fell in love with creating the “vibe and environment for people to just go out and have a good time”.

“I’m almost like a walking Shazam — the song comes on and I know it.”

The aspiring full-time DJ also has a passion for the classroom, working as an education assistant for the past two years in Bunbury.

He said the work didn’t feel like a job, as he loved helping put students “on the right path”.

Northcroft has utilised his DJ talents at the Year 11 semi-formal and Leavers Week and is set to play at the Year 12 ball.

“The kids really get enjoyment out of it ... they pretty much danced from start to finish and loved it,” he said.

Northcroft said he was regularly asked about his side gig in class and he hoped his journey offered some inspiration.

“It’s great to tell the kids that you can strive for anything that you want,” he said.

“If you have the dedication and you can manifest it hard enough, it’ll happen.”

Northcroft said during COVID he believed he had missed his chance to become a rapper.

“I just thought ‘that’s it, it’s the end, that’s my shot gone,” he said.

“But I’m glad I found something else.

“I was like ‘I’m going to do this, I’m going to show Perth what a boy from Bunbury can do.’”