Australia has a real love for Carnage. He’s one of the most charismatic figures on the Stereosonic 2015 lineup, and his penchant for penning bangers is backed up by some premium banter and an infectious personality that’s impossible to ignore.

His current Australian visit is his second of the year, but the first since the release of his album Papi Gordo, which features rap heavyweights including Rick Ross, Ty Dolla Sign and Migos. While LWA bro Jack Bennett has been accompanying Carnage on his adventures around Sydney – including a visit to the zoo to pat quokkas and eating fried chicken – we caught up for a taco or two at Surry Hills haunt Harpoon Harry for a quick interview.

Just know that after we stopped recording this interview we talked about DJ Khaled for a long, long time. You smart. Check out the interview below, where you can also see our pictures of Carnage on his holiday Down Under. He plays Stereosonic in Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide this weekend:

Have you made any friends on the Stereosonic tour so far?

I started kicking it with What So Not, he’s cool. I know a lot of people here so it’s chill, a lot of people I’ve toured with so many times before. Peking Duk, they’re dope.

They’re always shirtless.

Always shirtless! And their hair is super curly.

What’s it like seeing people with your name tattooed on them?

It’s crazy. That’s a very deep love. It’s like, if someone got your name tattooed on them, what would you do?

I’d probably send them a care package or something.

Yeah, I told them I have to give them free tickets for life, right? As long as that tattoo stays on.

You have on foot in the dance world and one in the hip-hop realm. Do you remember a time when the two genres weren’t so accepting of each other?

A couple of years ago, right? It’s funny because at trap shows and shit like that, they’ll be like “Why are you playing so much rap music?” And it’s like, “You’re at a trap show! What the fuck else do you want to hear?” Funnily enough, when the whole trap thing blew up, in the slightest little way I was offended, because I was like “Why are a bunch of white people naming their shit trap music? Your music isn’t trap music, trap music is a whole complete different thing.”

I feel so fucking wack when I have to say ‘EDM trap’ – it’s so annoying for me to say that. That’s not real trap music. I’m a hypocrite because I kind of started this whole festival trap thing, but when people get offended when I play rap music, it’s like “What the fuck? Go the fuck elsewhere. Go to a Flosstradamus show or something.”

Do you change your set depending on if you’re playing EDC Las Vegas or a club show in Los Angeles?

I play everything, it’s fun to mix things around. I remember years ago I used to play a bunch of dance tracks, and people would start chanting “We want trap! We want trap!”… People didn’t get what I was doing. Now, you can’t go to any show without a trap DJ playing some four on the floor shit. That shit didn’t happen three years ago! No trap guy – and you can quote me on this – ever played anything four on the floor or big room shit three years ago. No one… You listen to any trap guy now, they’re playing some house shit in their set.

One of the biggest tracks off your album is ‘Bricks‘ with Migos. What’s it like hanging out with them?

They’re so fun. They’re a bunch of kids, like 19 or 20 years old. All they do it kick it – they smoke hella weed, make music all day and chill. They understand what’s going on. They get it, and a lot of rappers don’t. They’re so deep in the midst of that real trap shit, but they get it. I respect them.

Do they really wear that much Versace in real life?

Yeah. They wear so much gold jewellery, it’s insane. They’ll be in their basement completely chained out and guns everywhere. They have AKs everywhere, it’s tight. Did you see the Noisey documentary on them?

Yeah. I love how DIY their studio was.

That’s where we did ‘Bricks’ – we went to their house in a massive ice storm and went to their basement, and worked on ‘Bricks’ for hours in their little corner.

You seem to have a few Australian friends, like Timmy Trumpet and Nervo. Would you ever collaborate with an Australian rapper?

Who was that guy? Allday? He’s the homie. He was at Sirius when I was there, when he did the freestyle. He’s mad cool.

Pretty crazy how Mark Ronson was there too.

They’re both white, so why not?

Your shows tend to feature a lot of stage dives. For anyone who hasn’t completed one yet, do you have any tips or techniques?

Just be like a butterfly, and you’ll be flying inside, soaring oh so high.

How much of a run-up do you need?

Only one step. I got hops, so I only need one or two steps and I’ll be eight feet in the air.

Do you have to have a Jumpman, or what footwear would you suggest?

I can go barefoot, sandals, mandals, thongs, whatever. I’m in there, I’m jumping.

One of your biggest achievements must have been meeting Stone Cold Steve Austin. Tell us about that.

I got so starstruck, I didn’t know what to do. I was like “Should I ask him for a picture?” He looked so annoyed, but I had to do it. That was my only opportunity. I was just like “Big fan, can I have a picture, please?” He looked so mad, he had sunglasses on so I didn’t know if he was mad or not.

If you were a wrestler, who would you tag team partner be and what would be your theme song?

Kane would be my tag-team partner, and my theme song would be Mick Foley’s song.

Wow, you’re gonna take Mick Foley’s song and put it with Kane?

Yeah, but I’ll put 808s behind it – I’m good at that!