The insulting riches of Bangkok’s party scene exist thanks in no small part to the army of DJs who organize, promote and rock the living hell out of the city’s nightlife. In “Hang the DJ,” Coconuts gives you a chance to get acquainted with some of the capital’s better beatsmiths.
Episode 1: Dane Wetschler
How did you get into DJ-ing?
Finding non-douchey parties or clubs in Bangkok, or those that simply play new and interesting electronic music, can be difficult sometimes. My friends and I had the sense that there were others in Bangkok who felt the same way, so I started DJing and organizing parties with Duck & Noodle.
Describe the music you play in five words.
Left-field house and deep techno.
What’s the most fun you’ve ever had at a gig? Give us all the ugly details.
Duck & Noodle had a stage at the Lush train-market party last year. The space was an old police office and jail-cell, hidden and hard to find compared to the other stages there. At 2:30am, the police came to shut down the music. We turned off the sound, and they went off to the other stages. I figured that because the venue was so large, they wouldn’t come back for a while, so after 15 minutes, I turned the sound back on. People started packing into our space carrying lots of booze to share (perhaps the organizers were giving it away at that point). I played for another hour and a half before the security discovered we were there, still carrying on. I turned it off and people started chanting for “one more song”, so I paid one of the security guards 100 baht and asked to play one more – an offer he accepted somewhat begrudgingly.
What’s your favorite venue to play in Bangkok?
That’s a very difficult question. I like playing on the boat we use for our boat party, but beside that there are very few venues where I like to play. If I could play anywhere in Bangkok, it would be at this abandoned neo-classical monstrosity of a condominium right beside the Saphan Taksin BTS station.
Which track are you most excited about right now?
Dubstep: yea or nay?
Most of it, nay. That said, I’m really impressed by DJ Dragon and the Dubway party he organizes in Bangkok. He’s always pushing more underground and interesting dubstep, and the crowd is distinctly sincere and into it, compared to other parties in Bangkok.
“______ always packs the dance floor.”
“Control Movement” – Gesaffelstein
What’s one song you will never, ever play?
“Gangnam Style”
What’s the best way for someone to get you to play their request?
Writing a note is nice.
What shows/residencies do you have lined up?
Duck & Noodle is throwing a pool party on Saturday, February 9. I’ll be playing there and other Duck & Noodle events through out the year.
