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 3: Darragh Casey
How did you get into DJ-ing?
I was around 13 or 14 and had just given up playing traditional Irish music. My friends and I were getting into really bad happy hardcore music, this horrible 140bpm (beats-per-minute) high-pitched singing crap and somehow from listening to that I decided I was going to be a DJ. My parents wanted me to continue doing something musically so I convinced them to buy a pair of turntables and a mixer for me. I was pretty much hooked from there on.
Describe the music you play in five words.
Very very very very good.
What’s the most fun you’ve ever had at a gig? Give us all the ugly details.
That would probably be the monthly Jungle Experience party on Koh Phangan. There are 2,000 people partying in the jungle with a massive sound system and the party continues until the morning. So yeah, it’s pretty fun.
What’s your favorite venue to play in Bangkok?
The last Kolour Sundays at the Flow House was pretty amazing. Glow is wicked too; I always have great fun there.
Which track are you most excited about right now?
Darragh Casey – “Keep It Cool!”
Dubstep: yea or nay?
I’m not a fan of dubstep, but there is no point in hating it. Everybody’s a hater nowadays – “I hate this, I hate David Guetta, I hate dubstep, that’s not real deep house, this is, blah blah blah…” and so on but I reckon people should be open to different styles of electronic music. Apart from this pop crossover crap that’s going on. That shit is terrible.
“______ always packs the dance floor.”
Soul Rebels – “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (Lunar Disco Remix)”
What’s one song you will never, ever play?
Butch – No Worries. The vocal loop in that track really annoys me and I never understood why it was so huge. What is he trying to say anyway, it sounds like “You think I’m saying something! Well!”
What’s the best way for someone to get you to play their request?
Just ask me something that I like and works with what I’m playing at that time.
What shows/residencies do you have lined up?
I play Sundays and Wednesdays at Loi Lay Floating Bar in Koh Phangan and the next Jungle Experience on Monday, February 25th with Marco Baily, Marco Loco, Empro, Marcus Meinhardt and more local DJs.
