How did you get into DJ-ing?
The year was 1986 when I saw the movie Wild Style for the first time with the scene of Grandmaster Flash mixing, “The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel.”
I immediately went out and bought two, belt-drive turntables (I couldn’t afford direct drive Technics at the time) and a Gemini mixer at the local flea market in Marin City, California. I begged my father to take me to all record stores in and around San Francisco searching out any shops that sold vinyl years before CDs came out. I would record my mixes to tape on my JVC boombox for our local break dance crew. The music was early ‘80s electro funk and it sounded like it was made on another planet.
Later during my college years I gave it up to study architecture and design, but my last year of college I moved in with Miguel Migs (Defected, Naked Music, Transport, Zebra Records, etc.) who was in a reggae band at the time. We started DJing some gigs together. Acid house, techno, deep house, gospel garage and soulful house were all I listened to and studied for two years locked in my studio before my first big break at a club called Skunk Lounge in San Francisco in 1993. This was the beginning of house music culture. When rave culture splintered off into a younger and more commercial side, I moved to Thailand in 2000.
Describe the music you play in five words.
Deep, Dirty, Sexy, Underground, House
What’s the most fun you’ve ever had at a gig? Give us all the ugly details.
Every gig is different and memorable, but one that stands out is the Burma Water Festival in Yangon every year in April. I have been going there for eight or more years. It’s truly an inspirational and moving experience going to play in uncharted destinations sharing my love for music! It’s wet to the core and muddy with fire hoses spraying tons of water, dancing for seven days, 8am until 8pm non-stop. American army jeeps jam packed full of people all jacking to the sounds coming from our house/techno stage, hundreds of stages playing all different types of music, including rock, metal, techno, trance, house, electro and hip hop. Was beautifully ugly in a very positive way.
What’s your favorite venue to play in Bangkok?
I live in Phuket now… In Phuket the best places that cater to my taste in underground dance music are Blow at Seduction, Xana Beach Club and Bliss Beach Club. When I lived in Bangkok without a doubt my nine-year residency at Bed Supperclub where it was all about the music, not the attitude. I especially loved playing with percussionist Num from the band T-Bone. I had an incredible 12 years playing together starting at Tapas many years ago.
Which track are you most excited about right now?
Basement Jaxx – “Samba Magic” It’s a timeless classic that I will play to get the dance floor in peak-time mode!
Trap music: yea or nay?
What is trap music? Never heard of it, too much good house music to listen to anything else and not enough time. Sounds like another offshoot of dubstep and hip hop with off beat hi-hats… no thanks! I love old school hip-hop where it was all about the DJ, MC, graffiti and breakdancing!!
_________ always packs the dance floor.
Sexy, dirty basslines.
What’s one song you have played before but will never, ever play again?
I would say “Gangnam Style” but have never played it and never will because it is one of the cheesiest songs ever made, total joke and copy of the commercial David Guetta, LMFAO, EDM sound. Actually, I never play anything I don’t like unless for a wedding that pays very well!
What’s the best way for someone to get you to play his or her request?
If they have good taste in music and they know the name or artist not just hum the tune for me, I might make an exception, which is very rare. A good DJ never takes requests, we are not jukeboxes, we get hired to discover new tunes to play and to share it with the world. It is the reciprocation of magical positive energy. When we connect to the vibe of the crowd, make them sweat on the dance floor, forget their cares, hands in the air and smile when they hear the mix coming in nothing else beats it!
What shows/residencies do you have lined up?
My UB Radio podcast “Bang the Drum” plays the second Tuesday of every month from 11pm to 12am.
I also play Bash Upscale Nightclub on May 23 and Blow Seduction Nightclub on May 24.
