Seems you have been a bit quiet lately. What are you doing these days?
I have been the manager of Fama and running my own company and DJ school, Color Production, with DJ Galaxy, Tin Ho and LazyMing. The DJ school is now one of the facilities at Baron School of Music.
Baron sounds very much like a very serious academic music institution.
That is exactly what I want. I always want people to see DJing and scratching as part of the music. I have known Ronald Ng [president of Baron School of Music] for quite some time and he also had the same thinking. So we were like, “Why don’t we do it together?”
How is it going then?
We didn’t expect so many kids to learn DJing, actually. Parents now bring their 8- or 10-year-old children to learn DJing. They think it is fun. Some parents were like, “Why learn the damn guitar? It is everywhere! Learn something different!” They don’t consider hip-hop a bad influence. But we have some 40-something students as well. (chuckles)
You have been the Hong Kong DMC DJ Champion a few times and a judge as well – do you think the bar has been raised in the last couple of years as more people are into hip-hop?
Actually there were more people joining the competition at the times I played! I don’t know… maybe people are scared of competition. That is Hong Kong people. More people are into [being a] b-boy or rapping I guess. DJing is not something you can learn well in a year or two. It will take you four or five years to be good enough for a competition. Maybe kids now have too many things to learn and can’t fully concentrate on one thing, saying to themselves, “I want to be a great DJ.”
On what basis do you judge then?
We have a marking scheme and there are items like mixing, creative etc. But I usually ignore all those. Maybe a DJ can mix well but his other skills are bad, and it often turns out the one you think is the best isn’t the one with the highest score. And some DJs like playing a song that everyone knows and bring up the heat so judges will be impressed, or simply bring a lot of friends to the contest. But as judges we need to exclude all those factors and be objective.
What about stage manner? The video of you in the DMC finals is on YouTube and some other web sites too. I see you have a lot of moves while spinning.
I am happy to see those videos online actually because I have lost my own tape. Stage manner counts, of course. I practised those moves at home and taped them down to see if I looked cool. It is like a dancer practising in front of the mirror actually. Especially in a competition where you try to make the judges and audience remember you, it is important.
Your choice for the ultimate DMC Hall of Fame?
Mix Master Mike! In fact he is my all-time favourite too. He is original and creative, and people got to know him after he became the resident DJ of the Beastie Boys.
For a venue, is bigger better? The DMC World DJ Championship finals in London will be at O2 which is huge!
Definitely the bigger the better. Those in the audience watching the finals usually know a good deal about scratching, they can see every detail on the projection screens and can react instantly at the same time – it is fun!
DJ Tommy was crowned the Hong Kong DMC DJ Champion in 1991, 1992 and 1996. He will be judging the Hong Kong finals of the DMC World DJ Championship 2008 alongside DJ Galaxy, Lazy Ming, DJ Eric, Janva and guest DJ Judges Samir, Doze and Ricky Stone on September 7 at California. The contest starts at 9pm and entry is $80 at the door with one Red Bull cocktail.
Beat‘nTracks
spinning round the clubs
September 5
Progressive maestro DJ Leozinho from the legendary Life is a Loop spins at Volar. Complimentary entry for all on the guest list before midnight, for non-members it’s $250 after midnight. B/F, D’Aguilar St, Lan Kwai Fong, 2805 0028.
Barbecue with drum & bass, reggae, dub and more – yes, it is happening in Central. Kongkretebass presents BBQ Sessions @ Veto every Friday in September at Veto Club & Bar. Barbecue food is served on the outdoor terrace while DJ Wash, Electronic Mistress, Kastoacha, Ves, Blood Dunza, Stef:funn and Le Libertin spin from 7pm till late. Entry is free and the barbecue costs $80. 3/F, Hilltop Plaza, 49 Hollywood Road, Central, 2201 4585
DJ Tynee aka Elaine Shin spins tech/electro at Beijing Club from midnight – entry is $300 at door. 5/F, Wellington Place, 2-8 Wellington St, 2526 8298.
September 6
French DJ/producer DJ Rocco spins deep house and tech-flavoured grooves with support from resident DJ Miles Slater at Armani Bar from 10:30pm. Entry $150 in advance and $200 at the door includes one drink. 11 Chater Rd, Central, 2805 0028.
Opium Soul and The Ugly Army returns to Cliq tonight with Tai Pan Dan, Arun R and supporting DJs Tynee and May. Entry for men is $200 which includes one drink, and for ladies $100 with two drinks before or one drink after midnight. Wear your camouflage dress and entry is free. 2/F, On Hing Building, 1 On Hing Terrace, 2868 3111.
September 10
DJ Battle plays at M1NT for Angels Rock, a fundraising event for Angels for Orphans. The open party starts at 10pm with entry $150. 108 Hollywood Road, Central, 2261 1111.
September 12
Australian electro-baddies Bang Bang Deejays return to Volar in celebration of their coming CD mix. Complimentary entry for all on the guest list before midnight, for non-members it’s $250 after midnight. B/F, D’Aguilar St, 2805 0028.
May spins her trademark funky/uplifting/progressive house at Beijing Club from midnight. Entry is $300 at door. 5/F, Wellington Place, 2-8 Wellington Street, 2526 8298.
September 13
Venezuela-born percussionist Luisito Quintero plays Dragon I tonight. The door charge will be $300 for a gig that starts after midnight. UG/F, 60 Wyndham Street, 3110 1222.
Tekstract, the new IDM/ electronica/minimal techno night, kicks off at Sammy’s Kitchen. The line-up is Nerve, Digilick, Romantic Eddie, Mike The Unstoppable, Le Lebertin and Saiyan. The party starts at 10:30pm and entry is $100 with one drink. 137-139 Connaught Road Central, Sheung Wan.
Bikini Top Contest II at Cliq tonight. DJ Thomas C and Kat play hip-hop and R&B. Entry, $200 for men and $100 for ladies, includes one standard drink. Of couse, if you wear your own bikini, entry is free. 2/F, On Hing Building, 1 On Hing Terrace, 2868 3111. |
