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So they tend not want you to play there?
R: Unless you can draw in the crowd.
They are not concerned in building a scene? It's more about the numbers then?
R: Yes, yes. They don't see the concept of doing things, changing the deco to
create the kind of atmosphere and vibe for people to come in. It's quite sad
because a lot of people who are very enthusiastic at first, after a while they
will get very sick and tired of it.
What about an underground scene?
R: In Singapore it's very small. A lot of them from what I know, they
give up and move overseas. Most of them studied overseas and are used to raves
and parties and everything. When they come back to Singapore, they tried to do
parties here and there, but after a while they just gave up. They don't see the
point of doing it and just leave and go overseas.
What about the local crowd? How are they like towards all this?
R: As for the local crowd... there are a few of them who always come back
even though they go overseas and doing their own work. They always come back and
help out the local artists here. One of them will be Yukun from Groove Genetics,
he is very very active in helping the underground scene. That's how I got to
know him. During the early days, I saw him spinning and got in touch with him
and he educate me on a lot of things. That's how I learnt so much.
The clubbers themselves, are they aware?
R: They can be quite clueless [laughs]. They always follow a trend. Yeah, so
they can be quite clueless at times.
Whats the current trend then?
R: The current trend would be progressive house, trance. Whereas for
breakbeats and drum n bass it'll always be the backroom kind of music. So that's
why you don't really see breakbeats or drum 'n' bass being played in main rooms,
especially in clubs.
Who do u think plays a role in propelling genre's forward?
R: I guess it's a combination. In Singapore people follow trends. They are
not innovators, they are more followers. So that's the reason why...when there's
something new, they don't get into it straight away, they must (go for
something) tried and tested overseas, or if people overseas rave about it then
they would go. Even with the commercial it's the same thing. That's how I feel
about the Singapore scene. [laughs]
Do you consider yourself a breakbeat dj? Why and how have you reached this
conclusion?
R: It's the music that I listen to. I've always thought it's a nice music to
dance to. It's not too hard, not too fast, but yet at the same time the bass is
enough to drive you. And there are some hip hop elements in it which I like. And
at the same time, it can have very different influences. It can be a housey
breakbeat track, funky breakbeat track or it can be very techy breakbeats. In a
way you get to play different genres but in breakbeat form. Yeah, that's why I
like about it.
-Words: Kathia Sya / Header: Jun Kit / Image
courtesy of Reiki
-Thanks to Low of Loops Collective |
