France’s Fong Fong wins the title
This week saw France’s Fong Fong strike gold and win the 2012 DMC Online Championship beating the UK’s Asian Hawk and Ritchie Ruftone into second and third respectively. Fong Fong, will be one of a hundred DJs gathered in London on 27th and 28th September for the DMC WORLD DJ CHAMPIONSHIP FESTIVAL. But will the new DMC ONLINE DJ CHAMPION take the most coveted DJ title in the world? We just can’t wait for what promises to be one of the most exciting competitions for years!
Fong Fong, congratulations young man – an incredible set that won you this year’s gold medal. How do you feel?
“I am so happy to be the DMC Online Champion 2012. I received so many messages from people it was unbelievable. My mom is so proud of me!”
When did you start DJing?
“I bought my first turntable in 2000 after working really hard to afford it! Later on I was able to buy a mixer and two years later I bought my second turntable! I started to spin for breakdancers in the early days, the first major gig was in 2004 at the Grenoble University for a Hip Hop Association event.”
So when did the progression to clubs happen?
“After the breakdancing stuff I began to play the Favela at Annecy and then after that everywhere in the Rhones Alpes, lots of clubs in Grenoble, Chambery, Courchevel, La Plagne, Val d’isere and Tignes.”
Why did you decide to enter the DMC Online Championships after entering other DMC competitions?
“Since I was a young boy I have always thought it was cool to manipulate sound with my hand. I watched a lot of DMC and other scratch DVDs and one day I wanted to be part of history. I started to enter DMC France Finals in 2007 when I was Runner Up in the Battle category, 2010 I was Runner Up in the Team category and in 2011 Runner Up in the Individual category. I’d had enough of being Runner Up so I decided this year was going to be my turn in the DMC Onlines…”
How many times did you record your set?
“I practised and recorded my sets many times, I lost count to be honest with you Dan! The set I decided on in the end took three days to nail, but I think I must have tested it about 30 times.”
Why do you think you won?
“DMC Online is such a hard competition to win, there were some amazing entrants and a lot of fresh routines like Asian Hawk. I think I won because my set was accessible to everybody – not just the turntablist. You could play it to your grandmother or your child because my work included a mix of ‘Thriller, Homer Simpson, Dexter and Rayman, music that you could listen to right until the end and not just a technical noise.”
Will you be entering the live DMC World Finals in London later this month?
“Yes for sure! I will be there for this epic final. I am really looking forward to it and I may even be able to compete in the Team category with my partner Bonaventure if we win the French Finals next week.”
And you won some pretty cool prizes…
“I’m really happy to win the Rane TTM 62 – in my opinion the best mixer ever created for the DJ, that’s probably my favourite of the prizes. Although the cash will come in handy as it can go some of the way of paying off my holiday to Disneyland with my girlfriend which was the most expensive trip ever!”
How do you rate your chances?
“Well I’m not sure. There are a lot of serious DJs in it this year, we’ll see…”
Who do you think is the greatest ever DMC Champion?
“For me it’s C2C – the most musical DJ Team ever!”
See you in London!
“Yes you will. Can I also take this opportunity to thank everyone at DMC for the organisation of this brilliant competition and also all of the champion judges.”
Catch DJ Fong Fong competing in the 30 nation DMC World Championship on the 27th/28th September in London @ HMV Forum, Kentish Town. For tickets visit – www.dmcworld.com/store
