The resident DJ from superclub Zouk brings us his massive ‘C’Mon’ collab with Space’s Danny Marquez
Interview : Dan Prince
Hey Byden welcome to DMCWORLD, where in the world are you right now?
“I’ve just gotten back to Singapore after spending five days onboard “Hot Tropics” (the Zouk cruise which I was playing at). “
You have the world’s dancefloors jumping right now with your ‘C’Mon’ collaboration with Space Ibiza resident Danny Marquez which is the Official ZoukOut 2013 track. Please talk us through the history of the track…
“The idea came about when Danny and I wanted to produce something that is closer to our house roots and to differentiate ourselves from the usual electro progressive drop that you now hear in so many of the EDM tracks out there. So we did something that has waves of energising acid-like build-up that gives the track that signature big room sound and beauty. We finished the track last month and I mentioned to Tim (Zouk’s Head Of Marketing and Events) the possibility of having C’mon as the official ZoukOut track for this year and he went for it.”
ZoukOut is one of the world’s biggest dance festivals and it is a huge honour to be responsible for the Official track. Siloso Beach is once again the venue for this year’s weekender that features the likes of Afrojack, Example, Nervo, Alesso and Dash Berlin. What sets ZoukOut apart from other festivals in the East, why is it so good?
“Because you hardly get a festival by the beach, which makes it rather special. You get to be in chill out beach gear – bikini for the girls and topless for the guys and dance on the sand to some of the world’s top DJs. I guess it just makes the whole experience surreal.”
We love the way you became first hooked up with the whole DJ culture world. You were 15 and you went to a ‘tea dance’ and saw a DJ mix two records seamlessly together for the first time. Now over in the UK, when you mention a tea dance we conjure up images of orchestras, people in their best attire and dancing partners sitting patiently for a request. So, I take it a Singapore tea dance has changed since the 1930s???
“Actually they’ve banned tea dances in Singapore for many years now but when I first went to one, it involved lots of under-18 year old teenagers and no alcohol.”
What was your knowledge of dance music like in the early days, when you were growing up how did you get your fix of a musical genre that would change your life forever?
“I grew up listening to Michael Jackson, Information Society, Snap, Madonna, Pet Shop Boys etc. I would have to say Zouk played an important role in changing my life as I was introduced to house music because of this club. “
What did your family think of your choice of career, where they supportive?
“Coming from a conservative family, my parents weren’t the most supportive of me being a DJ to be honest Dan.”
You are resident DJ at one of the best clubs on the planet, Zouk. You had played a couple of times at their Session night before one evening, you got a pat on the shoulder whilst dancing from their Head of Entertainment Adam Low. A moment that changed your life! Could you believe he was asking you to become a resident DJ at Zouk…?
“I couldn’t and it was really a dream came true!”
In the early 90s the guest DJs zooming into Zouk were vastly different from the people headlining now. You were gaining influences from the likes of Jeremy Healy and CJ Mackintosh back in the day, now it is the likes of Hardwell and Tiesto ensuring full houses at the club. How does this differency style represent Zouk and Singapore as a whole, has the whole of the island and it’s clientele simply grown up with their musical tastes?
“Definitely. In the 90s, every club out there were playing top 40s hits or euro techno like Vengaboys, Culturebeat etc. – Zouk was the only club to introduce house music and to bring in international acts to play – DJs like Alfredo, who also helped to set the music direction when the club first opened its door. Zouk also invited the likes of Sasha, Danny Rampling and Nicky Holloway before DJs were superstars and that kicked off Singaporeans’ exposure to quality dance music.”
Who have been the stand out guests of 2013?
“I enjoyed Otto Knows’ set. He played an energetic pumping set but it wasn’t the typical EDM set you would expect to hear. “
You are a DJ that doesn’t like to be pigeonholed with one particular style of music. What though has been your favourite track of the year?
“For EDM, it would have to be ‘Booyah’ by Showtek. From the techy side of things, it would be Kolsch’s ‘Goldfisch’. For pop, Rihanna – ‘Stay’, for hip hop, Jay Z ft. Justin Timberlake – ‘Holy Grail’. So now you can pretty much tell that I listen to everything from my list.”
You judges the Mix Maestro DJ Competition earlier this year, who are some of the new up and coming DJs we should be looking out for in 2014 and beyond in your region?
“I would have to say Blink & Goldfish from Malaysia. They aren’t exactly up and coming, but they are doing very well for themselves now, consistently releasing on international labels.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
New World Sound & Thomas Newson – Flute
Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike Ft Boostedkids – G.I.P.S.Y
SCNDL & Timmy Trumpet – Bleed
Avicii – Dear Boy
Danny Marquez & FORMATIVE – C’MON
Hardwell feat Matthew Koma – Dare You
Martin Solveig & Laidback Luke – Blow
Merk & Kremont – Zunami
Armin Van Buuren & Miri Ben-Ari – Intense (Dannic Remix)
Steve Wish – Ahh Wei (Danny Marquez Edit)
What is coming out next from you studio wise?
“Working on a couple of new tracks for 2014 and a new collaboration with Danny Marquez.”
I was in Singapore many years ago when a certain superstar DJ was arrested for an alleged drug offence, which thankfully he was wasn’t guilty of. With events such as ZoukOut and the continued success of Singapore clubbing, have the authorities in any way relaxed their attitude towards nightlife and drugs, or is it as touch as ever?
“Well, over the years they have kind of relaxed their grip on nightlife, granting 24hrs operating license to Zouk and such. However, when it comes to drugs they are still pretty strict. I guess they don’t call Singapore ‘Disneyland with the death penalty’ for nothing hahaha…”
What would be your dream collaboration?
“Femi Kuti maybe? Afro EDM? That’ll be interesting right?”
Why do you think your collaboration with Danny Marquez worked so well?
“We have been good friends for over a decade now and we kind of share similar musical taste in music! Actually it wasn’t our first time collaborating, Danny remixed my single (under my house moniker djB) ‘I’ve Got To Know’ on Soulfuric recording back in 2007 and we did the ‘oniwaye’ EP which was released on Azuli in 2011. “
Where have been some of your best guest DJ shows of 2013?
“Green Valley Brazil, never dreamt that I would play there.”
And finally, you are retiring from Djing and can play in 1 final club. Do you choose Zouk or Space in Ibiza?!?!?!
“Zouk for sure! I mean I like Space in Ibiza but there is no place like home and Zouk is home to me!”
