In the last installment of the Solace DJs performing in the Box, Vivamusic.com saw DJs Adrian and Wei Li conjuring sounds from progressive to tribal and percussive for three hours on a Saturday evening.
DJ Adrian, whose set included English and Mandarin vocal remixes plus John Digweed's “A.D.N.Y Presents Leiva Something For The Soul” from his “Global Underground” CD, has been spinning for a year, including an NUS gig, Dub 2. Although this is a Solace event, Adrian is not part of Solace, but was invited by his friends Benny and Galvin (who had spun earlier this month) to try his hand at the decks over here. With his style of music ranging from progressive to anything tribal, Adrian was playing breakbeats and breaks before switching to his current style. This change in taste can be attributed to his influences, which include Danny Howells and Dave Seamen, among others.
Like many bedroom DJs, Adrian finds it hard to find time honing his interest; but he makes it an effort to spin at least an hour a day. While he hopes to secure a weekend residency in a club which is “...not too cheesy, as long as I get to play whatever I like”, he laughs as he leans back in a silver chair in front of the video screen at the Hub.
So, as a DJ, what does he think of the progressive scene in Singapore? “The scene has changed quite a bit actually; the sounds are trancier, and although deep and tribal are in, there is a bit of techno incorporated...so although the sound has matured somewhat, the (Singapore) audience has to learn to open up to more (sounds) like drum and bass, and not just stick to retro,” Adrian explains as Wei Li's set ends off at about 10.10pm.
Right after Adrian's interview came Wei Li's. He attributes his being in Solace to “knowing the right people at the right time”, and has spun at his own parties for a year now. This aspiring DJ spins anything percussive, and the root of the interest to such music stems from his passion for the drums. “I play (the drums) for jazz, just about anything.” In fact, he is part of a jazz band where he plays (and yes, you guessed it) the drums. Although the band is nameless for now and is still looking for a bassist, they are also ever willing to perform for weddings and housewarmings.
But doesn't this keen passion interfere with his full time activity? “Oh, no, I am in the army right now, and I do a 9am to 4pm job, so it is not that hard to manage; I just have to make sure I practice as many times I can”.
The main problem comes when he does not have enough records. “What to do, lack of money,” Wei Li says impishly, highlighting a common problem among most bedroom DJs.
Life for his interest continues even after he serves the army, and he intends to study music in the U.S.. “Music will continue to be a big part of my life, and I hope to go into production and perhaps make my own music one day. The place or country does not matter.” Not surprising, since this is coming from someone who has been surrounded by music all his life.
Before he steps out of the Hub with his black bag filled with vinyls among other things, Vivamusic.com manages to ask him one last question. “What I think of the dance scene? Not good...it may be coming up, but most people are still stuck in retro.”
“There should be more licenses for such acts, and Singaporeans should be more responsive of such music, really.” Wei Le shakes his head mock-despairingly as he leaves a little after ten. Although the departure is a quiet one, the crowd at the Vivamusic Hub was definitely treated with a sumptuous ear feast in the month of November with much help from the Solace DJs.
Come the 9th of next month, Groove Genetics holds “G2 Sessions @ Vivamusic.com Hub”, an tantalising five-hour gig featuring DJs Russell, Keishi, and Itchi, just to name a few. Look out for the exclusive coverage coming your way this December!
