What makes a DJ memorable, and who's your favourite in Singapore?

Question

With all the new clubs and new acts popping up in Singapore, share with me what you feel about the DJs playing in Singapore.

Answer 1

A good DJ does not only know what he is playing, he should be teaching people of what he is playing and come up with new stuff always. What is the point of playing good old pop hits like the craze of Madonna's Hung Up all the time and playing Britney 24 times in one gig? People know what they want, but do they know whats coming? If a DJ can keep people guessing and yet everyweek still surprize them in a club, he would be known as good...

If anyone knows someone like that besides Brandon P from Zouk, Velvet underground, please tell me...

[e-mail]

Answer 2

I have been clubbing since the age of 15 and now i am 30, technically i have 15 years of experience and i dare to say no local DJs have or had left a deep impression in me except DJ Doctor Mix and also the DJs from Zouk.

These guys are sought after by clubs and events but besides them is there anyone that comes close? The regular DJs playing in clubs and pubs are just there for the sake of glamour and $ but sad to say their music knowledge really sucks, they keep playing the same old songs for a few months and i wonder do they really know the meaning of songs? It's true that DJs should update themselves but that does not mean that old songs should be forgotten.

I will truly have respect if a DJ drop an old number like PM Dawn in a R&B set rather than keep playing Nelly, Usher ectc.
It's time to inject new fun in an old number and create a new song, that's creativity and that's what we are lacking.

Answer 3

I feel a DJ not just play or mix the different music but rather also been able to create or produce his own style of music. I still rem those like Blank and Jones, ATB , DJ Triesto are some of the best overseas ones which set a high standard. Locally I still missed the now defunct WKRZ djs used to have a unique blend of trance, progressive,house, commercial, euro mix...such as DJ jason chow (EQ music and Usual suspects), dj jenson (now with Power 98) and Rico...which i think have been a major force in the club music in singapore

Answer 4

I do agree one particular person who said that a good dj should know how to read the crowd, parties the crowd & talks on the mic to entertained. We here in Singapore is lack of that talent. Almost every dj here keeps quiet when palying music as if the the mic before them is a 'showroom piece'.Back in 80s' & 90s' there were some great true djs. Companies like The Music Force, Solosa Sounds, Juliana'a & Fusion made real good djs. That was the last of the 'mohicans' when comes to dj as far as Singapore is concern. Djs of today need to keep with the standard of the old skool djs, just like in the US & UK in order make a mark. Othewise, in my opinion, they be just a another dj. My advice to local djs, drop the attitude, dress up like a dj & stop acting cool like you got it going on! (This is not an attack but just my opinion)

Answer 5

I enjoyed myself thoroughly when I was clubbing in Canada, because the DJ was playing only parts of the songs that are nice. I find that in Singapore, the Djs usually play the entire song, and during the boring parts, ppl just stand around or start to leave the dance floor.

I like a DJ that plays good songs. A smart DJ will play songs that are popular. As long as they are nice songs I can dance to, and there are no remixes(like those horrible hip-hop remixes at Powerhouse), I'm fine with it.

Answer 6

DJ memorable?... being remembered and being famous are 2 different thinks, IMHO.
Being like Paul Van Dik, Tiesto is like being famous worldwide and remembered by many, based on their type/genre/feel of music.
However, being like DJs in the local clubs, playing good, smooth, fluent, flowing mixes during festive occasions, is like being remembered based on the customers/audiences' satisfaction/preference.

A memorable DJ, IMHO, would have a certain level of showmanship/presence, able to connect with audiences with the music played, even influence the listeners.

In Singapore, the culture is just to busy. Work is hectic for most of us. Sometimes, we just dun feel like going out. Things are just expensive (compared to our neighbouring countries.. Been to clubs in Bangkok or KL?). So sometimes it's just time and money matters, that's why some of us dun club so often. Even there are really good DJs out there, people sometimes just chose to do other stuff then to club.

If anyone's been in the DJ scene long enuf, one should know that local DJs usually last around 5 to 10 years, although there a few who last more than 10.

I'm not sure of any new clubs, so far i know of are the big names, MOS, St james, Zouk. They get lots of foreign guests DJs to spin. Think there is a publicity issue with night-life in Singapore. Can't seem to find much ads on TV or the papers.

My favourite DJs are those who used to reside in a small joint, in mohd sultan, called Rush, playing real old school eurodance. They were really fun. You could actually talk, drink and joke with the DJs face to face, rather than to watch those DJs in big clubs from afar.

Think you can add on to ask "what keeps a DJ going, on pursuing his dreams, in this pragmatic city?"

Answer 7

What I enjoy about Singapore is the variety of different DJ's that exist in Singapore. Each club has world class acts which continue to try and out-do each other whilst we enjoy the show!

Answer 8

A DJ that does something different, maybe even a genre that's not done anywhere else in Singapore. Tony Tay rocks with Sirens (Zouk) - almost nowhere else in Singapore spins breakbeats. MoS supposedly has one DJ who does, but I listened to the sample tracks and they seem to suck. Tony Tay's the only reason I still go clubbing.

Answer 9

a dj will onli be as memorable as the nite in question.

its hard to remember the tracks that were played in any set that i have been to, however, the memories usually are of the crowd and ambience

thus i would have to say that a dj dat gets the crowd going would be the most memorable, in the sense that the set has to have highs and lows and toy with the crowd's emotions. in a closed environment of non-live music, a good example of this would be tiesto's in search of sunrise....

my favorite dj in singapore would be "Doctor Mix" whahahah

seriously....none in singapore....but i feel van dyk is very good at getting crowds going while tiesto and sasha is good at bring the audience on trips.

Answer 10

In my humble opinion, I think a memorable DJ is one who is able to inspire a new generation with the music he/she plays. I prefer DJs who push the musical envelope (nowadays, music on the radio is kinda stale) and who are witty and have a depth of knowledge about the music. They should have an exciting personality and a special X-factor that would attract people to listen.

My favourite DJs were Paul Zach, Chris Ho, Roger Kool and the legendary John Peel. These DJs have introduced lots of new music to me and who were never afraid to play something cool on the radio once in a while. Sadly, DJs like these are quite few nowdays.