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 Supporting Four Tet this coming Saturday, 10th June are two artists DJ Cherry and DJ DMZ, making waves in their hometowns of Singapore and Indonesia. Nilly caught up with the up and coming deck dashers to explore the sonic revolution brewing in South East Asia.
DJ Cherry Nilly: How long have you been DJ-ing for and what got you into DJ-ing?  Cherry: About a year. I'm still a deck baby….Actually, I think it was like too many glasses of wine that got me into agree-ing to DJ for my own birthday party...Hmmm. Before that I was simply happy sitting down listening and collecting different types of records in a tiny room
Nilly: You play a wide spectrum of music. What are your most preferred genre/ style?
Cherry: "a wide spectrum of music" ! Nilly: Who are your main influences?
Cherry: Musical influences would be Laurent Garnier, Josh Wink, Luomo, Amit, Spirit, Technasia, Ash & Kiat from Singapore who are getting released on Goldie's Metalheadz soon. Nilly: Have you always been into electronic music or do you come from a classical roots background?
Cherry: Nope I'm an incredibly late starter. I only started listening to music about 5 years ago, before that, not even the radio. I don't understand classical music notes or musical keys...don't you find the notes look like alien bean sprouts? I do have a good appreciation and respect for sounds though `:) Nilly: “Pop My Cherry” is quite a risqué name for a club night in a place like Singapore that is known to traditionally buckle down on anything remotely controversial. Did you or have you faced any issues when promoting your parties?
Cherry: I didn't invite the government people to the party so nahhhhh it's alllllll gooooooddddddddd. :D Nilly: Are you the only person behind “Pop My Cherry” or are there others involved? If so in what capacity.
Cherry: I'm not the only one. There's about 15 girls who have tried their hands out at PopMyCherry! nights, everyone takes turn to go on the console every now and then to play some tunes. I just plan the nights and get everyone pissed drunk and laughing that's all :D Nilly: What is the most popular sound in Singapore at the moment?
Cherry: Indie and rock, electro-rock influenced big club tunes, commercial hip hop we have a healthy drum&bass scene too. Nilly: Tell us about the music community in Singapore.
Cherry: They like to go to this place call River Valley Road for prata and chicken riceother than that, Singapore is pretty small and there's limited places where you can go in terms of quality sounds so everyone's a friend after a while. Nilly: Have you been DJ-ing around Asia before?
Cherry: I've played in HK once in Fringe Club for the Hong Kong Fringe Festival
and at The Loft bar in Zouk KL, Malaysia Nilly: Have you supported major acts in Singapore? If so who were the artists?
Cherry: Most of the time, it's really just good tight parties with friends...instead of supporting big acts, well i supposed the biggest act which i played before was Utah Jazz from V recordings UK. Nilly: What do you think is the future of electronic music in Asia?
Cherry: Think it's going to be very interesting in the music production side as Asia is equipped with real easy access to technology and softwares, and also we have influences coming into us on regional level which are all very culturally different (japanese, cantonese, thai, indonesian) and also on a global level which expose us to music from the west.
Inteview by Nilly C.
DJ DMZ  Nilly: How and when did you get into drum and bass?
DMZ: All the music in me grew from the first time I started skateboarding back in the 90’s and still do now. I went through many phases. There was a time when I was into skate punk melodic stuff (NOFX, Pennywise and Minor Threat, etc), there’s a time when hardcore a la C.B.G.B influence like Agnostic Front, Warzone. And all of those Deftones, and the Coal Chamber thing.
The I started getting into dance music when I was in high school. Hip Hop like, The Pharcyde, People Under The Stairs, The Nextmen, Dilated Peoples, Planet Asia, and all. And then the Drum and Bass thing started when I heard Goldie’s ‘Inner city lights, inner city pressure….’ Actually it’s Jungle or JDM or Drum and Bass, or whatever they want to call it.
Nilly: When did drum and bass emerge in the party scene in both Indonesia and Singapore?
DMZ: Drum and Bass emerged in Indonesia back in the 90’s when there were still lots massive rave festivals in the areas of Jakarta, Bandung, Bali. They still have a loti guess but…I’m stuck here with my studies in Singapore. They’ve got 3 rooms or something…and Drum and Bass in a small room full of sweaty people.
And Singapore…It’s been there as well…but for me, got to tell you when I actually started bothering the DJ for a microphone, LOL! Sorry mate… btw it is at Union Square. And now the Drum and Bass keeps going on at Home Club also you can check http://www.homeclub.com.sg
Nilly: Are there large drum and bass communities in both Indonesia and Singapore, in terms of genuine drum and bass fans as well as artists within the genre?
DMZ:Think in Singapore and Indonesia, sometimes large sometimes not.
But the Drum and Bass fans and punters in S.E.A will never give an end to the revolution of the music I guess. Singapore forum based www.exitmusik.com
And Indo like www.ravelex.net and plus the internet also an impact for the artists within the genre.
Nilly: Why do you choose to split your time between Indonesia and Singapore?
DMZ: WELL, I did not choose to split the revolution but I’ve to do my studies!
So the whole thing became like I split the channel became MONO or
something. But actually it is still pair it up…with the STEREO, that is. LOL! Nilly: You started out as an MC. There are not many Asian MCs. How did you get into MC-ing and who were your main inspirations?
DMZ: Started MC-ing from the Hip Hop era…singing through music around me. Every time a band is formed, I always became the lead singer. LOL! And the last time I and my mate BIMA back in Indo formed a band with 1 MC and 1 GROOVEBOX called PROJECT OF MEANWHILE... …My inspirations are all the MC’s around Asia and the whole world. And I really like the title MC, because it is the connection between the DJ and THE CROWD. Nilly: I understand that you have MC-d with some big name DJ’s such as DJ SS, Concorde Dawn and LTJ Bukem. They are quite diverse in their styles. What is your preferred MC style?
DMZ: To be honest MC/DJ with some of them, and I worked with some of them. Since they represent a particular style but still in drum and bass format, I tend to try to adapt to their style too. But if it’s my own show I tend to bring what is inside me, that and all… Nilly: Have you had any gigs outside of Asia?
DMZ: Not yet. Nilly: Are you part of a drum and bass crew? If so do you guys perform together on a regular basis or do you prefer to do gigs independently?
DMZ: In Singapore and Indonesia Drum and Bass crew…from the likes Stereowerk, Exitmusik, InnerNation, Set-Up, Symmetrix and Junglizta. I think I’m part like, brothers from different mothers. LOL! We do constant doing our gig every month. Well for independently I guess its fine…as long it does not ruin the house, the people and your self. It’s about ethic. Nilly: Who are the other drum and bass DJs and MC’s that you work closely with?
DMZ: Currently in Singapore I am working with DJs like; Clart, JK, Livewire, and
Twinhead. In Indonesia, Jakarta I work a lot with Bima and Danes, and in Bandung I work with Xonad, Beatz, Dasa, and also one of the RNRM member Hendra. MC’s hmm….actually got Hip Hop project with MC Garuda on UnikiMusic and will be coming out soon I guess. And for the Drum and Bass I’m really looking forward too for some DNB MC project. Hit me on aim (adymasharyo) or myspace www.myspace.com/thedjandthemchimself if anyone is interested… Nilly: As a producer you go by dkronix and have two labels under your belt, Symmetrix Records and Junglizta. What are the main differences between the two labels? Who are the main artists that feature on them?
DMZ: Symmetrix and Junglizta they are both different. Symmetrix is more Drum Sonic Science and Junglizta is more full spectrum drum and bass culture. The main artist from Symmetrix is Drum Sonic Science A.K.A Danes. And Junglizta is about me pushing the music, fashion, and all…more to the Culture.
Nilly: How did you manage to get in with the new Metalheadz release? Is it a single within a compilation or an entire album? Tell us a little about this and your feelings?
DMZ: I think this question referring to Kiat or Ash or the Echo Chamber. LOL! But of course I feel really happy one of my mates got signed by the big dog. BIG UP, BLAP!
Nilly: Have you produced under any other labels before?
DMZ: Have not. It is still going to be a long road for me perhaps. Nilly: What sorts of venues do you DJ/MC at? Mainly clubs or bars?
DMZ: At the moment I DJ/MC in clubs and bars. But sometimes I got booked for private parties ;p LOL! Nilly: What are views on the drum and bass scene in Asia? What do you think is the future of drum and bass in Asia?
DMZ: My views on the Drum and Bass scene are Asia, still a long journey. It does not mean that we have to always throw big parties and all. It will be great for sure. But start from the inner beauty first I guess. Then we can start to the outer. Well Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, but where the rest of Asian Junglist is. I want to see more country in Asia knows more about Drum and Bass. The music is the future. And it is the weapon. Big up all the Drum and Bass Massive. Much love and respect. Interview by Nilly C.
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