So…we figured it was about damn time we started an initiative to support our local music industry, particular on the clubbing front. Hence, we present to you ‘Local Heroes’, a weekly column on HYPE that puts the spotlight on our homegrown DJ/producers with an exclusive interview and a 15 minute mini mix for you pleasure.
In the second installment of the #LocalHeroes column, we bring you John Hafiz & The Other Guy!
John Hafiz and The Other Guy, is a duo exceptionally entertaining in their own unique audio excellency. Consisting of John Hafiz and Shafiq, these are two buddies who have been summoning their stereo smashing sounds along reputable DJ’s in KL since the year 2009. This lot of men are probably known for their random but delicious transitions, incorporated in their sets but mind you, to be random is but an ancient art by itself, and they have honed their mad skills to it’s optimum.
In a moment, one would be rocking to The Chemical Brothers and then be caught off guard with the groovier sways of Donna Summer. And as you thought things wouldn’t get magnificently more weirder, they’d be casting commotion by shoving down a dose of Del the Funky Homosapien down your throat. And, that’s just scraping the iceberg of their audio intellect.
So, if anything, we at HYPE are proud to bring you yet another set of movers & shakers in the local music sphere and do hope you, our beloved subscribers groove along with the large scale of goodness that comes with John Hafiz & The Other Guy…Contained below is the 15 minute mix curated by the duo exclusively for HYPE, as well as the interview. Enjoy and support your #LocalHeroes while having your eardrums (and possibly, all your dancing limbs) go on an adventure of the most euphoric kind!
What’s a feature without the details? So here is some banter with the boys :
#1. How long have you both been performing together?
John Hafiz & The Other Guy : 8 months.
#2. How did you guys become DJs?
The Other Guy : My brother was a DJ, so that was a huge influence on me and of course…YouTube!
John Hafiz : I wanted to manipulate The Other Guy’s ambition and talent so I thought it would be a great idea for us to start something fresh & new. With my looks and his talent, only god knows what will happen.
#3. What do you think about the current local music scene?
John Hafiz & The Other Guy : Our local scene is growing. We are pretty sure it will develop faster with heroes like John Hafiz and The Other Guy.
#4. What is the funniest thing that has happened to you at an event?
John Hafiz : During a show I was telling a foreign girl about our group and guess what completely slipped from my memory…The Other Guy’s real name.
The Other Guy : …*painful silence*
#5. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about music?
The Other Guy : Ludwig van Beethoven.
John Hafiz : Beyonce.
#6. If you could meet anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and what would you say to them?
The Other Guy : Tupac, were you in the Illuminati?
John Hafiz : Marilyn Monroe…Since I’ve never seen you on color television, what exactly is the color tone of your skin?
#7. If you were a biscuit, what song would best represent you?
John Hafiz & The Other Guy : “Two Become One” by the Spice Girls. A biscuit that is attractive and sensual! *does Z snap*
#8. What kind of equipment do you work with?
John Hafiz & The Other Guy : CDJ’s and a mixer.
#9. Where do you guys usually spin?
John Hafiz & The Other Guy : The Other Party, Upstairs@Frangipani.
#10. Who is your favourite DJ?
John Hafiz : DJ Oneman, James Murphy, Xavier de Rosnay, 2manydjs
The Other Guy : John Hafiz
And that brings the end to this week’s #LocalHeroes, featuring John Hafiz & The Other Guy. For more info on the duo, look below for links leading back to them, as well as download/stream links to their music projects. #LocalHeroes is an exclusive project, brought to you by HYPE Malaysia.
https://www.facebook.com/johnhafiz?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/theotherpartykl
Photo credit – Bibo Aswan