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 home grown DJ/producers with an exclusive interview and a 15 minute minimix for you pleasure.
In this third instalment of the #LocalHeroes column, we bring you DJ CTOO!
Going by the moniker CTOO, Calvin Too was introduced to the world of DJ-ing in early 2009 and shortly after that , he had become the ‘in-house’ DJ for the Therapy Session Parties that rocked Cyberjaya. He then was introduced to an event company Lash Kenar soon after, and that had further boosted his career into the Clubbing Scene. Ever since, he has spun in various KL nightspots; Luna Bar, Velvet Underground & Zouk Main room, Rootz Club and Euphoria by Ministry of Sound, just to name a few.
The chap has also made it as a finalist in local DJ competitions, notably the The Malaysian DJ Battle 2010, as well as the Astro Hitz Spin Master 2 Challenge mid 2011, Malaysia’s only televised DJ competition with a viewer ship of over 40,000 where he finished in the top 12. His electrifying sets usually consists of Electro House, Indie Dance/Nu Disco, Progressive House and Dubstep where you experience CTOO dropping wax from renowned producers such as Boys Noize, Shinichi Osawa, The Bloody Betroots, Deadmau5, Wolfgang Gartner, Sidney Samson, Don Diablo, Digitalism, MSTRKRFT, Daft Punk plus so much more! Because this man, CTOO doesn’t want you to just dance, he wants you to jump!
What’s a feature without the details? So here an interview with CTOO himself :
#1. How long have you been performing?
DJ CTOO : I first started mixing in early 2009 & got my first gig soon after that, ’round mid year…
#2. How did you become DJ?
DJ CTOO : Well I was in uni & my house mate at the time, Afshin, was DJ-ing and producing a lot so he taught me how to …and I got hooked! I was mixing for hours in a day everyday and just kept pushing it from there.. My friends organised a series of events in Cyberjaya for the International Student population and I mixed for quite a lot of them.. T’was crazy!
#3. What do you think about the current local music scene?
DJ CTOO : I think there are loads of super talented musicians/artists here in Malaysia but very few of them get the exposure and recognition they really deserve. But at the same time I believe we have to really step up our game & produce material so good that people don’t even realise its made in Malaysia!
#4. What is the funniest thing that has happened to you at an event?
DJ CTOO : Well nothing ridiculously funny has happened, but once I was mixing at The Deq @ Euphoria by Ministry of Sound a couple of years ago, and I was in the midst of giving my friend a high five and my necklace swung and hit the crossfader… There was silence for a few secs before I realised what had happened…Whoops!
#5. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about music?
DJ CTOO : Hmm… That’s a hard question.. I guess if I’m thinking of ‘music’ then I might be thinking of a particular song…Then that song would prolly remind me of a certain time or mood…
#6. If you could meet anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and what would you say to them?
DJ CTOO : Hmmmm, I think I would like to meet David Fincher, cause I think he’s an awesome director and he has worked a lot on music videos before he started making movies.. He’s got an awesome style and he works with music really well so I think it’d be quite interesting to hear what he has to say…
#7. If you were a biscuit, what song would best represent you?
DJ CTOO : If I were a biscuit any song to do with Chocolate would best represent me, cause I’d prolly be a Chocolate type Biscuit.. Cause I love Chocolate! Wahaha!
#8. What kind of equipment do you work with?
DJ CTOO : I have a Audio 8 DJ Soundcard that I take with me on all my gigs as I play through my laptop and as for mixer as CDJ’s my preferred choice is the Pioneer DJM 850 with CDJ 1000′s..
#9. Where do you guys usually spin?
DJ CTOO : I had a residency at this place called the Venue for a few months, a little while back but recently I’ve mixed at Casbah for Lash Kenar’s Wednesday Calling a couple of times.. Apart from that I mix at The Pool a little bit too..
#10. Who is your favourite DJ?
DJ CTOO : Hands down the best DJ’s I’ve ever seen live are Justice…I was blown away watching their set & don’t think I’ve ever seen any set close to that..
And that brings the end to this week’s #LocalHeroes, featuring DJ CTOO. For more info, look below for links leading back to him, as well as download/stream links to his music projects. #LocalHeroes is an exclusive project, brought to you by HYPE Malaysia.