Koh Phangan Tales : DJ interviews

Showing posts with label DJ interviews. Show all posts

Friday, 23 January 2015

Techno Legend Marco Bailey at Jungle Experience Jan 24th

Last seen at Jungle Experience for their 10th anniversary party last year, Marco Bailey is flying in from the States to join an epic line up Jan 24th... and Jungle is very excited to welcome him!

Marco Bailey @ Jungle Experience 10yr Anniversary

The feeling appears to be mutual! Answering these questions on the plane from America to Thailand, Marco Bailey had this to say about Jungle Experience:

I have played Jungle Experience 2 times now, each time was great, the location is brilliant. I love Chai, the owner, a lot. And I like the vibe a lot because I met different people from many parts of the world - and the people are much more into good music.

I played many times in Thailand where people did not have a clue about good music...

At Jungle everyone is there to party and that is good!

Phil Hartnoll is a legend and in times of Orbital he has done massive live shows worldwide. He is a great person, too, and I am happy Jungle Experience is attracting some great international DJs. Big respects to Daniel Sanchez & Marco Loco also!
For myself, I ALWAYS give 100% of energy!!

At the moment I am very busy with lots of travelling. I was at BPM Festival in Mexico one week ago, where I played 2 shows; then I was in Miami and Milwaukee. I played a sold out gig at Pacha NYC not even 2 days ago - and now I am already on my way to the other side of the world: the beautiful Thailand.

I'm only going stay 3 days in Koh Phangan unfortunately… I've just got too much to do. I love Thailand very, very much. I've been coming back every year since 1999! The music scene is getting better in Thailand, I remember playing my first time in Bangkok in 1999, it was funny; it's getting better & better!  

Marco Bailey in Miami Jan 2015

I am doing an Asia tour again in September with gigs in Tokyo, Osaka, China & Korea. At the moment, in Thailand, the love for cool techno still needs to grow: still too many clubs are only into easy clubby music, easy to understand, lol! But I have a good feeling we are getting there!

And I love Thailand with all my heart and will always support this beautiful place on earth!

Jungle Experience Sat Jan 24th 2015

Huge thanks to Marco for taking time out of his busy international schedule to answer! We look forward to hearing this techno legend rock Jungle once again with Phil Hartnoll, Daniel Sanchez & Marco Loco on Jan 24th!

*Interview sponsored by Jungle Experience , Koh Phangan

Daniel Sanchez at Jungle Experience Koh Phangan

Last seen on Koh Phangan a year ago, Daniel Sanchez is back on tour in Thailand and returning to our island scene! On a star-studded Jungle Experience line-up on Jan 24th, Daniel Sanchez's charismatic good looks and moving, grooving techno vibes are sure to rock Jungle's world…

Daniel Sanchez on the Kolour stage, Wonderfruit Festival, Thailand

The Dutch/ Spanish DJ & Producer has been making waves out of Europe since 2007, where he 'contributed to the development of Amsterdam as the dance capital of the world'. An enigmatic man of many talents, Daniel Sanchez is label owner, producer and international DJ: in 2011 he signed a 3 yr contract touring North & South America, Europe - and Asia - on Sensation's World Tour.

So what made Daniel Sanchez come back to Asia - and to Jungle! - in 2015?

'I’m very fond of Asia and Thailand - it’s one of my favourite places to come to. Nice vibes and a good inspiration for making music. Last year, after playing here, I began to see there was a new electronic scene which is developing and growing. I love to see those positive vibes: there is something in the air…

I’m really looking forward to Jungle Experience. I've heard that Jungle is one of the more famous and biggest party on Koh Phangan, and that the line-ups are very diverse. It’s going to be a party with different kinds of techno style - but everyone on the line-up are DJs with experience.'

Jan 24th is shaping up to be an epic Jungle Experience, a Jungle night to remember.

Jungle Experience Jan 24: Daniel Sanchez, Phil Hartnoll, Marco Bailey & Marco Loco

Amidst the superstars, Daniel Sanchez is eye-candy for the ladies. When asked what energy he is bringing to Jungle, the response tells you he is not only serious about his music, but that he understands how to please the crowd too:

 'My style is definitely still minimal techno but with a constant groove. What I find really important is that the ladies are always feeling it and are still able to dance. Sometimes you go a little harder and sometimes you take it back a notch - depending on the event I’m playing and how many people are on the dance floor.

Last year, I played for the first time on Koh Phangan. I had a blast, it was awesome - finally a place where they play good music. Now, one year later you can see the music knowledge has expanded on this island. It’s nice to see that music has no boundaries.

Koh Phangan is totally different from other places in the world. There is a lot happening on a small island, lots of parties and I find it nice to see that everybody feels free to present their own style of doing parties. One might be in the jungle, while another one is on a boat or at the beach.'

Daniel Sanchez at Wonderfruit Festival, Dec 2014

Having fun on the Thai circuit with Koh Phangan's own Darragh Casey, Daniel Sanchez played Wonderfruit Festival and Samui's Cha Cha Moon on New Year's Eve. So how does the music scene in Thailand compare to other locations?

' Thailand has less boundaries. You still see a lot of different styles of music together in one line-up. I also noticed that the music that is played by most artists is not the most recent music. But that doesn’t strike odd to me... the internet on this island is not really fast, which means that downloading new tracks is not the easiest thing to do.

So the music flow goes a bit slower, but at the same time I feel that in this way everything has the right time - to fall into place and develop into a steady scene.

Wonderfruit Festival in Pattaya was really cool. You could really feel that this festival was a new experience to everybody. In a lot of other places in the world we are already a bit spoiled: this is something you can definitely feel in the vibe of a festival. I really enjoyed it, even on the days I was not playing myself.

Cha Cha Moon on New Years: I really did not wanted to stop playing but I had to catch my flight at 6 o’ clock in the morning for my next show in Bangkok. I didn’t expect it, but people where really feeling it and went totally crazy this night - like it should be on New Years of course ;)  '

Daniel Sanchez's new EP is released on the 17th of February 2015 on Little Helpers. His hugely successful label Bla Bla has been influencing the minimal techno world since 2009. Second record label Cachai was set up with a South American partner. Intent on his drive to take music to the world, Daniel has yet another project up his sleeve:

'The last few weeks I have worked on starting a new label which will be launched soon. It is called 555 because I like the Thai use of these numbers which means 'hahaha'. This label has his focus only on artist from Asia. Sunju Hargun, a Thai DJ from Bangkok, will do the A&R for this new label.

I want to motivate producers from Asia to create a nice platform so they can grow internationally. I’m really into this project. New projects always give me a lot of energy and inspiration.'

Next up, Daniel Sanchez is bringing his high energy and minimal techno for the soul to Jungle Experience on Jan 24th! It's always Showtime at the Jungle... and we get the feeling Daniel Sanchez will fit right in. See you on the Jungle dance floor!

Jungle Experience Koh Phangan via Thai Party for Me

*Interview sponsored by Jungle Experience Koh Phangan
Thanks to Kolour & Thai Party for Me for use of photography!

Thomas Gandey @ The Castle Koh Tao

Cult Status! Thomas Gandey is bringing his iconic deep tech style to the Thai islands. Next gig is @ The Castle Koh Tao on Weds 12th March...

Discovered by Fat Boy Slim at Miami WMC, the two Brighton boys soon struck a musical accord and have since toured the world together, from Vegas to Japan. Supporting Underworld, the Chemical Brothers and Fat Boy Slim himself, Thomas Gandey has been on World Tour with them all.

Brighton born, but now resident in Berlin, you know if Thomas Gandey is taken seriously by the underground hotbed of Europe, he must be a force to be reckoned with.

Well loved for his 2012 Ibiza anthem, Horny, a remix of the Mousse T classic with Radio Slave, you'll find Thomas Gandey main stage regularly at all the major festivals, performing live & as a DJ.

His legendary mixes have been featured on Pete Tong's Essential Mix for Radio 1 and DJ Mag, and it's common territory to find Thomas Gandey topping the Beatport charts. All you Castle Koh Tao lovers are in for a treat!

Listen out for him to drop his new track, That's the Trouble, released under Thomas' alias Cagedbaby on Fat Boy Slim's record label Skint, at The Castle...

Deep germanic underground grooves, uplifting piano solos, enchanting vocals - deep and meaningful yet uplifting and groovy, that's the trouble with you, soulful yet hard hitting - a bewitching deep house tour de force.

"This is my fourth year in Koh Tao. Once again I've had an amazing time with wonderful friends coming and going. This is my longest trip yet and I've really got to explore the islands. Meeting new people all the time and enjoying the island life."

Thomas recently played the Maya Beach Festival at the Campsite Koh Tao alongside Jonathon Ulysses, Leeroy Thornhill of Prodigy and Phil Hartnoll of Orbital:

"The Campsite was a great couple of nights, superb location for a party, like an amphitheatre. The sound system was the best I've heard over here, & a brilliant line up. The Escape Yacht VIP party was great fun too, swaying on the dance floor while the boat rocked was super fun, like an informal underground line dance."

And next he is headlining The Castle Koh Tao on Mar 12th along with Ibiza favourite Marco Loco, voted Ibiza Resident DJ 2013. Keep Calm & Party!

"I have been to the Castle to see my friend Marco Loco play and loved the vibe in the party. Definitely looking forward to putting my spin on the music and giving everyone a great time. See you there!"

Does that mean we on Koh Phangan are missing out? Not a chance! Catch Thomas at Ku Club on Mar 13th and Jungle Experience's Full Moon Warm Up Party Mar 14th.

Thomas Gandey's next gigs on the Thai islands:

The Castle Koh Tao: Weds 12th March

Ku Club Koh Phangan: Thurs 13th March

Jungle Experience Koh Phangan: Fri 14th March

Get your groove on!

James Trystan: Filth & Splendour on the Thai Islands

On tour to the Thai islands this festive season, DJ Producer James Trystan was making waves even before he got here.

I'd seen the promo for The Castle Koh Tao, Dreamers Koh Samui and MAYA Koh Phangan lauding his arrival, and it seemed to be something to get excited about!

And as I found out at MAYA on Dec 30th, James Trystan was indeed about to cut the musical mustard - and rock our island socks off!

Half of the South London duo Filth & Splendour with Oli Cassidy (who remains in London), James took the time out to answer a few questions about his Thailand tour... and our knockout island venues. He is due back at The Castle Koh Tao on Jan 7th, and finishes up his tour on Jan 9th at Secret Garden Koh Phangan.

James, welcome to Thailand! Can you tell us about your success and the idea behind Filth & Splendour?

The name was a spin on what we played really, lots of big epic tunes with filthy basslines, we tried to sum it up and Filth & Splendour hit the nail on the head. Everything thinks we’re one or the other but it’s more of an act name than our names.

Over the past 6 years we’ve released over 50 tracks on 25 labels or more including Armada, Perfecto and Plastik Park. Played pretty every major club in London and a few beyond. It’s been a bit of an exciting journey!

We’ve been remixed by some great producers like Umek, Paul Oakenfold, Beckers & Betoko and loads of other great artists, which is a real honour.

We also get supported by the top dogs like Carl Cox, Groove Armada, Dave Seaman and Nick Warren to name a few which is normally a good sign you’re doing something right.

Tell us about your Thailand experiences!

I’ve travelled here a fair bit, doing most of the country over a three month holiday and have been back twice. I played Bed Supper Club in Bangkok which was a great venue… such a shame it’s closed now!

I’m in love with the country, it’s not only one of the most beautiful places I’ve been lucky enough to travel to; there’s something very special about the local people here.

I’m here for two and a half weeks this time, going between the Samui islands. I’m doing two shows @ The Castle (29th dec & Jan 7th), MAYA (30th), Dreamers on NYE and Secret Garden Party on the 9th Jan.

Has the Thai island party scene lived up to your expectations?

I first came here 5 years ago and the music was very like 10 years ago in England on the illegal rave scene, it felt a bit dated and hadn’t kept up with other places in the world. I kind of liked it in a way though, as it reminded me of the music I loved when I was younger. This time around it feels like the islands are on top of the music scene.

They’ve opened up and let more foreign DJs in and with that bringing all the new sounds from around the world. Some of the sets I’ve seen from the other DJs like Marco Loco, Hawie & Baz Sanders have been pushing the envelope.

I’ve had a lot of people come up to me after The Castle and say they’d not heard music like that before - that felt good. If I’m doing what every other DJ is doing, then what’s the point?

How was the Castle Koh Tao for you?

Awesome! It's obviously the leading night on Koh Tao, people go there because they know it’s going to be good DJs every time. That’s why the club has become the institution it is today. Playing a long set was great, it gave me a chance to take the crowd on a journey and play all the music I like.

There’s no buzz bigger than playing a track you love and people going nuts to it. I’m back on the 7th so I’ve pulled out some of the numbers that went down well and added a new load of weapons to mix it up a bit. I’m pretty sure this is going to be a special night. I'm on the main stage alongside Darragh Casey and I’ve heard he’s one of the best DJs on the islands.

And your experience at MAYA Koh Phangan?

Wow what a venue! When I rocked up I knew it was going to be a good party! It had a great festival feel to it. Sound system was kick ass and it was a really nice mix of people attending. As I understand it’s a new party but can I see this becoming a party staple in the next few years. The way the DJ booth is set up is one of the best I’ve seen for a long time. I hope I get an invite back next year!

And Dreamers Koh Samui on NYE?!

Dreamers NYE was cool, that club is super slick. If you want to rock out in style, then that’s the place to go. Three levels with pool and private VIP area all set on the beach front. I played on the stage outside on the beach 10pm til midnight.

Seeing in the NYE was pretty mad, all the fireworks went off and bits of the fireworks started coming down on me and Marco. I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t happen in the UK... but hey that’s the fun of it! I really enjoyed the rest of the night, it went off upstairs for hours with Baz Sanders dropping tune after tune.

Marco Loco is another of our all time fav DJs - how did you like his set at Dreamers?

He knows how to get the crowd going, he’s a real pro. I was sort of jumping between the rooms trying to take it all in - but I did catch a big chunk of his set and it was world class, as you’d expect. He’s a real crowd pleaser and what’s more important is he’s a nice guy.

There’s too many DJs on the scene who have an over inflated opinion of themselves because they’ve had some success. Marco has his head on his shoulders and that’s why the crowd buys into him because his music is good and he’s genuine.

There were eight DJs at Dreamers on NYE - whose music did you like the most?

At the moment I’m really into my deep house so Baz Sanders set for me was perfect for me. I love all types of music though, so enjoyed what all the other boys we’re playing. Everybody brought their 'A' game to the evening and that’s what made it so special.

Are you looking forward to playing Castle Koh Tao again?

Of course!! After seeing how much it went off last time I’m even more pumped for it this time. I’ll be throwing everything I’ve got at it, I have no doubt it’s going to be one hell of a night!

2014 is shaping up nicely! As always it'll be keeping the focus on the productions and doing the occasional show & tour.

Thailand has been rocking… I can’t wait to return!

Happy new year guys x

With a string of record label productions in the offing, both on solo projects and for Filth & Splendour, James Trystan is returning to London a busy man! We look forward to welcoming him back to Thailand in the future!

Photography and artwork:
James Trystan, Dreamers Beach Club & The Castle Koh Tao

Filth & Splendour: Beatport - Latest Music Video - Soundcloud

AKA James Trystan: Beatport - Latest Music Video - SoundCloud

Tech House Legend JAY LUMEN at Dreamers Koh Samui

The Koh Phangan Massive made its way over to Koh Samui on Nov 7th for an evening at Dreamers Beach Club, Koh Samui with one of the superstars of our tech house time - Koh Phangan favourite Producer/DJ Jay Lumen.

Top producer Jay Lumen @ Dreamers Koh Samui

An entourage of Koh Phangan DJs, promoters and party people - the real PPP, 'Phangan Party People', as Graham Gold had it - were out in force to show our respect to good music and listen to one of the legends in our field: Beatport chart topper and tech house producer extraordinaire Jay Lumen.

Koh Phangan DJs in the Dreamers' House tonight: Aaron Fevah, Graham Gold, Darragh Casey, Pablo Escobud, T Gecko, Lady Oh, Rob Gritton, Guy Fidelity, Thai DJ Lin, Type 1, and Samui resident DJ Absolud!

Photos courtesy of Thai Party for .Me

Add a tribe from Jungle Experience along with factions of the Phangan Party Crew and there must have been 25-30 of us - including some of Koh Phangan's party-loving Italian restaurant owners, tucking in to a bottle of Jack Daniels for the princely sum of 4,000bt and dancing away at their table!

Paupers to princes, these Koh Phangan island types scrubbed up well. Dressed to impress, they were quite at home on the Moet Chandon cushioned sofas sipping VIP welcome drinks up in the Sky Lounge. Under a white high top, this beautiful beach club has similar branches in both Ibiza and Marbella...

It's a trending theme over the last few years on Koh Samui, these beautiful, classy venues filled with gorgeous clientele, providing the luxury and comfort that the higher echelons of Samui society are becoming accustomed to!

The indoor pool swims in its opulence on the lower level, an exquisite centre piece which leads out to the beach stage, where tonight Aaron Fevah is playing the perfect warm up set - to the banging tech house he knows is to come.

But it's rainy season on the islands and as Aaron starts to battle the rain, we're looking out from the top level at the thunder and lightening begin to trip off on the Big Buddha sky line.

As the downpour intensifies Aaron makes a quick decision, and within a few minutes the decks and monitors are brought upstairs to the Dreamers Sky Lounge. Yippee! That means we all get to see Jay Lumen play right amidst us - without anyone having to brace the rain!

"I've got more tracks of his than any other producer", says Guy Fidelity, and Jay Lumen has been a favourite of ours since Pablo used to play The Groovy Stuff in 2011. Going much tech harder recently, 'proper tech house' says Guy, Jay Lumen is very much at the top of his game, with his two releases Nobody and No Money No Honey at No.1 and No.7 in the Beatport charts at the time of his Koh Samui Dreamers debut.

After partying at Cha Cha Moon the next night and mixing it up
with Dreamers resident DJ Antonio and Koh Phangan's Darragh Casey,
Jay Lumen flew to Bangkok on Saturday night to play at Glow.

As Jay Lumen took to the Dreamers' decks, the Sky Lounge's electric blinds rolled down to protect us from the storming night and we were in for a cosy intimate affair with a legend in our midst. The perfect night out - a Dreamer's treat and a night to remember on the islands!

There have been many times over the years when we've heard the big boys play, to find the superstars sometimes come up short to our island DJs' 2hr sets (Koh Phangan has some of the best music heard anywhere and is capable of blowing similar party islands out of the water, in my honest opinion)!...

There is a tribe of unsung DJs on Koh Phangan with a high standard of musical talent, which is always a pleasure to come home to after summer tours abroad! So how did Jay Lumen fair against our exacting Ibiza of the East expectations?

SUPERSTAR LEGEND OF OUR TIME!

The Koh Phangan massive are having it on the dance floor,

and Jay Lumen is a luminous success!

Yes he rocked it, and he rocked it for the whole 2hrs, 'on fire' as he pulled out banger after banger! Unnoticed by much of the crowd he did play one track twice, but as Darragh said, sure it wasn't it his own track? You'd play your own track twice as well if it was Beatport No.1...

All Hail the Gods of Tech House!

And big love to Dreamers for the evening's exquisite taste in tech house music.

Dreamers one and all.

Photos courtesy of Thai Party for .Me

Mr & Mrs Danny Rampling on Tour in Thailand

This season on Koh Phangan I was lucky enough to interview one of the original Kings of UK House Music, DJ Danny Rampling. Back on Koh Phangan after a long hiatus - Danny Rampling was last seen on our island shores in the late 1990s. It was a pleasure to welcome this ever youthful DJ icon back to Koh Phangan.

Rampling & Rampling Phanganist.com interview
'Uplifting House with soul & spirit, whatever the genre, music that lifts the spirits rather than dull, downbeat, moody music: The world & life for many has enough problems & when we go clubbing it's an escape through music, a celebration of life. ' Danny Rampling

Showing testament to his youth and vitality all these years later is the young, beautiful, newly-wed wife on his arm, Ilona Rampling. They had just spent their month-long honeymoon on the Thai island of Koh Chang, near the Cambodian border.

Koh Chang is still as jungle clad as Koh Phangan, with the same stunning white beaches and azure ocean; still relatively undeveloped, it reminds us of Samui and Phangan as they were 15yrs ago. Even the die-hard Koh Samui boys have forsaken their over-developed first love of an island for the charms of Koh Chang nowadays...

… but I'm still a Koh Phangan girl at heart, even with the many changes we've all seen over the last two decades.

Idyllic island life on Koh Chang

Koh Phangan still holds a timeless appeal for many, whereas Koh Samui has become too developed, with traffic jams on the once idyllic palm-lined ring road.

Part of the pleasure was always to drive around Samui, feeling the wind in your hair as you traversed this island of a million coconut palms... Now getting caught up in snarling traffic jams is anathema to those of us who remember 'the good old days'.

Samui in the old days

Koh Phangan, on the other hand, is still a pleasure to visit, and 'kindred spirits' Danny and Ilona - Rampling & Rampling are in agreement with this statement, as you can read in the Phanganist interview linked here.

Haad Rin Queen ferry from Samui to Phangan

I'd met Danny Rampling on the Thai islands before: 18yrs ago on the Haad Rin Queen! He'd just played the Backyard - an infamous set broadcast on Radio 1: 'Danny Rampling, Live At The BackYard' - which Pablo listened to and recorded, would you believe. He's still got the tape up in the attic somewhere.

I've promised Mr Rampling I will try and dig it out this summer and get it down into mp3 format - blast from the past, or what?

And then our gorgeous friend Mark tagged me and Pablo in this recent Back Yard pic from 2013… a few weeks later when I took a proper look, imagine my surprise - if it wasn't only Mr Danny Rampling in the background, in his green khaki hat.

"Still got the same hat", says Tess!
Rampling and Rampling interview

Well I never. How's that for a neat circle?

What I love about Danny's interview is that here is someone who remembers Back Yard Dave. We all loved Back Yard Dave! He played music that sent our souls soaring!! (I'm hoping to collect all the old stories, and to write about the formative Koh Phangan music scene characters, Marc London included).

Also, Danny's description of the BackYard is a classic, and still stands today, twenty years after any of us remember dancing our hearts out here for the first time, all those years ago:

Artwork by Colin G Thomason

"The club was a free state of hedonism that would go on from night to late the next afternoon, evening... perched on the top of the hill overlooking the ocean; music, colourful backpackers and party people, partying hard, loving the music for hours... until the last man standing!" Danny Rampling