New York's Tom Stephan is a frequent visitor to Taiwan who has some nice things to say about the island and its clubs. Last night he touched down in Taipei in advance of a show at Ministry of Sound tonight and talked to The Vinyl Word from his room at the Grand Hotel.
The Vinyl Word: How many times have you come over here?
Tom Stephan: About five times. Actually, TeXound was one of my favorite clubs in the world. Taiwan has always been great to me, the people are always warm and there's loads to see and do and eat.
TVW: What is it with you and gay clubs?
TS: Besides being gay?
TVW: Oh! ... Do you consider yourself an artist or an entertainer?
TS: When I first started out I was like totally anti-DJ for a while, but then I saw Junior Vazquez at The Factory (NY) and he was messing around with the records so much that they were like different records. It wasn't so linear. I try to stamp myself all over what I do and make the effort to produce a sound no-one's heard before. Though I don't want to be difficult for the sake of being difficult. I've made my own sound over the last 10 years.
TVW: How would you describe it?
TS: I don't like defining myself, but I guess you could call it house, tribal, twisted and dark.
TVW: The album Superchumbo made you a big star, where did you get the name?
TS: It was a big weekend, outside Lisbon, dancing to Danny Tenaglia and on the way back in the car we stopped at a gas station and it said super chumbo (Portuguese for unleaded). It was just so hysterical. I am Superchumbo! When I was looking for a name, it sounded good and meant something.
TVW: What's it like working with mega-stars on remixes.
TS: Actually, a lot of the time you don't meet them. But sometimes you do. Working with Kylie Mynogue and doing a photo shoot with her was great.
TVW: Your debut (non-mix) album is coming out soon?
TS: Yeah, Wowie Zowie. It' an expression of a friend of mine that makes me laugh. It's coming out at the beginning of the year. The first single off it's done really well on the Billboard.
TVW: You're pretty busy then?
TS: Yeah, gigs on the weekend, radio show (in London) on Wednesday. Tuesdays and Thursdays in the studio. And a lot of traveling. But I'm going places and doing what I love.
Tomorrow, the party to watch is in Taichung for the Chi Funk party Mix Master Marathon at Moon Island and Penthouse, 181 Chaofu Road, Taichung.
The collective Chi Funk disappeared last year but is back bigger than ever. "We took the whole Chi Funk thing on the road to Europe. We went to Spain, met up with a group called Impakt Visuals in Barcelona -- really hot artists -- and had a massive party. I learned Spanish for a while and then went off to India," Ant (aka Chi Funk) said.
There's going to be 12 DJs for 12 hours of unlimited hedonism, in two clubs. "We've got tag team sets like you've never seen before."
Saucey, Rob Solo, K Fancy, Rainbowarrior, Sundance Kid, Alex D, Pierre, DJones, Kidd, Han and Poverty will be battling it out. Admission is NT$400 before 12pm and NT$500 after (with free drink). NT$100 for the after party.
The Vinyl Word: Partay.
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