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The Vinyl Word

Sona, left, and Saucey. PHOTO: QUEEN BEE

Another big opening beckons this week. Sona, a brilliant and renowned producer/DJ from the US, has been residing quietly in Taipei for about a year. Finally, the house music ambassador is ready to get down to some serious biz with Saucey. The master will spin in a weekly gig called Bump at Naomi, and a will be resident DJ at Kama.

"It's about bringing things back to the roots as far as house music goes," Sona said. "Also, it's a night to play music that I really enjoy, which is deep house music, and to expose the newer people who only know house as a loud noisy kind of bleepy, bangy stuff and let them know there's a deep, soulful, jazzy side to it as well."

"I've noticed that a lot of my fans from before are now into music and places that are mellower. They still like to come out Saturday night for a few drinks, but they don't pay NT$800 to go in to some 21-year-old club. That's why Naomi is ideal for that," said Saucey, the house DJ who's been avidly promoting the sound in Taipei since 2001. In case you haven't been to Naomi lately, the bar is now sporting a brand-new look that resembles a space capsule. It's futuristic, classy and rather cozy.

Sona may be new to the scene in Taipei, but his gigs at the Jazz Festival in Taichung, which he refers to as "the San Francisco of Taiwan" for its artistic vibe, have already made an impression.

"People came up to me and asked, 'What is this? Is it jazz?' And when I told them it's house music, they're like 'I thought house was like Paul Van Dyk kind of music!'" he said.

Although there are a few local house DJs who have been spreading the deep-house sound here and there, a lot of people in Taiwan still think of house as something like trance or techno, and don't realize they can get down and dance to mellower music. Sona's efforts may go some way to changing those perceptions.

Hailing from Dallas, the city with a thriving house scene that's also home to many other acclaimed underground production talents like Brett Johnson, Demarkus Lewis, JT Donaldson and Boo Williams, the DJ says he feels at home in Taiwan. "After experiencing the food, people and general lifestyle, I fell in love with the place and decided to move here two months later."

Sona is making Taiwan more of a home to himself by bringing and sharing his hobby, free running, which is an urban sport that involves running, jumping and "flying" over obstacles in a runner's path in a smooth and fluid fashion. He just started Taiwan's first free running organization, called Jump Taipei. If you want to jump around Taipei with Sona, check out www.myspace.com/jumptaipei.

If anyone's looking for a good party this weekend, Bump at Naomi starts tomorrow night, no cover charge. The venue is located at B1, 65 Anhe Rd, Taipei (臺北市安和路65號B1). Keep up-to-date with Sona's performances, at www.myspace.com/djsona.

In related news, Red Carpet opened its doors earlier this month with a feel-good opening that caused a big splash. The roomy basement venue is divided into two areas: an all-you-can-drink hip-hop club that plays you-know-the-kind-of music and a trendy chic VIP lounge that's been holding electronic gigs. I favor the white lounge for its homey vibe, non-sticky floors and fine selection of music. Look out for more parties featuring the likes of SL in the future. Admission is NT$500 to NT$700 and the club is located at B1, 279 Xinyi Rd Sec 4, Taipei (臺北市信義路四段279號B1). For more info, check out www.r-carpet.com.tw.
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