You think you know, but you probably don’t. Deejaying is a lot more complicated than figuring out how to use computer software. And then there’s “deeveejaying,” an amazing example of which is the work of Beijing-based Spanish DJ/filmmaker/artist Rez and his posse Delacrew (delacrew.net).
The Vinyl Word: Your real name and age?
Rez: Juan Reig. 34.
Photo Courtesy of Core Labs
VW: How did you get into deejaying? What are your influences?
R: I’ve never been a DJ ... I don’t even consider myself a music producer. I think about myself as somebody really curious who likes to experiment with music and video, somebody who plays his own tracks in a DJ booth ... I started producing electronic music when I was 22. My biggest influences back then were Future Sound of London, Prodigy, Underworld and the first three albums by the Chemical Brothers. Then came the golden years of jungle and drum ’n’ bass with big influences like Roni Size, EZ Rollers, True Playaz and Metalheadz, Black Sun Empire, Hype and others ... Producers like Subfocus and Noisia have become my latest influences.
VW: Why did you leave Barcelona for Beijing?
R: Barcelona is my favorite city in the world, but the adventure to live in Asia and to become part of its evolution were determinants for me to leave Spain. Beijing offers hundreds of inspiring daily experiences for an artist. Basically, you grow so much as an artist/producer.
VW: How did Delacrew come about?
R: Delacrew started in 2004/2005 as an experiment. We were three people who wanted to join forces and knowledge to create a new kind of audiovisual experience. The basic idea was to experiment with audio/video and do nasty things with machines, to create a kind of story where humans try to survive the machines, not as a fight but as an evolution. The result was far beyond what we expected and we found ourselves making films, giving speeches about electronic art and becoming a well-known band in Spain.
VW: Some DJs say it’s pretty tough promoting underground music in China because of the audiences. Do you agree?
R: Yes, absolutely. Some cities may be better than others, ie, Shanghai may be better than Beijing, just because of the expat community. The Chinese public has different culture, different influences and different likes. A lot of them are not interested in electronic music at all (not to mention underground electronic music), so investing the same amount of time and effort on promoting, you get less than 50 percent of the results you can get in other countries where the underground electronic scene is a fact ... The first time I played in China I was totally shocked by the fact that some people were sitting and eating fruit at their tables with fireworks on the champagne tray while some others where dancing like hell on the dance floor.
VW: What’s the best club in Beijing right now?
R: Every year all the underground clubs close for different reasons ... So three years ago White Rabbit was the club that ruled Beijing’s underground scene, then it closed and it was The Lantern. This year The Lantern closed and moved to The House, so now it’s The House. It’s fun. You never get tired of one place because you don’t have enough time.
VW: Anything else we should know about Rez?
R: Music is just one side of my activity, the other one is filming. My biggest desire is to mix both things in an experimental movie. That’s one project I’m working on right now.
‧Foreign Xchange — Rez and Squids at Brickyard
‧Tomorrow from 10:30pm to 7am
‧B1, 507 Jhongshan 2nd Rd, Greater Kaohsiung
(高雄市中山二路507號B1)
‧Admission is NT$300 for guys and NT$150 for girls
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