Since DJs basically live in loud clubs late at night, they get very little sleep. They’ve also been known to drink a lot of booze, so their memories can get a bit foggy. This is not true, however, for DJ Choyce Kutz (Sean Williams), who will be doing a mini-Taiwan tour of 18TC, Havana pool party and Chess Taipei this weekend, because he recalls the facts of when he arrived in Taiwan 12 years ago.
“It was 38 degrees Celsius and 90 percent humidity,” Kutz said to the Taipei Times in an e-mail.
“I came to Taiwan to make money. My first company had just gone under in Canada and I had some debts to pay off and heard from a friend about Taiwan. I arrived two weeks later.”
Photo courtesy of Sean Williams
Although he only lived in Taiwan for two and a half years, the country left an indelible mark on him.
“The thing I miss most [is] surfing,” he said. “The best memories of Taiwan are of the friends I made, a lot of who I am still in touch with regularly.”
After leaving Taiwan, Kutz headed to China, where he did a three-month residency in Chengdu. He also managed to “hustle” a few shows in Shanghai.
“Two weeks before I was planning on going back to Canada I was offered a residency at Muse in Shanghai,” he said.
Though he’s made Shanghai his temporary base, Kutz says he retains fond memories of Taiwan.
“I love the people, food, how relaxed it is, how open people are to partying anywhere ... and of course, the beaches!”
For the past two years, Kutz has won the prestigious Best Local DJ award from the biggest English magazine in Shanghai, City Weekend.
“Winning the title for the second straight year was a huge surprise, and it is a bonus to go out on top,” Kutz said speaking about his immanent return to Canada in less than a month.
“I don’t have any regrets about leaving Asia at all. That doesn’t mean I won’t miss the people I have met over the years, but in life you have to make tough decisions to chase your dreams, Kutz said.
“Just like moving to Asia, leaving is the start of a new adventure.”
■ Choyce Kutz plays tonight from 10pm to 4am at 18TC, 38 Dachuan St, Greater Taichung (台中市大川街38號). Admission is NT$400 for ladies and NT$600 for men, which includes a drink. He plays Havana pool party tomorrow from noon until 8pm at the Road Castle Water Theme Park (洛德城堡), Ln 160, Tingzhou Rd, Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市汀洲路三段160巷). Admission is NT$300 and the first 100 women to register enter for free. Choyce Kutz ends his tour at Chess Taipei tomorrow from 10pm to 4am, 2F, 297, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 5, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路五段297號2樓). Admission is free.
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