Living on this island for too long can cause a person to lose awareness of the existence of other kinds of dance music in the outside world, since it seems like every club here has the same DJs play the same kind of electro and house or commercial hip-hop and R 'n' B every weekend.
But thankfully we've got some well-traveled and charming Taiwanese ladies who contribute quite a bit to luring wonderful foreign musicians to Taiwan. Because of that, sometimes we do get to sample some wicked, out-of-the-ordinary music that's going on strongly in other parts of the world, provided by visitors who happen to be here for the sake of love.
That's exactly the case with the Italian DJ/producer Guliano Scanavino, aka Funky Farmer, and the "ethnic dance beat" he represents. As a pioneer and an activist for world dance music/new urban beats scene in Italy, Funky Farmer started his DJ career in the early 1990s with respectable London global beat DJs such as Nelson Dilation. Together with DJ Pony Rider, he founded Feel Good Productions (FGP) and since 1995 has been throwing parties and making music at his organic farm in Piedmont, Italy.
PHOTO COURTESY OF FUNKY FARMER
"Where I come from there are no alternative clubs and certainly no club scene," says Funky Farmer. "When we started making our music, people were telling me 'You are fucking crazy! Nobody's going to like that shit. Just follow my advice and play what the resident DJs play here and whatever that's on the charts and make everybody happy,'" he says with obvious disdain. "The DJ who was doing that is still there. But we decided to stick to our shit. We never play at the commercial clubs there. But if you look at our schedule now, in between now and June, FGP is playing twice in New York, twice in Vienna and once in Taichung ... . We are very poor, but I like it like that," he laughs. "It's better than going to be a resident DJ forever at some club where any schmuck can come in and say 'can you play something we can dance to?'"
Having refused to sell out at home, FGP has found a market for its deejaying and studio work abroad. Besides establishing the Asian Underground Collective with artists from the London scene including Nelson Dilation, Badmarsh, Pathaan, Miss Solange, Earthtribe and MC Coleridge, Funky Farmer and his crew have played gigs and festivals alongside some of UK's best, such as MC Daddy E, Navigator and General Levy, as well as at clubs across Europe and Asia. Funky Farmer's eclectic style mixes everything from Balkan Bangers to Arabic hip-hop, Baile Funk and bhangra to reggae, raga and Brazilian drum 'n' bass.
Talking about his music/clubbing experience in Taiwan, Funky Farmer says that audiences here are as good as anywhere else. "The live bands scene is quite rich, but the pop-predominant club scene could be improved," he says. "I can't see why, especially in a big, rich city like Taipei, people shouldn't have the chance to find a wider selection of music events, just like vintage wines, imported fashion and magazines or selected cheeses [that] are available for the discerning customer."
"I think it could be changed if more DJs start pushing the music they represent more like a mission, rather than considering deejaying as ... work to be paid by the hour."
Tomorrow Funky Farmer will be spinning at Spring Fevah with Twohands, Viba, Stereo:Types and Edify. By Aphrobet Productions at The Zoo, 68 Takuan Rd, Taichung City (台中市大觀路68號). More about Funky Farmer and his music:
www.feelgoodproductions.com.
Several other special events coming up this Saturday:
Open House at Plan B: Featuring exceptional live session "electric cabaret" by SL and vocalist Alita (Alita Rickards is a contributing reporter for the Taipei Times). 29-1, Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市安和路一段29號之1).
PPF House presents Sofa Kings After the Scream at Bliss: Featuring Leo 37, Charles and Claire Juan (阮筱芬). The best underground hip-hop act this Saturday. 'Nuff said. 148, Xinyi Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市信義路四段148號).
Sayonara Solo at PP: Farewell bash for Kaohsiung's biggest party promoter/DJ Rob Solo. His last words: "After five-plus years of living in Taiwan I'm leaving, getting out of Dodge, headed for the greener pastures of Canada. So please come out and have a final drink and leg up." B1, 10, Szuwei 4th Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市四維四路10號B1).
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