In the DJ metaverse, the week’s big news was that DJ Mag released their annual Top 100 DJ list, which is always good for a bit of controversy. Topping the list for the first time was electro producer Hardwell, who played at Room 18 almost a year ago. Even though the names of the top three were leaked a week early, it was somewhat of a surprise as the list tends to skew towards trance deities like Armin van Buurin and Tiesto. Other notable entries include Mad Decent head honcho Diplo, who took the 64 slot because he plays everything from rap to trap to moombahton to dancehall, which all have nothing to do with trance. Also, at number 87, Indonesian DJ Tenashar made the cut. Her inclusion has been questioned because most of her promo pictures in bikinis focus on her best assets, which have very little to do with mixing songs.
Last year, trance producer Andrew Rayel from the Republic of Moldova landed on the list as a newcomer at 77. This year, Rayel shot up 49 spots to number 28, and he will be headlining Spunite’s Masago beach party in Tainan tomorrow. This year’s theme is Fairyland and will include 52 artists on eight stages.
The backbone of Spunite, Brain Tsai (蔡家緯), said that the inclusion of bands to the line-up of DJs was one of the goals of this year’s mega-event because he wanted to get people to the beach while the sun is still out. “Traditionally, our events have catered to people at night, especially late at night,” Tsai said in an e-mail interview.
Photo courtesy of Andrew Rayel
“This year at Masago, we have added an unplugged and a rock music area and hopefully we could convince more day people to come to our party.”
DJ Chamber (aka Theo Cox) played at Masago last year and is excited to have been invited back. “The event organizers basically told me to do my thing and play whatever I want, which in Taiwan is like hearing a choir of angels sing,” Chamber said. “I hope to surprise the crowd with each new tune and keep them guessing. I’m also planning to incorporate a live element into my set, which I want to keep a surprise, so people will have to come along on the night to find out what that is.”
Another big name that will be playing at Masago is DJ Spenny (Spencer Tarring), who was voted Shanghai’s best DJ (an honor he shared with Choyce Kutz) for 2013. Spenny is not a stranger to our shores. “I’ve been to Taiwan quite a few times because I have a residency at Spark Taipei, which is actually one of my favorite clubs to DJ at,” Spenny said. “It has a great sound system, cool layout, and of course, the most beautiful girls in the world. Chinese girls are hot, but Taiwanese girls are something else. I think that Taiwan is a lot more grown up than China, in particular Taipei. The city is amazing and a really nice place to be.”
Photo courtesy of Theo Cox
Spenny spins a lot of big room electro and progressive sounds, but his sets are always evolving. “This year I’ve been changing it up. The EDM sound has been so over done, and the music has lost its soul. It has been a difficult time for real music lovers,” he said. “The UK has a big movement right now with deep and tech house, and the grooves in the beats are just so infectious. It’s like I’ve found music all over again, and that is what makes music so beautiful.”
■ Masago Fairyland is on tomorrow from 4pm to 7am at Masago Beach (馬沙溝海水浴場), 140 Pingsha Borough, Greater Tainan (台南市平沙里140號). Admission is NT$1,200.
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