If 20 random people were asked who is the best DJ in Taiwan, there would be 20 different answers. It is preposterous to even try and figure out the answer, but Red Bull has a reputation for doing the unattainable, and this weekend is the kick-off of their annual Taiwan Thre3style battle, which pits 18 of Taiwan’s top DJs against each other at clubs in Taipei, Greater Kaohsiung and Greater Taichung.
In the first Thre3style battle 11 months ago, DJ Ray Ray (real name Chao Hsin-lei, 趙心蕾) surprised everyone by coming out on top. Needless to say, it was life-changing.
“It was an awesome experience,” Ray Ray said in an e-mail interview with Taipei Times. “I learned a lot of skills and ideas from different DJs.”
Photo Courtesy of upagainstthewall.asia
As the champ, Ray Ray got to travel to Toronto for a week, battle other DJs from around the world and hang out with top-shelf DJs like Jazzy Jeff, Skratch Bastid, A-Trak and more. While she did not win the world championship, she represented Taiwan properly and had a great time. “My favorite part was the DJ happy hour,” she quipped.
Ray Ray is one of six DJs competing at Hive on Friday night, and she thinks that her experience will give her the edge.
“I became more confident and I will keep learning to ... become the champion again,” Ray Ray said.
■ Red Bull Thre3style battle tonight from 10pm till 4am at Hive, 12, Song Shou Rd, Taipei city (台北市松壽路12號1F); with DJs Question Mark, Al, Afro 36, DinPei, Zynko and Ray Ray. Admission is NT$500 for ladies and NT$1,000 for men and it is all you can drink. Tomorrow night from 10pm till 4am at Sway Club, 3F 161 Shichuan 1st Rd, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市十全一路161號3F); with DJs Track, Ground, Potato, Booyah, DinDin and (full disclosure) Marcus Aurelius. Admission is NT$200 for ladies and NT$600 for men and it is all you can drink. Next Friday from 10pm till 4am at X-Cube, 41 Daguan Rd, Greater Taichung (台中市大觀路41號); with DJs Coy, Cola, Sharon, Kid, Ellie and Mr. Skin. Admission is NT$200 for ladies and NT$600 for men and it is all you can drink. The finals find two winners from each competition on the decks scratching for gold; May 24 from 10pm till 4am at Lobby 59 Qinghai South Street, Greater Taichung (台中市青海南街59號). Admission is NT$200 for ladies and NT$600 for men and it is all you can drink.
Over the past 11 years, DJ Rich (real name Rich Greenland) has been throwing drum and bass parties. This weekend, his company, Tranquility Bass Productions, celebrates their 50th event by having a bash at Triangle.
The party will be bittersweet for Rich because he is moving back to New Zealand, but he does not feel that Taiwan has changed him very much.
“Looking back, I think I’m pretty much the same person just with kids now,” Rich said.
Rich said he originally came to Taiwan to help build a drum and bass scene, but “as those before and since have found out, it pretty much isn’t happening.”
“I guess I’m a bit more cynical about Taiwan’s ability to support anything underground or non-mainstream,” he added.
Tranquility Bass Production’s crown jewel was Andy C, who Rich said is awe-inspiring.
“Hands down Andy C is the best party I’ve had or been to in Taiwan and easily in the top five lifetime in any country,” he said.
“He is the consummate professional and it seemed like he had just got in a boatload of new tunes right before the party because I had seen him in New Zealand four months before and there were at least 30 tunes I didn’t recognize at the time in Taiwan.”
■ Tranquility Bass Productions 50th party is tomorrow night from 11pm to 4:30am at Triangle, 1 Yuman St, Taipei City (台北市玉門街1號). With DJs Rich, C-Type, DTR, Lai and MC Stoppa. Admission is NT$300 and comes with a drink.
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