When DJs arrive in Taiwan, they are often whisked straight to the hotel to check in, taken somewhere to get a bite to eat then dropped off to do the gig. Once the show is over, the DJ must head back to their hotel for some rest because in the morning they are off to the airport on an early-morning flight. Needless to say, a lot of DJs do not get much time to actually experience Taiwan.
This is the routine that Zimmer (real name Baptiste Zimmer) followed the last three times he played here. Today and tomorrow, he plays gigs at the Barcodes in Kaohsiung and Taipei, and then gets another day to chill out and feel the vibes of Taiwan on Sunday.
“I’m ... looking forward to discover more of Taiwan,” Zimmer said in an e-mail interview.
Photo courtesy of Ultra Dance Society
REWORKING THE MASTERS
Zimmer’s first step into the production world was when he started doing reworks of songs that he enjoyed but were hard to play during his DJ sets.
Tina Turner’s What’s Love Got to Do With It, Do You Think I’m Sexy by Rod Stewart and Everybody Dance by Chic are just three of the many Zimmer selections that make crowds go wild. He focuses on keeping close to the original but adding a few kicks, snares and other flares to give the songs that extra punch.
Because Zimmer grew up in France and California, he realized from an early age that life had no mental limitations. He identifies as a Parisian now because he has lived in Paris over the last two years, but his music has the carefree sounds of the California coast, as well as the hipness of the City of Light.
Zimmer calls the music he creates horizontal disco, and when he makes songs, he does it fast. He starts by tinkering around with sounds until he finds a melodic line he likes. From there, he builds a loop around the line and starts adding elements and spreading it out like an arrangement.
The process takes roughly two hours.
“If it takes longer, then it usually means it’s not a good idea because things needs to flow naturally,” Zimmer said.
■ Zimmer plays tonight from 10pm to 3:30am at Barcode Kaohsiung, 10F, 57, Wufu 3rd Rd, Kaohsiung (高雄市五福三路57號10樓). Admission is NT$300 and comes with two drinks. Barcode’s 10th Anniversary party is tomorrow from 9pm to 3:30am at Barcode, 5F, 88 Songren Rd, Taipei City (台北市松仁路88號5樓). Admission is free.
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