CeeJay Da DJ interview

WHAT ARE SOME DETAILS ABOUT YOUR JOB THAT YOU WISH PEOPLE TOOK THE TIME TO NOTICE? it aint that easy.... i get song requests by customers to play a song and expect to just play it on the next song... there is a consistant speed transition... we can't just play it... there is a certain speed to match the tempo of the music or the song might be off the type of music we might be playing at the time....

WHAT ARE THE BEST THINGS ABOUT BEING A DJ? WHAT ARE THE WORST AND MOST STRESSFUL ASPECTS? the best thing about being a dj would probably be, doing something i love to do and i get paid to party with some of my friends.... some stressful aspects would be reading the crowd... i get frustrated trying to figure out certain genre or era of music to play to get the party started but when you get it, its a sense of pride that you got the party going..

FOR THOSE THAT THINK ALL A DJ DOES IS PLAY MUSIC, HOW IS THAT THE FARTHEST FROM THE TRUTH? we set the tempo of the club... we are the reason why a guy can go up to a girl and ask, "hey, do you wanna dance?" its kinda hard to do if the music isn't right or the mood is all wrong... we pretty much do all the work to have everybody jumping in a club to give them the courage to go up to a guy or girl to talk to them...

WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF A DJ? HOW MIGHT YOUR DEFINITION BE DIFFERENT FROM THE AVERAGE EVERYDAY CLUB GOER? someone who doesn't just play music like everybody might think... sombody that truly understands music to know what song to play and when to play it....

WHAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT DJS? my biggest pet peeve is a customer would come up to me and tell me, "hey, if you play this song next the dance floor is going to get slammed." yeah well, how bout you give me 20 bucks and i'll give it back to you if i see atleast half the dancefloor half packed when i play the song... we love to play for the crowd don't get me wrong, its just that there are certain customers in the crowd that think they can just get up on the dj booth and just start djing.... it takes sometimes months to years to truly understand just the fundamentals and basics of djing...

WHAT WAS THE SCENE LIKE IN GUAM? HOW DID U ESTABLISH YOURSELF THERE? HOW OFTEN WERE YOU SPINNING? guam was great... i learned how to spin for the first time when i was living there... i was spinning about 3 days a week... mostly on the weekends..

AFTER TWO YEARS AWAY FROM THE TABLES WHAT WAS THE MAIN REASON YOU DECIDED TO GET BACK INTO IT WHEN YOU GOT TO HAWAII? i would go to all the clubs on the weekends and i would get a really bad itch for it... it was almost like cigarettes... as soon as i touched a pair of tables i got hooked... and the second time is always the worst....

HOW HECTIC IS YOUR CURRENT DJ SCHEDULE AND WHERE CAN PEOPLE HEAR YOU? i spin friday at redlion and playbar, saturday, sunday, tuesday, thursday at the playbar.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE AN ASPIRING DJ WHO WANTED TO BREAK INTO THE CLUB SCENE? it may get frustrating and time consuming at times but if you love doing it don't just give up what you love to do...

DJ COMPOSE DISCUSSES HIS LATEST MIXTAPE CREATION interview sneak peak

What was your primary goal with the new mixtape?

- Basically, this is the 2nd mix in the CNTH line... and my primary goal, as it is with everything We (NSK) do is to always strive to be the best. I was happy with the 1st volume, but there was definitely some room for improvement... So, I guess I took my time, chose tracks that i'm feeling, added some of my flav, and hopefully cooked up a classic.

What do you hope the mixtape will help you accomplish?

- more than anything, it's just another way for me to express myself. The whole DJ game is so saturated and so watered down that projects like this keep me inspired and hungry. I just hope a bunch of people listen to it and dig what I did.

Where can people pick up V2?

- i'll be releasing this mix on Halloween at this month's SOUL CLAP event at 39 hotel. it will be available at all the major shops and boutiques (shout to KicksHawaii, In4mation, QUEENS, Dig, Fitted, Prototype, and everyone else who always hold me down.)

How is it different than volume one? If it's still available how can people cop volume?

- This time around, I had some assistance with the homie KnowXone (www. knowxone. com), who runs a very dope music blog. This mix concentrated on Songs and Artists that made noise in the "Blog" world. He gave me some input on some songs, and got some exclusives meant specifically for this mix, which is pretty crazy. That being said, I am always search for dope music... commercial, underground, whatever. I think this mix refelcts that.

- also, we are dabbling into production, and we have a remix from DJ Jami featured on this tape to Kanye's "Love Lockdown", which is craaaaaaazy!

- btw - What's funny about the last mix was I felt like I was trying to make a mix of "under the radar" joints I felt were fresh, and it ends up including some of the biggest songs in the radio, even till this day! (paper planes, superstar, flashing lights) funny how things work out. anyways, here is the mix available for download. (insert zshare link)



The cassette tape cover art is ill, how did you come with the idea?

- big up to KnowXone for that... I think it's pretty sick too.

How much time did you put into the project and what went into selecting each track? Were you going with songs people were familar with? new ish? old school ish?

- Honestly, I've been kind of working on this ever since the last one, cause some of the tracks didn't fit in Vol. #1. And I really got started on this around the Pemberton Festival (which I performed with My Main MC/Homie TASSHO PEARCE). He was working on his recent album, and played me his track "Fresh to Death", which is featured in the mix, and it was in the vibe I wanted to portray. Lots of swag and style... which I'd like to think I got.
- I wanted this mix to sound "effortless"... I could easily be that "dude" who could play all this crazy stuff and show off my skratches or whatever is trendy... but i'm more about the subtleties and things, I think if you pay attention to this, you'll hear it.

What's the status on mixtapes by the rest of the NSK fam?

- Man, we are always trying to push the bar, and stay one step ahead of the game... Mixtapes, Parties, everything. Jami just came back from a very sucessful Asia tour thru Japan and China. E$kae just hopped off the plane coming back from New york playing at THE RUB and SWAY amongst other spots (which is HUGE... for those who don't know about those party's... google it). Deception is a Rockstar, spinning all over the Country... $$$$solution is still doin his thing, and is just starting to get into the club game, which is gonna be dangerous!

Packo, Wigs, Revise, Lex.One etc..more and more DJs are coming out with mixtapes these days? Any thoughts on that and have you heard any of the other DJs offerings?

- I love the fact that other Hawaii DJ's are doing it as well... I haven't had a chance to listen to any yet (HOOK IT UP!), but all those dudes you mentioned are the homies, and I'm sure they are all super sick!

Last words?
-Shout to everyone who helped me out with this! DJ XL for helping me master it out, all the special guests for the drops. Big thanks to Ges a.k.a knowXone, make sure you check his site. and make sure you peep www. nocturnalsoundhawaii. blogspot. com for all things NSK!

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DJ Diamond Honolulu Weekly Spinzone

Diamond dogs
by Kalani Wilhelm / 10-15-2008
If you’re a hot female who spins records, you have to earn your respect. For DJ Diamond, her beauty often makes the first impression, but her skills leave the one that lasts.

Born and bred on the beaches of O’ahu to surfer parents, the electro-house specialist left the rock at the age of 20. After dabbling in the sports medicine profession, she gave it up to pursue her lifelong passion of putting the needle on the record. Today, you can consider this local girl to be on top of the “she-jay” stratosphere.

Appearances in Playboy, Maxim and FHM may have increased her global eye candy appeal, but dance music is about the ear candy. Either way, it’s time to get your sweet tooth on, courtesy of this superstar dance club diva.

Fri 10/17, Indigo, 1121 Nu’uanu Ave., 10pm–2am, 21+, 521-2900; Sat 10/18, The Shop, 580 Dillingham Blvd., 9pm–4am, 16+, $5 presale, [groovetickets.com], 1(877) 87-GROOVE


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NEXT WEEK'S SPINZONE: CJ THE DJ, RESIDENT MAN OF THE MUSIC AT PLAY BAR WAIKIKI

Upcoming Club Reviews in the Honolulu Weekly..

AND

LEVEL 4

Super Crew and Supreme Soul at Level 4

Super Crew will be performing at Level 4 on Halloween and Supreme Soul will be doing their thing after the big show at the Blaisdell. You heard it hear first.

DJ COMPOSE DISCUSSES HIS LATEST MIXTAPE CREATION interview sneak peak

KALANI: What was your primary goal with the new mixtape?

COMPOSE: Basically, this is the 2nd mix in the CNTH line... and my primary goal, as it is with everything We (NSK) do is to always strive to be the best. I was happy with the 1st volume, but there was definitely some room for improvement... So, I guess I took my time, chose tracks that i'm feeling, added some of my flav, and hopefully cooked up a classic.

KALANI: What do you hope the mixtape will help you accomplish?

COMPOSE: more than anything, it's just another way for me to express myself. The whole DJ game is so saturated and so watered down that projects like this keep me inspired and hungry. I just hope a bunch of people listen to it and dig what I did.

K: Where can people pick up V2?

C: I'll be releasing this mix on Halloween at this month's SOUL CLAP event at 39 hotel. it will be available at all the major shops and boutiques (shout to KicksHawaii, In4mation, QUEENS, Dig, Fitted, Prototype, and everyone else who always hold me down.)

K: How is it different than volume one? If it's still available how can people cop volume?

C: This time around, I had some assistance with the homie KnowXone (www. knowxone. com), who runs a very dope music blog. This mix concentrated on Songs and Artists that made noise in the "Blog" world. He gave me some input on some songs, and got some exclusives meant specifically for this mix, which is pretty crazy. That being said, I am always search for dope music... commercial, underground, whatever. I think this mix refelcts that.

Also, we are dabbling into production, and we have a remix from DJ Jami featured on this tape to Kanye's "Love Lockdown", which is craaaaaaazy!

What's funny about the last mix was I felt like I was trying to make a mix of "under the radar" joints I felt were fresh, and it ends up including some of the biggest songs in the radio, even till this day!

***TO BE CONTINUED***

Prediction: UH 27 La Tech 21

PREDICTIONS SURE TO GO WRONG

HAWAII WINS IF:
- The Warrior offense racks up at least 350 total yards on offense(250 passing, 100 rushing)
- Funaki runs for a TD and at least 50 yards while throwing for 250 yards
- In his return to the starting lineup Adam Leonard compiles at least 10 tackles.
- I'm not going to guess who but a UH reciever will break the 100 yard mark for the first time this season.
- Dan Kelly is perfect on extra point and field goal attempts and makes at least 2 field goals, 1 over 45 yards.
- Mouton has at least one return of 40 yards or more
- The Warriors win the turnover battle

Other things I hope will happen:-
Offensive Coordinator Ron Lee calling the shovel pass at the right times and employee a play action fake off of it.
- More emphasis on stretching the field.
- A minimum of 30 pass attempts by Funaki. Along w/timely qb draw plays
- More formations with eight defenders in the box to stop the run. I'll trade stuffing the run on a regular basis for a big play or two by LaTech. Besides, UH can afford to put 8 in the box to give "the look" but bluff out of it when the ball is snapped.
- Blitz Mouton more especially on third and long situations

Current Diet

My current eating regimen includes the following items. Of course, I still eat at McDonalds and Zippy's and snack on candy mind you. This is my attempt of gradually shifting my eating habits towards in a more healthy direction.

Chicken Breast, Soy Beans, Green Beans, Carrots, Peanut Butter Sandwiches, Salmon, Broccoli,Loplait Yogurt, Sprouts, Tuna, Eggs (over easy, boiled limited yolks), Chow Fun Noodles, Lipton Pasta sides

Absolutely none of the following:
White Rice- I don't know how long this will last!
No Soda *Monster Energy Drinks and 5-Hour Energy does not count
Mac Salad

Limited
Mayo, Salt, Shoyu, Juice