1AMJOY Limelight: DJ Naz
Interview by Sebastian David
Interview photos by Viktor Grabovets
1AMJOY met up with one of the best-known Latin DJs in town, DJ Naz, to discuss his DJ beginnings and the world of Latin American music in Shanghai.
- Where do you come from and what brought you to Shanghai?
I’m from Colombia and I came to see how China is.
- When was that?
October 2008.
- Where you involved in music before you came?
I started here. Before my MBA I was studying Chinese at Jiatong University, then I started to look for extra jobs and I found some jobs as a PR person. That went well and I was working with lots of clubs. I got a call from a Spanish friend who had a club on Fuxing Road, “Tara 57”, it was already quite well-known as a cocktail bar. He said to me “hey, let’s do a Latin party”. So I thought, why not? I knew a lot of Latins and I can play the music.
- What did he mean by “Latin party”? Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, or Latin flavour pop/dance music?
A little bit of all of that. I didn’t know how to mix, I just brought my laptop and played.
- How was that experience for you?
It was amazing because the first night was packed. It was a small place, it was packed and everyone was having such a good time. So it became a regular night.
- Did you feel uneasy or nervous?
Yes, of course, I wasn’t sure what music to put because I hadn’t done it before. So then the club got the dj controller needed for me to mix music and I started to use it and learn. So I started to practice, practice, practice, and after a year I became more comfortable in using the dj controller. Then we started to host regular DJs at the club, The Ponies, Leo Chiodaroli, and others and I started to learn from them. I stood next to them and asked them how to mix.
- Where are you playing at the moment?
I’ve reduced the number of places I’m playing at the moment as there are many Latin nights happening in the city and I don’t want to compete. So right now I’m playing at Pistolera (for their Latin night) and Azul (during brunch); I want to limit to 1-2 special events.
- What is “Latinmania”?
I started Latinmania with a friend from Bolivia. It’s a once a month event that changes locations, between the two of us we managed the different locations, the PR, the deal, the music, the people, the VIP guests, etc. After he left for Macau, I continued Latinmania on my own.
- What kind of music it? A mix of pop/electro music with a Latin flavour, or Salsa, Merengue etc?
It’s pure Latin music from all over Latin American. If I see Mexicans I will play some Cumbia, some Banda, some Ranchera. If I see people from Chile I’ll play something else. I have to guess from their appearance, the way they talk and the way they’re dressed where they are primarily from and focus more on the music of they place they’re from. The biggest challenge is that the Chinese crowd tends to want strictly Salsa, Merengue, Bachata and Kizomba dancing, not any of the other pop or folk Latin music. Me as a Latin I mix a bit of everything, all rhythms. I try to play for everyone, the Chinese crowd and the Latin crowd. In the beginning, I focus more on the Chinese and Europeans who want to dance Latin dances, then later in the night I mix it up with Latin pop and Reggeaton.
- For those of us who aren’t Latin American it’s easy to think of Latin American culture as one similar music genre; could you describe some differences that exist?
Like I said, for Mexicans more festive and pop music that they like; if I see Colombians, more Salsa, Merengue, and Reggaeton. Actually, Reggeaton is liked all over Latin America and it’s freestyle like Hip-Hop, everybody can dance to its beat, in contrast to Salsa which you have to know how to dance it. So if I see Mexicans, I don’t play Salsa because they mostly don’t know how to dance it.
- What is your distinct style or approach as a DJ?
In Colombia we have music and influences from everywhere, so I mix all kinds of Latin American music traditions from Mexico, Brazil, Chile, and other countries. I know the classics from every Latin American country for the past 10 years, so people come up to me and ask me “how do you know that song?” I also blend and incorporate House music, especially Tropical House.
Which was your biggest or most memorable event in Shanghai?
The Beer Festival last year at Cool Docks. There were thousands of people in front of me, it’s an amazing feeling, you play the music and everyone gets excited, starts to dance and go crazy.
- Any other plans or events coming up?
