Hey Mr. D.J - Yazan Ghazzawi Ever been to a party so great it would take a lifetime to forget? Ever danced for 4 hours straight, even to songs that you didnt like? Prior to choosing this months subject matter, I was driving up the Gulf road to run some errands in Kuwait city. Suddenly, something compelled me to stop. A simple song by Team Deluxe, It wont do played quietly on my radio, its unmistakable groove reminding me of the best party I had ever been to. Having heard the song for the first time at the party (and rarely since), and given the fact that I was considering interviewing D.Js for this article, I decided then and there to go for the cream of the crop, the beat masters themselves:
The Rhythm Makers. Fast forward to interview day: I sit at a quiet coffee shop gathering my notes, and I see our heroes coming from afar. Having just come out of another strenuous day at the office, Shawn, Savio and Russell don swanky styles, and look like theyve just come off the catwalk. Needless to say, they quickly snatch the spotlight from any contenders in close proximity. So we talk about music, and I quickly establish a strong rapport with them. Their many shared qualities (including a razor sharp sense of humor) make the conversation great fun, and we slowly ease into the interview proceedings. Shawn, Savio and Russell all hail from Kuwait and claim to know the place inside out, making it truly their stomping ground. Says Russell: Having lived in Kuwait all our lives, its really easy for us to find places to go and things to do, other than food and shopping. People who havent been here long quickly give up on the place, but the truth is that they dont dig deep enough. There is a lot of good buzz around the town about this bunch, and (as I witnessed myself), theyre known for creating a great atmosphere even at the dullest of parties. To be honest with you, thats where our name comes from, explains Shawn. We started out playing at family gatherings, small private parties, birthdays, those kinds of things. And one day Savio overheard one of the guests saying These guys have got rhythm. So we quickly adopted the name, because if thats how were perceived by the crowd, then thats great. Its clear from the start of our interview that Russell is the loudest and most outspoken. I had no choice but to ask if he was the MC. Yep, thats right, hes the MC. As you might have noticed, hes got the gift of the gab, and always has done. He can get even the most reserved, shy and embarrassed people up to dance. And thats even without music! says Savio. That leaves the two of us taking turns at DJing, adds Shawn. But these arent your regular two deck DJs. Having started out with two cassette decks and Walkmans to cue songs (like any other DJ hopeful!), The Rhythm Makers proceeded to spend every single penny they earned from gigs to build a collection of equipment to be reckoned with. Its really important to have good equipment thats loud. Otherwise you wouldnt be a professional, and people wouldnt really be able to hear if you were a good DJ or not says Russell. The word on the street is that these guys are also really up to date, and are able to fish for music that is little known. Savio elaborates: We play for a really wide range of people, which means we have to be properly equipped with the right kind of music. Well play anything from Old School, to Dance, Club, some hip-hop, Latino, anything really. Just the other day we were doing a gig and we learnt that there were a lot of African guests attending, so we dug up some African music and the crowd went wild. The key is reading the crowd, says Shawn. You have to set the tempo of the party yourself, know what kind of song youll play next depending on what kind of people are in the crowd. Some songs are crowd pleasers, but once you get the people on the floor you have to make sure you keep them there, theyve got to stay interested. Its really a tough job, but thankfully weve got a lot of experience now weve been doing it so long and we can pretty much ace it every time, not to sound too cocky or anything! he explains. You also always have to have an ace in the hole, so to speak. A song that you know for a fact will make the crowd crazy. Youve got to play it at the right time; if you see people starting to drift, you play it and watch them come back like magnets! adds Russell. I was instructed, while writing this article, not to forget The Rhythm Makers soldier abroad, a founding member who, due to work circumstances, had to move to Dubai. Valentino or Valu, as the remaining three call him, is indeed their ambassador abroad, and often visits Kuwait. We always have a gig ready for him when he comes home, says Russell. Doing gigs is not the same without him. I think we collectively agree that were only truly complete when hes with us. Aside from DJing, the trio also have a fledgling re-mix artist in their midst. Savio is known to have a good ear for spotting songs ripe for re-mixing, turning little known songs into instant hits on their repertoire. I think sometimes its a shame that good songs are overlooked because the crowd thinks they are missing something. So I take a song, give it a different hook or up the bass line, and like magic people start liking it. Explains Savio. We close our little meeting by talking about, well, what else? Great music. Good compilations, great remixes. The truth is that there is a lot of stunning music out there, and if we as individuals spent all our time seeking it, then we would have little time for anything else. This is why I for one am grateful to The Rhythm Makers, not only for giving me It wont do, but also for keeping their fingers on the pulse of great music and sharing it with the rest of us. Now I feel like going to a party. (Source: Kuwait This Month) - Forwarded by http://www.goa-world.com/ http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/gulf-goans/ ABOUT GULF-GOANS e-NEWSLETTER This first of its kind Gulf-Goans e-newsletter archived at www.yahoogroups.com/group/gulf-goans is dedicated to Goans around the Globe and is moderated/edited by Gaspar Almeida (since 1994) and presented by Ulysses Menezes, owner of http://www.goa-world.com website. 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