::Wayne's Diary::

Our Local scene. Support? or Just easy Talk? 

by Wayne Lee, 10.07.01

Warmest greetings, once again, to all clubbers, dance music lovers, DJs or anyone who has unknowingly surfed into this page (count yourself very lucky indeed... hehe)

 Been pretty busy these few weeks. Do not really know why but time really flies (and so does your money) when you are having fun partying away, and that is a proven fact (and proven over and over again....).  John Digweed @ Zouk, Fuse's birthday bash (with the Frontal DJs Janson, kennerve and Itchi piloting the decks) and Enroute 2....... just to mention a few.

Coming to that, something I saw at Enroute struck me deeply.... very deeply in fact.

Let me relate it to you:

 Stepping into the Progressive arena when the first DJ ( I think it was Andy) started spinning, I saw something which was a rare sight indeed: The dancefloor was packed with a crowd partying to the DJ's set. And the DJ was local !

Surprised? I mean, no offence to the local jocks, we all know their credentials, and that they are good at their DJ work and all that, but sometimes, the support just isn't there. However, that night at Enroute, the over-whelming support for the local DJs came in full force. A classic example: Cher's set was totally packed to the brim, and this was so even when Darren Price was spinning simultaneously in the Techno/House arena next door. Simply Fantastic!  

Sit back and think, how many incidences have we encountered, whereby the local jocks were not getting their deserved support? One example was perhaps the not-so-recent Hardcore 003. Stepping into the local DJ's room, you would definitely have noticed the bleak and dismal emptiness of the dancefloor with an occasional handful of loyal supporters flanking the sides. Perhaps too shy to dance, these loyal patrons of local techno were just moving their bodies slightly to the beats. I noticed one or two more outgoing ones dancing by themselves on the floor, the rest were apprehensive about joining in the fun. But hey! At least these people were there to give their support, and that was admirable. They were there to absorb the vibes or at least lend their ears to the local DJs’ set. And these jocks were not charlatan acts. They included respected names in the local techno industry like Flame, Leon. Sean Lai, Ramesh, Norman C, Unknown and Stingray. I even heard from a friend that DJ 'Unknown' had flown in from Tokyo earlier in the day just for this event, and what did he spin to? A dismal crowd (if I would even dare call it one)...

For me, local dance music crumbled that night....

Another example would be a recent comment posted on the DNS forum about the Fuse Birthday Bash being a rip-off, and labeling the event a ' mislead of the local scene'. That totally pissed me off... way off.

I mean, no matter how 'badly' the frontal DJs played that night (and I thought they did pretty well), or how supposedly 'shabby' (as described vividly by these critics) the decor of the room at Fuse was, there was no reason to slam it in any way. These guys were giving no chance to the organizers at all, totally zero. The efforts of Fuse and Frontal to bring a great night to everyone were marred, hard work down the gutter, thanks to inconsiderate comments from some individuals. Is that how one intends gives the local scene its due support?  

We all talk, day in day out, repeatedly about trying to "bring the scene to a higher level" or about supporting our local jocks in every possible way we can, but are we actually practicing what we preach? Or is it all just talk? 

The local dance scene needs more than just our so-called 'support' (which I see only as a verbal and 'on the surface' kinda thing so far). It needs mutual tolerance and understanding. It needs encouragement and praise, no matter how screwed up it is.

Most importantly, it needs our attendance, regardless of how minimal it will be. 

Let us break out of our pragmatic mindsets and try to accept our local stuff, no matter how lousy or sub-standard you deem it to be. Give it a listen, and listen without prejudice.

Even if the local jock spins stuff which is really god damn repulsive or puke-inducing (I do not think you will reach that stage, though) try to give constructive criticism. (Writer's note: this is a very general term which tends to be abused.) Add too, a small word of praise for his effort at least.

Put aside the issue about your money's worth, the stigma about the 'I pay so much, why would I forsake the foreign act for a local one' sort of thing. Local jocks are also worth every cent we pay for a gig. I am not asking anyone to boycott foreign acts just to support your local ones, all I ask is just for tinge of support for your fellow Singaporean Jocks.   

Hmm....let me throw a challenge to you guys out there:

I would hope to see, one day, another event hosting two separate rooms, one for 'Local' and one for 'foreign' DJs, with both arenas having the a balanced ratio of the crowd partying their hearts out to the same quality of dance music, regardless of the DJ's nationality.

Contradicting myself at this point, I personally do not have much hope of that happening (not in the near future).

So, prove me wrong.

p.s. Kudos to these sites that do the local scene good:

• www.bedroomjocks.com

• www.danceandsoul.com

• www.mygaragesaleshop.com

• www.getasia.com.sg

Apologies to those I did not mention, your work is still much appreciated by many!

Comment from Writer: "all apologies. Andy did not play that night at enroute! sorry for the mis-information!' cheers!"

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