From their top five tracks to the most embarrassing record in their collection, the Red Bull Thre3Style finalists answer our questions ahead of the DJ battle in Paris this Thursday.
DJ M-Squared
How long have you been DJing for?
Eight years.
How did you get your DJ name?
From my real first and last names both starting with ‘M’s – Michael McPherson.
Sum up your DJ style in three words…
Passionate, versatile, progressive.
What are your top five tracks for slaying the opposition?
1 Michael Jackson: Don't Stop Til You Get Enough
2 Jay-Z: Public Service Announcement
3 Camp Lo: Luchini (This Is It)
4 Notorious BIG: Hypnotize
5 DJ Class: I'm The Ish (M-Squared Dub Version)
Who’s your turntable inspiration?
There are so many great DJs that inspire me but If could only name one it would be DJ Jazzy Jeff.
What’s the most exciting artist or scene in your country right now?
Kanye West.
What’s the strangest sight you’ve ever seen in a club?
A guy juggling fire sticks while walking on glass in front of the DJ booth... it was like a circus act.
What’s the most embarrassing record in your collection? And the absolute best?
The most embarrassing record is Tom Jones, It's Not Unusual, and the absolute best would be Joe Jackson, Steppin’ Out.
Whose set at the Finals are you most looking forward to watching – or most fearing?!
I'm looking forward to watching all and fearing none.
What would it mean to you to be the first Red Bull International DJ champion in history?
It would an honour and a privilege to showcase my talents to the world.
DJ Iku
Masanori Naruse/Red Bull photofiles
How long have you been DJing for?
Seven years.
Sum up your DJ style in three words…
Skills, entertainment, communication.
What are your top five tracks for slaying the opposition?
1 Fab 5 Freddy: Change The Beat (“Ahhhhhhhh fresh”)
2 Simon Harris: Bass (How Low Can You Go?)
3 LL Cool J: Going Back To Cali
4 Ice-T: Warning
5 Gang Starr: Battle
Who’s your turntable inspiration?
DJ Ta-Shi, DJ Kentaro, DJ Ak.
What’s the most exciting artist or scene in your country right now?
[Japanese breakbeat duo] Hifana.
What’s the most treasured record in your collection?
Gang Starr: Mass Appeal, on which I got a signature from Guru in person!
Whose set at the Finals are you most looking forward to watching – or most fearing?!
DJ Drastik.
What would it mean to you to be the first Red Bull International DJ champion in history?
It would be my best pleasure ever. I think life is film, so I'm looking forward to what's happening next. I wonder what kind of a movie my life will make…
DJ Dhago
How long have you been DJing for?
About 18 years.
Is there a story behind your DJ name?
I just decided to combine the first letters of ‘dedicated to house’ and ‘hip hop music’ (DH), and the initials of my name (AGO). That is how DJ Dhago came out.
Sum up your DJ style in three words…
A Dancefloor Filler.
What are your top five tracks for slaying the opposition?
1 Joeski: Time To Sax
2 Dirty Phonics: Vandals
3 Tito Puente & Celia Cruz: Oye Como Va
4 Das Efx: The Real Hip Hop
5 Herbie Hancock: Ready Or Not
Who’s your turntable inspiration?
Grand Master, Roc Raida, Q-Bert and DJ Craze.
What’s the most exciting artist or scene in your country right now?
DJ Killer.
What’s the strangest sight you’ve ever seen in a club?
People having sex in the club while partying.
What’s the most embarrassing record in your collection? And the absolute best?
I would say that Sexy Bitch by David Guetta is the most embarrassing and Soccer’s Come And Get It On is absolutely the best.
Whose set at the Finals are you most looking forward to watching – or most fearing?!
I wanna hear and seeing DJ kArve from France, and DJ Iku from Japan seems to have nice skills.
What would it mean to you to be the first Red Bull International DJ champion in history?
The mission is firstly transmitting the real message of music, secondly being one of the best DJs around the world and lastly creating a huge display of good vibes around people. The combination of those things is what being a real Party Lord is all about.
DJ Chelis
Sebas Romero/Red Bull photofiles
How long have you been DJing for?
10 years.
Is there a story behind your DJ name?
It's what my friends used to call me and it comes from my real name.
Sum up your DJ style in three words…
Surprising, eclectic and brave.
What are your top five tracks for slaying the opposition?
I haven’t decided what I’ll be playing in the Finals yet but definitely nothing people would expect.
Who’s your turntable inspiration?
My favourite turntablists are Kid Koala, DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist, but as I'm not a turntablist, DJs like Andrew Weatherall, Bok Bok or Theo Parrish are big influences for me.
What’s the most exciting artist or scene in your country right now?
Its a healthy time for the Spanish scene with labels like Arkestra, Disboot, Galleta or my own Lo Fi Funk. Artists like Mwëslee, Bflecha, Noaipre, Niño, Diploide, C164 and Cauto are truly on fire right now.
What’s the strangest sight you’ve ever seen in a club?
A girl giving me her T-shirt in order to change it with my own. I refused it as I didn't want to wear rest a tight girl’s T-shirt for the rest of the night.
What’s the most embarrassing record in your collection? And the absolute best?
The most embarrassing record could be some Spanish Makina [hardcore and trance producers] record from the ‘90s. I was young and this is the music I would listen to in the clubs. The best.... how can you say which record is the best when you collect music? Some of my favourite records are from Red 69 (Carl Craig) on R&S, Talking Book by Stevie Wonder or Karlheinz Stockhausen's Kontakte.
Whose set at the Finals are you most looking forward to watching – or most fearing?!
I haven't listened to any of the competition as I prefer to arrive without prejudice and just play my set.
What would it mean to you to be the first Red Bull International DJ champion in history?
I want to just have fun in Paris and enjoy the other sets, as just going there is a big enough prize for me.
DJ Nedu Lopes
Marcelo Maragni/Red Bull photofiles
How long have you been DJing for?
20 years.
Is there a story behind your DJ name?
It is a childhood nickname. My name is Nelson Duarte Lopes. So ‘Ne’ of Nelson + ‘Du’ of Duarte = Nedu Lopes.
Sum up your DJ style in three words…
Eclectic, scratch, effects.
What are your top five tracks for slaying the opposition?
1 The Beatles: Come together
2 Pitbull feat. Trick Daddy: City Of Gods
3 WTF!? & Dead Prez: It's bigger Than Hip Hop UK
4 NAPT feat. Louise Marshall: Make My Day
5 Doctor P: Sweet Shop
Who’s your turntable inspiration?
If I have to say only one name, it’s DJ Craze.
What’s the most exciting artist or scene in your country right now?
I really like a rapper who is beginning to thrive, called Emicida.
What’s the strangest sight you’ve ever seen in a club?
Once in Belo Horizonte, my hometown, I played in a club for only one person! The guy came from far just to watch me DJ. As there was no public, the club would not open. But I told him to come in, turned the sound on and he danced euphorically for half an hour alone on the dance floor. It was strange, but very cool at the same time.
What’s the most embarrassing record in your collection? And the absolute best?
I think a record can be embarrassing when it’s played at the wrong moment. For instance, one time I was playing a record called Rob Reng feat. Huw Price: Plug me in (Madox remix) for the first time. This is an amazing track, but I played it at the wrong moment and the dancefloor emptied, so I changed the record quickly. The best record is Shut Up And Dance & DJ Hype: Reclaim The Streets.
Whose set at the Finals are you most looking forward to watching – or most fearing?!
The French DJ, kArve.
What would it mean to you to be the first Red Bull International DJ champion in history?
Red Bull Thre3Style is a huge event already. Winning this contest would be a life changing experience for me. After 20 years of DJing, this is the most important opportunity in my career. And to have one’s name associated with the history of Red Bull Thre3Style is an honour for anyone.
Scratch 22
How long have you been DJing for?
About ten years now.
Is there a story behind your DJ name?
I was about 15 when I came up with it and studying the Joseph Heller book, Catch 22. Shout out to 20th Century American literature!
Sum up your DJ style in three words…
Loose, eclectic, fun.
What are your top five tracks for slaying the opposition?
1 Slayer: Raining Blood
2 Slayer: Angel of Death
3 Slayer: War Ensemble
4 Slayer: South of Heaven
5 Slayer: Skeletons of Society
Who’s your turntable inspiration?
From NZ – Alphabetheah. From Overseas - DJ Krush, Craze, Gilles Petersen and many more.
What’s the most exciting artist or scene in your country right now?
My crew the ARC (Auckland Renewal Collective) are building a dope scene right now in pop-up spots round Auckland bringing together all the punk kids, hip hoppers, skaters and general no-hopers to create something new and interesting for ourselves.
What’s the strangest sight you’ve ever seen in a club?
An empty club is always a strange sight.
What’s the most embarrassing record in your collection? And the absolute best?
In terms of embarrassing, probably all my Dipset records. Best is probably David Axelrod: Songs Of Experience.
Whose set at the Finals are you most looking forward to watching – or most fearing?!
Everyone! I can't wait to meet these guys from all over the world and share local music and knowledge.
What would it mean to you to be the first Red Bull International DJ champion in history?
I guess it would open doors for me to travel more, meet new people and experience new things. The reason I DJ is for my enjoyment, so already being able to travel through music has been a huge gift!
Want more?
- For more ahead of the Red Bull Thre3style final head to the dedicated event page
- Check out the Red Bull Thre3style gallery
- For more music and culture news, click here
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