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  DJ Preach on the decks

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  Marcel Woods

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  Marcus Schossow

By Ju An Tan

What started out as a workshop ended up being an interview session. The questions posed by the moderator to the international DJs like DJ Preach and Marcel Woods reeled the audience in. 

Set at the KL Live Centre last Saturday, DJ Preach was first to enlighten all with his life experience as a DJ. He also emphasised and shared some of the marketing strategies he had employed to ensure a successful career. 

"Always be one step ahead of your listeners. Do your research and expand your music knowledge. Know what's upcoming in the industry. Try not to follow but create the music trend instead," advised the Canadian-born DJ when an aspiring individual asked him on the key points that contributed to his success.

DJ Preach whose real name is Phillipe Babin, then continued to tell a story about how he had tears in his eyes when he first heard his music being spun at a dance club and while everyone was commenting on how good it was, not knowing they were talking about him and his music.

Marcel Woods on the other hand, had a different story to tell. Instead of talking about his life, this DJ, responsible for producing the official Trance Energy 2006 anthem 'Advanced', was more keen on discussing the challenges in the digital age.

While commenting on the issues faced by recording studios trying hard to overcome piracy and file sharing, he remained positive over the whole situation

"There is always a silver lining in every cloud. Nowadays, we make great sales on our iTunes audio, backing track which other DJs sample from, and also on ringtone sales," he said.

And as his new CD featuring his single American Dirt was being handed out to the attendees, he went on: "The best feeling in the world is when you hear your track assigned to the ringtone. You won't believe the grin I had on my face."

With that as the closing line, the interview session made way for Appreciation Night where the DJs started to spin their own set to the now crowded venue.

Among the line-up scheduled that night was DJ Preach, Marcel Woods, Marcus Schossow and two of our very own local DJs FunkoMunky and Affiq. The latter was first to warm up the crowds. He spun to the audience for a full hour-set showing off his heavy influences like Armin van Buuren, Gareth Emery and more. 

Just as the audience was starting to shuffle to the pounding beats of his tracks, it was time to pass the deck on to his fellow Malaysian DJ FunkoMunky, who then made way to Marcus Schossow.

The beats of the night continued to pound the rhythm of house with Marcel Woods and DJ Preach practising what he preached.