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hooked: You recently competed in the Thirst Global
Sessions Championship in Las Vegas. How did you fare in the competition? Could
you give us some insight on what you learnt from the competition, pitting your
skills against international competitors?
I feel
extremely happy to have represented our nation on the global stage.
The experience
I had at the Global session in Las Vegas was nothing short of impressive.
Although I was not crowned the winner, the trip was an invaluable lesson for
me.
I learnt that playing a flawless gig is not enough. It is about personality
and creating a presence, building rapport with the crowd in a unique way. It
will add another level of originality if you play your own tracks, as no one
else will have it before it is released.
hooked: Well,
we're particularly interested in your entry song for the competition,
"Diary of Resolve". What inspired you to highlight our local history
through your music? What kind of feedback have you received from both the local
and international audience on the song?
The
track was written after I caught a glimpse of the book entitled "1826 days: a
diary of resolve". It is a book about the brief history of
Singapore security, and how our nation is coping with the onslaught of global
terrorism.
I felt that it is more authentic and that if I am representing
Singapore, it would be better off to bring a part of the nation with me and show it
to the rest of the world.
I
have gotten very positive feedback for the song from DJs and casual listeners
alike. They feel that it's a rocking track that has a unique blend of ethnic
Asian instruments.
hooked: What are your thoughts then, on the
effectiveness of music as a tool to remind us of our history, to provide hope
for the future, to integrate society and to promote tolerance of others?
To me, music is a very useful tool to create an emotional
response and when used in conjunction with visuals, it will enhance the overall
message. Music definitely serves as a powerful entertaining and educational
device.
hooked: Finally,
what are your future plans? Do you have any projects/events in the pipeline?
Are we going to hear more from DJ Akien anytime soon?
I am working on
new materials and also preparing for my upcoming performances. One of the upcoming gigs is the annual
"Localized" at Zouk club on 25th
August 2007. The event is a showcase of selected local DJs/Producers.
Another
performance I have is at WOMAD 2007, an annual outdoor music festival that
features 150 artists from 60 different countries around the world.
I will also
conduct a workshop on music production/live performance during the event. Do
come down to the party and give me a shout! HookeD
For
more information on DJ Akien, do check out his MySpace: www.myspace.com/akienmusic
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