This week with EDGER
DJ Edger has been spinning around the better bars and clubs around town over the past year. His name seems to be popping up everywhere lately. Last Saturday night he and his partner in Brass Monkey, Sammy Sax headlined Red Ruby. We were down there and checking it out big time. Great show and definitely a new duo you will be seeing a lot more of around the traps in the future. Let’s find out more.
The basics.
Where are you from and how old are you?
Originally from Vancouver Canada, but also lived in Melbourne Australia for 13 years. Just turned 41 this year but feel 31.
How long you been in Bali?
Moved here in July 2024
How did you first get into electronic music? Like, was there a certain moment it all made sense?
I loved the underground house and techno scene in Vancouver as soon as I discovered it back in 2005. Going to the underground clubs and summer festivals was my favourite place to be. But since I was a dedicated drummer I never thought to learn the art of DJing until I moved to Melbourne in 2012.
Why did you move to Melbourne?
For the music scene! I met an Aussie bassist in Vancouver and when his Canadian visa ended he convinced me to move to Melbourne to try out the music scene there for a while.
Who is your greatest influence in DJing or electronic music?
It’s hard to choose one as I draw influence from so many places. But if I had to choose I’d say Booka Shade is a big one. Their Movements album didn’t leave my CD player for months and seeing them live in 2007 and how they used an electronic drum set in their act always inspired me to find a way to incorporate live drums into my DJ sets.
What do you think makes electronic music so good?
So many things! The repetitive nature puts you in a trance at times where time and space no longer matter. The steady kick drum inherently makes you want to move. That feeling when you hear a song for the first time and you fall in love with it right away can give you goosebumps and make your whole body and mind light up. I can’t think of any other art form that brings people together as much as electronic music and the community that loves it.
How about the live music scene – not the same? What differences are there for you?
With a lot of live music it’s kind of frowned upon to talk during a performance so not the best environment to meet people. Jazz performances everyone just appreciates the musicians and goes home. Hard rock shows have mosh pits sometimes, where you might get elbowed in the face which I suppose is a form of connection haha. The electronic music scene for me is really a safe place free of judgments where everyone is welcome.
I loved the live music community when I was involved in it. But for the most part I’d go to a show, watch and appreciate the band, and then call it a night. But with house music gigs there’s no need to watch the DJ, and the dancefloor becomes a great place to meet like-minded people.
Yes, that’s the way I wound up feeling about the live music scene, too. All about the nurturing of the musicians ego, or something like that.
Totally. I could go on forever about the differences in the crowds but I suppose we don’t have that much time.
But of course, as my muso friends point out, it is also about the creative process. But faak that on a late Saturday night! Lol
Lol agreed!
Do you produce music?
Yes, my first release was in 2019
How long have you been a DJ and how would you describe your music you make or play?
I’ve been a DJ since 2012 but even before then I was always in control of the aux cord at parties and making mix CDs for people throughout high school. The music I play varies on the crowd and venue but mainly I play Indie Dance, Melodic Techno, Afro House, Deep House, Tech House, Techno and Progressive House.
How about the music your produce?
Lately I’ve been putting out Afro House records but I’ve got a release coming out in September that’s leaning more into Indie Dance so I think that’s where I’ll be taking my sound in the coming months.
What’s your favourite area in Bali to hang out (day-time)?
I love to take my 4 year old son to the beach, so Seminyak is always a good option but we recently discovered Seseh Beach which is a lot more quiet and open.
What’s your favourite place in Bali at night (where you don’t work)?
I honestly probably go to Ettore Gelato more than anywhere haha. I love gelato.
What do you do in your spare time? Any other interests?
Did I mention gelato already? I also love playing tennis and snowboarding although admittedly I don’t snowboard so much these days.
Where are you a resident, or regular DJ?
I frequently play Red Ruby, After Dark, Tabu, MIA, Karma Beach, and sometimes Shady Pig Berawa.
So, you have only been here a relatively short time but managed to get into most venues. There always
seems to be new people coming here to DJ, and a lot of them ask us how they can get a job here. I never know what to say, besides it is rather difficult. Was it easy or tough starting fresh as a DJ in Bali?
It was not too difficult at first because I knew a couple people in the scene here who helped me out. But what I didn’t anticipate was how much budgets for DJ slots got pulled back during the rainy season. So the real difficulty is finding residencies at places that continue booking throughout the slow season. Those places seem to be a lot harder to work your way into as they often have long-standing residents that have been there for years.
What’s the story with Brass Monkey? How did that come about and where is it going?
This is a concept that my friend Sammy Sax and I first thought of back in Melbourne over a decade ago. The idea of having two DJs going B2B while also playing percussion and sax seemed like a winner, but he moved to Bali around 2017 before we could ever pursue it. Once I moved to Bali the timing seemed perfect to give it a try and so we’ve just recently launched the project at our favourite spot Red Ruby. Massive shout out to the team there for believing in us and giving us an opportunity to showcase this project! We hope to turn it into a touring project soon and would love to play other countries in Asia and the rest of the world.