Chopstick & Johnjon (DE): “John helped out”
In 2017 I interviewed Chopstick & Johnjon about their first gig. Chopstick: “The pressure not to mess up and the many drinks beforehand, due to me being nervous, had made me a bit tipsy as well.”
Kid Culture (NL): “Had to work with what was there”
Dutch Kid Culture started playing at a young age. He remembers well how it was, that first time. “My real first big gig was being the support act of Gangstar in Paradiso, Amsterdam.”
Charly (Charly & Nazzz) (NL): “Next DJ didn’t turn up”
By chance, I got to visit Charel Visser a.k.a. DJ Charly in the holy grail. Of course he had already told me about his first gig. “I was high with adrenaline.”
Buurman Van Dalen (NL): “My mates were super proud”
Buurman Van Dalen is a talented musician. In 2017 he reminisced with me about his DJ debut. “Seeing all those dancing people gave me goosebumps!”
Ziv Avriel (ISR): “Dreams do come true”
In the nineties, Israelian DJ/producer Ziv Avriel left his home country to try his luck in The Netherlands. In 2015 he told me his story. “I had barely heard of beatmatching.”
Thirdone (ITA): “Nervous, because it was our first live set”
During ADE 2015 I ran into Stefano and Marco Ranieri a.k.a. Thirdone. In 2016 they told me the story of their first gig. “We didn’t expect this many people!”
Rubzman (NL): “Pleasantly suprised by positive reactions”
Dutch Ruben Langedijk a.k.a. Rubzman is an amazing multitalent. We must have met in 2012 or ’13. He remembers all of his gigs well. About his first DJ/VJ gig: “That was in 2004 in our favorite hangout.”
VJ Yantra (NL): “‘Eh, ma’am, are you the VJ?’”
One of the people I met in The Recycle Lounge Gallery Club in Amsterdam is VJ Yantra. Not soon after that she told me about her first VJ gig. “Would I be able captivate the crowd’s attention all night long?”
Celeste (NL): “Learned to play at Dano’s house”
In 2014 Dutch DJ Celeste told me about the beginning of her DJ career. “Dano and Dimitri taught me how to play.”
Will Wee (FRA): ”Amazing interaction with the crowd!”
We met in the JD Williams Whiskey Bar in Amsterdam during ADE 2016. Not long after that Will Wee told me about his first gig. ”I prepared the set down to the smallest detail.”
A.Paul (PRT): “This issue totally sabotaged my set”
Portugese DJ/producer A.Paul’s first gig didn’t quite work out as planned. “For a moment, I was horrified.”
The Boy With the Broken Record (NL): “‘How hard can it be?’”
From the moment I met Rens Mors aka DJ The Boy With The Broken Record I was charmed by this young man. In 2017 he told me the story of his DJ debut. “I had to beg for headphones.”
