This post is also available in: Nederlands (Dutch)
In 2014 I interviewed the Dutch Monique Rijken a.k.a. DJ/producer Kiki Toao about her debut in the DJ-booth. We've known each other since 2011, when she, me and our significant others enjoyed the Cannabis Liberation Festival. Talking about her first gig, she says: "I felt like a numbed gnome."
“My first gig was in October 1997 at a street-party during Leidens Ontzet. I was totally into firm techno in those days, so they programmed me rather late. This meant that it was freezing! There I was, feeling like a numbed gnome. My fingers were half-frozen. I was more concerned with that, than with being nervous for the gig.”
Success
“I never had a mentor or a teacher. When I indicated to my boyfriend at that time that I would like to learn how to play, he merely said: ‘You know where the turntables are. Good luck!’ That’s the only clue he ever gave me.”
First headphones
“So, one year later, there I was, playing at Leidens Ontzet. That night, my father and stepmother gave my my first headphones. They were also present at my first gig. There was quite a crowd and everyone loved it!”
Bam. Party finished.
“I did make quite a blunder. For a moment, I forgot to take into account that K Alexi‘s track “M.C.M.” is a short one. So, before I had mixed in the next track, suddenly all music stopped. Bam. Party finished. Shit. Well, what can you do at a moment like this, except for remaining calm? The organizer panicked and started yelling at me in a frenzy. Totally stoic and relaxed, I decided what my next track would be. ‘To fix this, I’d better play a real banger now’, I figured. So I did. I put on a new record and in no time I had the crowd going stronger than before and even started cheering. Coincidentally my mistake turned out to be a really good thing because after this the party really got going!” (laughs)
Freak out
“I’m still surprised that back then I was able to respond that cool. Now I would totally freak out. Right there and then I learned that you can get away with a huge mistake as long as, one way or the other, you try to fix it .”
Paternising tone
“I was only 22 and during my set several men, mind me: unasked, and on a paternising tone, started explaining the mixer to me. Unfortunately this still happens, but the only thing I can do is laugh about this type of sexism. One of the guys that organized the party, also tried to get me to pitch in for the rent of the stand. Because it would be for my own promotion. I never complied of course. Duh!”
Learned a lot
“So, yeah, you can say that I learned a lot of this first gig. And since then, I’ve never stopped learning. Every gig teaches me something new, whether it is music-wise or on a technical or business level.”
“On top of that, I tend to be bored easily by a large number of records that I have already played. I’m always on the look for new inspiration. Of course, in the mean time, every once in a while, I dig up the old smashers from the archives. This way my taste and style is dynamic and keeps evolving. Constantly combining new input and various styles with old favorites keep it exciting for myself and hopefully for others as well.”
This interview with Kiki Toao is originally published on December 11th 2014 on DJMag.nl.
Who is Kiki Toao?
Kiki Toao’s first contact with the decks found place in 1996. Her professional career started with playing for Electronation in 2003 and as a resident for AsitBreaks in former Amsterdam club Amuse in collaboration with Subunited DJ Rombout. From January 2006 until 2008 Kiki Toao organized monthly breakbeat parties at Studio 80 and Pakhuys Wilhelmina with Fragile Breaks collective in Amsterdam.
Kiki Toao is espiritista since 2013, on a shamanic mission. Kiki Toao is a DJ and producer based in Amsterdam, with over 20 years of DJ experience. Together with Rombout Wagenaar she produced a wide range of electronic music. As the founders of The Shamaniac Movement currently they are also working on shamanic sound ceremonies.
Kiki Toao and Rombout met in 2003 as resident DJs for AsItBreaks in Club Amuse (now Sugar Factory) in Amsterdam. Even though they had never met before, they were asked to play back-to-back, which has proven to be a good match ever since. They had both been playing individually since the 90s for several organizations, Rombout played on a regular basis for Subunited in Paradiso and Kiki Toao had just started her professional activities with playing for Electronation in the Melkweg. Both gained a reputation as breakbeat / electro DJs, though they have always played every style available in electronic dance music.
Kiki Toao’s and Rombout’s broad taste and limitless interest for music accounts for adventurous DJ sets. Dark, moody and dirty are the words to define their style with in general, whether it be techno or full-on breakbeat they’re playing.
So far Kiki Toao and Rombout have built quite a career for themselves and gained loads of club experience throughout the years. Other venues and events where they have played are Mazzo, Gashouder, Lowlands, Namasté, Pand 14, Errorkrew, Dance Valley, Club 11, Wicked Jazz Sounds and many others. In collaboration with the ‘Fragile Breaks’ collective they organized monthly parties in Studio 80 and Wilhelmina Pakhuys for more than two years. Plus, after a succesful tour in Thailand in 2009, the first steps to conquer the world have been taken.
More Kiki Toao?
More First Gigs? Check all of them here!
