Legendary DJ de Melero spells out his success<\/p>\n
Joseph Mangga, Contributor, Denpasar, Bali<\/p>\n
I first met the lovely Mike and Sadja one evening in early 2000,
\non Jl. Gado Gado, at a shrine the Swedish couple had constructed
\nespecially for the worship of the one powerful \"spirit\" that they
\n\"Absolutely\" trusted above all others. So after serving for over
\na decade on various cruise-ships around the world, the couple
\nmade one final landfall in Bali, and the 'A' Bar was thereby
\nchristened.<\/p>\n
Packed with more Absolut vodka paraphernalia than one could
\npossibly dream was in existence, the 'A' Bar has apparently
\nflourished, for they now have opened the new and much larger 'A'
\nClub Disco in Seminyak.<\/p>\n
I met the legendary Ibiza DJ, Cesar de Melero, at the 'A'
\nClub, the night before his scheduled five-hour set. De Melero is
\npraised as one of the originators of the Balearic sound - an
\neclectic mix of flamenco-flavored house, soul and techno music
\nthat was born on the Spanish isle of Ibiza, and which later
\nfathered the massive UK house-music explosion of 1988-90.
\nMellower versions of the original Balearic sound are probably
\nbest preserved on the Cafi del Mar record series, as well as on
\nde Melero's own Prozak-Track label releases.<\/p>\n
The 41-year old de Melero turned out to be a towering but
\ngentle Spaniard, a classic overgrown man-child with impossibly
\nbushy black eyebrows. It took no more than ten minutes of
\nlistening to his rambling and delightful, mildly-pidgin'ed
\nEnglish to fully fathom that he is a truly compassionate man,
\nwith a heart as big as an ocean. The Jakarta Post had a lively
\ninterview with him.<\/p>\n
Question: What brings you to Bali?<\/p>\n
Answer: In Ibiza, a lot of people talk about Bali, as well as
\nin Europe, always \"Bali! - Bali! - Bali!\" Ok, so maybe I go there
\none day and play some music.<\/p>\n
What does the term \"Balearic\" mean to you?<\/p>\n
It's very easy, I tell you. Balearic is the (Spanish) islands
\nin the Mediterranean: Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera.
\nThese are the Balearic islands.<\/p>\n
(But for) the (English) people who came here in 87' - like
\nPaul Oakenfold, Terry Rambling - they go to Ibiza for the first
\ntime, they all think it is very nice. It was my time, DJ Pippi,
\nAlfredo, Jose Padilla (of Cafi del Mar fame). It was a very good
\ntime for us.<\/p>\n
Then (Oakenfold and Rambling) go (back) to London and start
\nthis \"Balearic music\". But it was not really us, but an English
\n(thing) that happened in 1988. They wanted to do this Balearic
\nattitude - (the) way we played not only house music, but soul,
\nelectronica, many styles. The Balearic attitude was for the DJ to
\nplay all different kinds of music.<\/p>\n
So what's called \"Balearic\" is the English interpretation of
\nwhat you started in Ibiza in the early 80's?<\/p>\n
No one in Ibiza say we are playing Balearic music. This is
\nonly what the English call this music, but not us. In 87', there
\n(were) a lot of people (who) are famous DJ's now. I don't say
\n(these people) \"learned\" (to DJ then), but they go to the cafis
\nand watch us. And this music was very different than in England.
\nIn 87' (it was) the chart black music, not house.<\/p>\n
Now there's (separate) British (dance) parties, French
\nparties, German parties. This is not typical of (the) Balearic
\nattitude. In the beginning we play for everybody. For example in
\nPacha (Ibiza's most famous disco), all these English people come
\njust to hear Paul Oakenfold. They don't really know the (true)
\nBalearic (attitude). Now it is just very big business. It is
\nmaybe dead. I don't know...<\/p>\n
Why were you not in the top 10 DJs last year?<\/p>\n
I was named number one House DJ (by DJ Mag in year 2000). It's
\nimportant for the magazine, (but it's) not really competitive.
\n(They were afraid) people (would) vote me again. Another DJ won
\nbecause I wasn't nominated. The guy from the magazine told me
\nthis. \"If I nominate you, you win again! It's not possible 2
\nyears (straight).\" They stop it.<\/p>\n
Of all the hundreds of nights you've played, which was the
\nmost memorable?<\/p>\n
In the 80's, it was very good in Ibiza, not commercial like it
\nis now, no! I was playing the Ku Club (a legendary club with a
\nswimming pool in the middle of the dance floor). It was a mixture
\nof crazy people and the jet-set, celebrities, hippies... It was
\n84' or 85', (and) I had a dance with Harrison Ford! I (look down)
\nand can't believe it! Harrison Ford!! - dancing to my music!! It
\nwas great, no?<\/p>\n
What about the after-hours chill-out parties?<\/p>\n
(Many) parties in Ibiza were out in the fresh air, not inside
\na club, on the beach. It was very funny with the people almost
\nnaked in the daytime, because people now call it \"after-hours\" -
\nwe (didn't) call it after-hours - just dancing on the beach,
\n(using) umbrellas because the records would get hot and warp in
\nthe sun. The first (time) I do it I didn't know! I look down at
\n(my) record melting and go \"aahhhh!\"<\/p>\n
How did you get started as a DJ?<\/p>\n
I can tell you, at the start, I didn't want to be a DJ. I want
\nto be a musician, I used to play guitar in a band. Then one day -
\nin 82' - somebody say, \"Hey, do want to play DJ in a club?\".
\nFinally I say, \"DJ? Why not?\" So I'm 21 years old making my money
\nas a DJ.<\/p>\n
This was 20 years ago. (That's before and longer) than Paul
\nOakenfold (the world's most famous and successful DJ, according
\nto the Guinness Book of World Records). I always look at Paul -
\nhe's a good friend of mine. He played trance and started this
\nPerfecto Record company. I think (Paul) was not very happy when
\nhe asked me for records (to start DJing) back in 87'. He was
\nworking as a waiter in a bar called \"Project\", while I was
\n(DJing).<\/p>\n
All these people, like the number one DJ in Germany (Paul Van
\nDyk), they (sometimes now) take 2 million pesetas (over
\nUS$10,000) to play one night. A few thousand is OK, but $10,000
\nto $20,000 is too much! But if they think these people can pay
\n(that much), they will still be asking for more! This is the
\nbusiness. Anyway, I am different. My way of life is very much
\n(like a) hippie. My car is small car. My house is small house.
\nI've got very big (i.e. wealthy) friends. I need big friends, but
\nnot (that much money).<\/p>\n
But now (many) people want to be a DJ. People call me, people
\nsend me letters for advice. People for 16 years send letters to
\nmy house, I don't know how they stole my address, to ask me,
\n\"Will I play this club?\" - \"Will I listen to their music?\" -
\n\"You are God!\" I take the good side of this, no?, and say, \"Ok, I
\nam God. . .\"<\/p>\n
I tell you one very funny scene, it was one month ago in
\nValencia, Spain. I go to the toilet, I'm pissing and I hear two
\nguys, \"Ohhh, the DJ is horrible!!\" (huge laughter) And I'm
\npissing, and I look over and say, \"Ok, he is horrible.\" (more
\nlaughter)<\/p>\n
What's the best advice you can pass on to aspiring local
\nIndonesian DJ's?<\/p>\n
That's easy! Always believe in what (you) do. Believe in
\n(your) work. And try and find a lot of different records, but I
\nknow (that's) very difficult here. Believe in what you're doing.
\nTry to be happy always, and don't take a lot of drugs.<\/p>\n
One last question. After 20 years of DJing, is the magic still
\nthere?<\/p>\n
Yes!! Of course! If it's not, when I wake up in the morning
\n(and don't) play the radio or one record, I know it's because I'm
\nsick or something. I play music all the days of my life. Or
\nmaybe one tango, flamenco, whatever - but I always have music!<\/p>\n
And (that) magic, magic moment when you play the communion -
\nwhat I tell you before - when you play, (the) people understand
\nyou. The music is magic, but we need to put it in the (right)
\nway, because sometimes a good record doesn't always work. You
\nneed the crowd, the record, and the moment...!<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/legendary-dj-de-melero-spells-out-his-success-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}