Pioneer Digital DJ Battle 2008 @ Zouk

By Ben Liew  •  in Reports
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As the last days of 2008 ticked by, local DJs were dusting decks and synching beats in anticipation of the barrage of DJ competitions that would follow. Alongside JUICE‘s own DJ Quest, Pioneer Digital DJ Battle 2008 is one the country’s most anticipated clashes with prizes worth thousands and fame that you can’t put a price on at stake.

Getting their game on in Zouk were 5 of the freshest names on the block: DJs Gaijin, Jonvu, Paco, DJ Anowl and ET (all of whom with the exception of DJ ET will be familiar to followers of DJ Quest). Helming the scoreboards were Zouk ressie Terence C, veteran DJ and former JUICE DJ Quest champ Victor G, DJ Low from Loops Collective, Peter Wong from Pioneer Singapore and Raymond Lee, Deputy General Manager of Pioneer. Each contestant was given 20 minutes to create sonic whiplash. Marks were based on technique, mastering, originality, musical harmony, transitions, stage presence and crowd response and with a huge LCD screen supporters had full view of the action.

From the get go the fight was fierce. Each contestant had vastly differing styles. Bryan Burger disciple, DJ Gaijin reigned the decks with his cult of personality and affecting blend of deep house, tech house and techno. Another Burger prodigy, Jonvu breathed soul into clubbers with a sound that transcended house and electroklash. A hat trick for Excessive Records DJ school, third Burger pupil, DJ Paco aka BananaRepublik gave the crowd something to cheer about with a blast of house and funky techno. Fresh of his JUICE DJ Quest triumph, DJ Anowl dropped true drum and bass spirit, opening with a ferocious take on the Knight Rider theme. Capping it off was DJ ET who covered all bases with a set that took in everything from funk to electro and tribal house to progressive trance with some Euro and hard dance thrown in for good measure.

It was a tough call given the talent displayed. But when the decks cooled off, it was vindication for DJ Gaijin who emerged as the winner over DJ Quest 2008 champ Anowl and walked away with a Pioneer DJM Mixer, Pioneer Pro DJ Hard Case, 2 units of Pioneer CDJ Players and RM1000 in cold hard cash. DJ ET came in 2nd Runner-up. J

The Pioneer Digital DJ Battle 2008 took place at Zouk’s Mainroom on Friday 12 December 2008. A hearty congratulation to the winners, contestants, supporters and Pioneer for throwing a grand show.

Image Fotoworx