DJ MARCUS iLL
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DJ Marcus iLL, to use the Aussie vernacular, is an international FULLY SICK DJ. If you know anything about the habits of the uninhabited and inebriated party animal, a creature oftentimes seen lurking around bars, dance floors and arguing with management as to why a party has to end when it is just beginning , then DJ Marcus iLL is the kind of DJ that will commiserate and accommodate your needs. He is not one of those DJ’s that shuts his shop early to go to 7eleven and buy some toast for brekkie, no Mamacita and Poppy, he is the DJ to go to when the places are all shut and there is that 1 special place that is still opening its doors and hearts to the creatures of the night who just don’t want the party to end until they run out of juice.
Thank-you for joining me on PIZAZZ NEWS and sharing your rather unique and absolutely fascinating career choice with us. I am very much excited to interview you Marcus, and yes, I understand that you will not, under any circumstances, be playing any songs from the 80s for me so I won’t ask you to do a WHAM! Re-mix but its ok if you want to send me a sample – no pressure. Enough about me let the interview commence…
Q
What got you thinking, “I have to do this – I want to be a DJ?” When did this happen for you?
A
When I was about 16 years old, I started buying a lot of CDs. And a few times a year we had what we called a “dance” at school. Basically the school would hire a DJ and turn the gym into a club for the students. I thought the DJ’s selection was not very good and eventually my best friend and I proposed the school to hire us. We eventually did other events and house parties. My best friend didn’t pursue it after that but for me it was a passion, so I kept going.
Q
What is the training for a DJ like?
A
Practice – lots of practice. In today’s world you can watch tutorials on YouTube and understand the fundamentals, or go to a DJ school. I learned on my own, watching others spin. But mostly you learn by doing.
Q
What are some personal skills and/or attributes that a person needs if they think they want to be a DJ?
A
Being dedicated, passionate, entrepreneurial, adventurous, having a good ear for the music, being able to read people, being able to deal with drunk people and other characters. It’s one thing if you want to do it as a hobby, but if you want to make a career out of it, persistence and networking are the key to success.
Q
What was your first DJ gig like? Where was it and did it all go according to plan?
A
My first DJ gig was at my High School. My best friend and I started a disco mobile business and like I said earlier, we approached the school and offered our services. Considering we had no experience whatsoever, it went pretty good. A few complained I played too much reggae and not enough freestyle lol. And we had a bit of a problem with the sound system over-heating. But the dance floor was full the whole time, so I call this a success.
Q
Why do many places have multiple DJs?
A
There are many reasons for it: the most obvious is in hope to attract more people. Also, let’s say a club opens at 10pm and closes at 4am, it’s a long time for someone to work without a break so to have an opener and the main DJ, or even another one closing, breaks it down better.
Q
What is your particular music speciality?
A
Progressive House and Techno is what I been playing for years now. I really like the deeper and darker ends. This is the kind of music that really gets to me. I also like music that keeps people dancing so a good driving and energetic beat.
Q
Is DJ’ing a career that allows a person to settle down or are you always on the road travelling from gig to gig?
A
If you are a resident DJ in one club and you’re happy with that and the club luckily stays open for as long as you need an income, in that case, yes you might be able to settle down. But to make a better income, road travelling from gig to gig has more potential. DJing is like being part of a band. Your biggest income comes from touring. Of course there are exceptions, but most likely. I personally love the travelling part of it!
Q
The demand for DJ’s has exponentially increased. Why do you think that has happened?
A
Myself I always preferred a DJ, especially in a club. If a band plays, there’s always some kind of a break between songs. With a DJ it’s non-stop. You start dancing and it ends when the club closes. But I don’t think it’s what made DJs popularity increase so much. It’s probably the industry that ceased the opportunity to make more money. A band has four, five or even more members playing whereas a DJ is most of the time just one person (a few cases two and very few three or more). Also the space that a DJ takes on a stage is much smaller and less instruments are needed. Also DJing is quite a recent medium. We’ve had people playing live music for thousands of years. But someone playing actual recordings? So it’s normal that the DJ as a superstar didn’t happen over night. And with that said, I don’t think bands will ever disappear. The DJ is more convenient but it is a different vibe, a different show altogether. There will always be a place for both.
Q
You can proudly say that you are an international DJ – what countries have you played in? Which are your top 3? Where do they party hard the most?
A
I played in Canada, USA, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Philippines and Cambodia. But to name a top 3? Hmmmm. Well I’ll put it this way: Montreal & New York City are amazing because you can just walk anywhere and find a good party. There’s a city near Jakarta called Karawang. I played there twice and they really make me feel like a superstar there!! Here in Phnom Penh it’s very small but the quality of the music is impressive. And myself it’s in Jakarta that I partied the most. There’s always a place you can go to, open a karaoke room and have a DJ play (me hehe) and order booze 24/7. And I’m talking about karaoke rooms big enough to accommodate 50-100 people with a dance floor and DJ booth!
Q
Where are you currently playing? What venue?
A
Right now I live in Phnom Penh. So far I played at DJ Guesthouse & Lounge and Meta House. This city has an amazing potential and I hope to call it my home.
Q
You have lasted in this business a long time – why do you think so many DJs quit earlier in their careers?
A
It’s not for everyone. You are self-employed, there’s no guarantee of a regular income. The working hours are not for most people either. You need a lot of self-discipline too. Many people get into it for the glamour and realize it’s not all that glamorous. Many called – very few chosen.
Q
Do you often collaborate with other DJs and if so – do you battle?
A
I have not yet collaborated with other DJs yet and I’m not a battle DJ. The battle DJs are usually turntablists. I did a back to back with DJ Andy Freak last night at Meta House and it was awesome. Thanks to Sopheak!
Q
How do you protect yourself from losing your hearing? And is that a serious problem among DJs?
A
Honestly, I don’t do anything really. I do read about it though. And last time I went for a check up my hearing was still perfect. Personally I don’t know any DJs who lost their hearing. Or maybe they just don’t talk about it? In places like South East Asia, resident DJs are playing six nights a week. There again, most of the time we work in a DJ booth so the sound is not as loud as on the dance floor. I must admit that after watching It’s All Gone Pete Tong, I got a little scared lol (great movie by the way if you haven’t seen it yet).
Q
Can you share with us at PIZAZZ NEWS two (2) strange/hilarious/exciting real-life stories that happened to you on the job?
A
This one time I was doing a party in a basement and I had a smoke machine. I didn’t think I used it this much but someone called the fire department. I thought it was hilarious. The party kept going when the firemen found out it was our smoke machine. In Jakarta after playing a set, I got kidnapped by a really hot girl. It was a very exciting night. What else can I say? Only in Jakarta lol
Q
Congratulations on An Outsider’s Progressive Journey – can you explain the musical genre it belongs to?
A
Thank you 🙂
It’s Progressive House and Techno. I like songs that are Deep and Dark and this is definitely what I seek for this series. It is what I would play in a perfect world. And the best way to understand what genre it belongs to, download and listen to it.
Q
How can we buy it?
A
It was released by Beat Bias on Beatport Mixes. You can search there for DJ Marcus iLL or simply follow this link:
http://mixes.beatport.com/mix/an-outsiders-progressive-journey-2-mixed-by-dj-marcus-ill/287215
Q
Which musicians/DJs do you find inspiring?
A
John Digweed and Carl Cox. Both are musical geniuses, amazing DJs, their selections are beyond compare, relentlessly performing and releasing records.
Q
Finish the following sentence; If I wasn’t going to be a DJ …..I would be a patient in a mental institute.
Q
What is something we the party animals, or even people in general, don’t understand about the work of DJ’s?
A
I don’t think there’s anything for party animals or anyone to understand anything about DJs. As long as they’re having a good time and partying and keep the dance floor full, I’m happy (I can’t speak for others). And it’s my job to make sure they will enjoy themselves, not the other way around. To rephrase what an acting teacher once told us: if the crowd is having a good time it’s because it’s a good crowd. If they’re not having a good time, it’s the DJ’s fault.
DJ MARCUS iLL, it has been such a pleasure to have you on PIZAZZ NEWS and we will keep playing your new album, and we will keep our ears open for your new work and no doubt we at PIZAZZ NEWS will get our butts on a seat and travel overseas to catch one of your shows because it all looks so wickedly inviting!
Thank you for having me. I’d love to see you at one of my shows and I hope too to get on a plane and come to your city 😉
http://mixes.beatport.com/mix/an-outsiders-progressive-journey-2-mixed-by-dj-marcus-ill/287215
https://www.facebook.com/DjMarcusiLL
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