Turntable talk

MANILA, Philippines - The DJ rules the club. And it’s about time we celebrate the masters of the dance floor. Thus, we have brought together iconic spin-master Manolet Dario and his protege DJ Euric for a heart-stomping one-on-one that brings optimism to the future of the Philippine club scene.

YOUNG STAR: Mano, you’ve come a long way.

MANOLET DARIO: It was 1979 when my brothers and I used to collect records. When we were in grade school and high school, we spent most of our allowance on vinyl records. We basically graduated from 45 rpm records to 33 1/3 albums. After that, I got tired of just collecting records so I got a couple of cassettes from my cousin from New York and for some reason, that’s what came to my mind — that I want to be a DJ. I bought two turntables and one mixer. I just learned on my own. I just learned how to cue, how to beatmix, then the rest is history.

Warming for the biggest DJs in the world I think is a big thing, knowing that there was no house scene at that time. We were also promoters at the same time. Most of the time, we either just broke even or made a little. It’s not like now when you’re a promoter, you have more chance of earning money. I’m happy that we have people like Euric who basically became DJs because of the music, although there’s not much support from radio (if at all). It’s frustrating from our end. Because in any progressive city in the world, when you walk in a restaurant, you walk in a boutique, a lounge, a club, a bar, what you hear is house music. It basically spells sophistication.

So, you guys have been working together?

DARIO: Do you want the history? Maybe Euric should say it.

DJ EURIC: I started four years ago. A year ago, I deejayed with Mano in Vigan — the most random gig. Then, Izakaya just opened and Mano’s like “Oh, you want to do a night?” I was like, “Cool. I have nothing to do on a Thursday.” I might as well get a few more spins in. We started doing Thursday nights and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang became the best Thursday night ever.

DARIO: I got Euric not just to be a DJ, but I wanted him to be a promoter too because he’s very recognized by the young crowd. He’s doing Fiamma, and now Kyss, and he also have a pull so we won’t have a hard time pulling the crowd. It was just a matter of organizing our night and cementing it.

It’s really a different set-up.

Euric on deejaying: ‘You partner is the crowd. You have to feed them music, you have to feed them energy.’

EURIC: The good thing about Thursday night is that it’s our venue for new music. It’s not like a club where you expect Katy Perry or Flo Rida to come out. I’m not dissing it because I also play it. I love playing that stuff. As DJs, we have our preference, which is our own thing that we want to share for everyone to enjoy.

Manolet’s career has always been interesting.

EURIC: But I want to know how Mano was able to stay on top. Right now, fourth year, I’m already like, “Wow! This is crazy. I need a break.” But Mano’s been doing it for how many years.

DARIO: I know that it’s passion. It’s never about the money. Because if it’s about the money, we would be playing in Ibiza. We would be millionaires, I’m sure, because Filipinos are great DJs... But my calling is here. I’ve been doing this for a long time only because I know what I’m doing. It just happens that DJing here is basically a hand-to-mouth existence. In a way, it’s become my main line, but I have a secondary job...You have to diversify. That’s why I have Izakaya, Reserve and then at Opus, I schedule the DJs that play there because I want them to experience the place. I can’t DJ every Friday. And we’re opening an authentic beer pub, Draft, at The Fort. And I’m sure Euric here will also diversify in the future. In fact, he has a shop.

EURIC: I have a store. It’s called Crazy Eddie’s and Wonder Emporium. When you’re going out, you put everything together.

DARIO: What made you decide to become a DJ?

EURIC: This is a power that you have, which is really addictive — when you see people respond to what you do, That’s one thing people in Manila don’t realize. In a party, the DJ is a very key position. Here, other bars don’t have any respect for DJs. They think DJs are employees they hired to give service. But go anywhere in the world, a DJ is considered a celebrity...But in my case, I decided to stick to deejaying because of my passion for music. The nightlife is special — music, fashion, beautiful people coming together.

DARIO: It’s lifestyle, really.

EURIC: It’s not just a party.

DARIO: Either you get it or you don’t. And it’s all tied together. There’s music, there’s fashion, there’s media.

EURIC: And if the DJ messes up, the party’s gonna die.

DARIO: I’ve always believed that you’re only as good as your last set. I’m sure you are your worst critic too.

EURIC: Mixing for us DJs is an art. That’s how we treat our set. If someone comes up to us and asks for a song, it’s like we’re letting you brush our strokes. I’m not saying we don’t take requests. But more often that not, try to let the DJ take you to that journey. Let him do his job. If he’s a good DJ, he’s gonna leave you wanting more.

DARIO: The way I am in the booth is the way I am outside. So, if I’m a rock star in the booth, I should be a rock star outside. I think reading the crowd is the most important key. You can be the best DJ technically, but if you play the right track at the right time, that’s huge. You know you’ve got them in the palm of your hands even with your eyes closed.

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Shot on location at IZAKAYA, G/F Greenbelt 2, Makati City.