Beat Academia: Ministry Of DJs Is Honing The Future With Its School And Virtual Stages
Founded by GemStarr, Ministry of DJs has been nurturing talents since 2013 (Credit: Ministry of DJs)
Even with the ban on mixing for live performances, it doesn’t look like the art of DJ-ing is being lost to the abyss. Whether it’s for a passionate hobby or a curious itch that needs scratched, DJ schools in Singapore like Ministry of DJs (MODJs) have been feeding more and more customers with skills and expertise, spurring on the potential of a future generation of selectors to strike back once gigs reopen.
Paving the way since 2013, MODJs is an institution first conceptualised by GemStarr, a reputable veteran who’s been spinning since the noughties at venues like Dbl O, DXO, Filter, Zirca, and Bang Bang. MODJs has been a resilient chapter in GemStarr’s storied career, one that flows from his desire to teach others. Setting it up with other established instructors, professional equipment and software, and an assortment of lesson plans that range from production to turntablism, GemStarr has built an impressive entity that’s evolved from a service to a platform that builds community.
GemStarr has been a staple of the local DJ circuit since the 2000s (Credit: GemStarr Facebook page)
How so? When the pandemic hit, MODJs elevated the presentation of the live-stream format that was growing in popularity. Using XR Stages (Extended Reality) and green screens, the MODJs team could enhance live DJ sets with captivating visuals, simulating the setting of a full-fledged performance you’d see in a club or festival. This gave participating DJs, both veterans and newcomers, an opportunity to hone their showmanship skills and relish sensations sorely missed.
Another noteworthy thing about these monthly lineups is the genre diversity that it encourages, with sets encompassing trance, hardstyle, hip-hop, house, dancehall, Latin, open-format and even manyao. This inclusive platform has allowed these various subcultures to flourish, while benefitting those who lack the equipment or venue space. If you need an indication of how truly vast Singapore’s DJ pool is across the board, or are keen on discovering new talents from the underground or mainstream, this MODJs initiative could be your go-to channel – you can watch its archive of live sets on their Facebook page.
The pillar of education is firmly rooted in the code of MODJs, whether it’s about educating young kids in DJ-ing 101, or educating the scene on a bigger scale with future superstars you should watch out for. Now, in this interview feature, GemStarr drops more wisdom about how he grew his humble idea into the powerhouse that it is today.
GemStarr doing a live-stream from Gardens by the Bay (Credit: GemStarr Facebook page)
The achievements within your storied career in the local scene are no secret. Can you share some of your milestones?
I stared to learn to DJ back in 2000, when I was frequenting a bar/club called O Bar and Dbl O in Mohammed Sultan. I was always standing beside the DJ console as I was curious about how the DJ transitioned between songs without a pause in between. After that, I became friends with DJ Jeff O, who is still my good buddy today. He explained and taught me the basics of DJ-ing. From then on, I bought my own pair of turntables, the Technics SL1200 MK2, and a small mixer. I started to play at home daily using records; it was a just a mere hobby back then as I was holding a full-time job at a bowling alley. Soon after, I got hired at a few events such as awards nights, dinner and dances, hockey carnivals and so on, on an ad-hoc, part-time basis. During those days, I had to bring my turntables and mixer with me, and transportation was a huge problem as I did not have a trolley. Somehow, it all worked out well.
DJ-ing became a serious business for me in 2008 when I finally resigned from my full-time position as a bowling alley supervisor. I was offered a DJ position at a club called DXO on a contract basis, and I was there for about a year or so. Then, the entertainment manager of Emerald Hill Group, DJ Razaq, asked me if I was interested to join the O Bar and Dbl O DJ team full-time. Of course, I agreed.
In 2009, I became the resident DJ of Dbl O which was one of the top five clubs in Singapore back then. That was when I started to be a performing DJ. Dbl O moved to Queen’s Street in 2011 but ceased their operations in 2013. During that time, Dbl O had a small DJ school called DJ@work ran by DJ P@t (Progressions), and I was one of the instructors there.
After that, I joined a group called The Massive Collective in 2013, and back then they were running the hottest clubs, namely Filter, Mink, Zirca and others. During my stint with them, I helmed all the clubs they were running such as Playhouse, Fenix Room, and Dream. Subsequently, I became a freelance DJ, helming the decks at clubs like Bang Bang, Altimate, Empire, Wan, and Yang till today.
Today, MODJs is a full-scale establishment residing at Claymore Hill (Credit: Ministry of DJs)
How did all this culminate in the eventual founding of Ministry Of DJs?
When Dbl O closed, I decided to start DJ classes on my own. It was called GemStarr Studios back then. I had the equipment, so I was conducting the classes at my home in Jurong West. I was advertising my DJ classes on Facebook and it became very popular. I was teaching daily from 11am to 8.30pm, and there was even a line of people waiting outside my flat for their lessons.
I was approached by my business partner as he was interested in setting up a proper business and expanding GemStarr Studios. In 2014, Ministry of DJs Pte Ltd (MODJs) was established. Our first office was at The Sail at Marina Bay. We were there for two years until we moved to a location beside Paragon and stayed there for another two, and finally moving to our present location at Claymore Hill.
The pandemic has urged many to take up a new hobby – DJ-ing included (Credit: Ministry of DJs)
Has there been a noticeable rise in student sign-ups since the pandemic hit the city?
Yes, there was a sudden surge of sign-ups amidst the pandemic. They were mostly expats and locals who are working from home, as well as those who wanted to pick up a new skill to upgrade themselves.
A screenshot from MODJs’ live-stream series featuring its dazzling XR Stages (Credit: Ministry of DJs)
One unique characteristic about your platform is the digital stage you’ve set up for local DJs to perform live. What kicked off this idea? And was it tedious to do up the whole setup, from the stage to the visuals?
When the pandemic hit, I knew MODJs’ business would take a plunge. Hence, I needed to do something about it and also to future-proof it. That was when I decided to do virtual DJ live streams, a platform for DJs to remain active and relevant, and also to create content for viewers. In this way, we are able to spark viewers’ interests to pick up a new skill or to find out what MODJs is all about.
Currently we are using XR Stages (Extended Reality) for our live-streams which happens every Friday and Saturday from 10.30pm on our Facebook page. As for the setup, all we needed was a U-shaped green screen, as well as cables which are long enough to reach the respective equipment. However, the tedious part was the cabling, as I had to run the wires underneath the carpet by myself. After that, all I needed to do was to configure the OBS software and streaming camera for the broadcasts.
The live-stream series turns no genre away, spanning the gamut of electronic music (Credit: Ministry of DJs)
A lot of your performers tend to play from the more commercial ends of the dance music spectrum. Why do you reckon the institution attracts genres from this sector?
The general public tends to ride on the commercial end of dance music. Furthermore, it is also what most of the DJs want to play to their audiences. Of course, we do also have live-streams that cater to a more underground music taste.
The series has been fascinating for shedding light on the emergence of fresh-faced DJs who delve into these styles. Are you yourself impressed by the quantity from this increasing pool of talent?
Yes, I am impressed. I am very proud that these new faces learnt to play with confidence in front of the camera. I am also glad that they have used the pandemic period to step up their game in the scene.
MODJs promotes both rookies and veterans on its series (Credit: Ministry of DJs)
For some of the newer DJs you have on board, do you also help to groom them professionally? Or did many of them have performing gigs prior to the pandemic?
We have a handful of DJs who had their first gig by streaming online with us. I would always help them by giving them advice and useful pointers, such as how to react to comments, how to interact with people over the mic, and how to have stage presence and showmanship. On the other hand, we also have DJs who are more seasoned, and they are usually the ones who played regularly at clubs prior to the pandemic.
“DJ-ing has indeed become easier compared to last time with the help of technology, but it is not a bad thing.” (Credit: Ministry of DJs)
As a veteran DJ yourself, do you ever feel irked when the public perceives DJ-ing as a craft that ‘anyone can do’ or something that’s reduced to a few pushes of a button?
Yes of course. I have got clients asking me why DJs’ fees are so high, and I have to explain to them that DJs are artistes, and the things we do require talent and loads of practice. Anyone can press play, but not everyone is able to choose the right tracks to resonate with the event and crowd. Most importantly, not everyone is able to engage people and make them dance to your music for a prolonged period of time.
So would you say DJ-ing has become easier, and if so, is that a bad thing?
DJ-ing has indeed become easier compared to last time with the help of technology, but it is not a bad thing. In fact, it has simplified the learning process. I always like to use this analogy with my students. I ask them, “If you have a licence, you can drive a car, but can you drive like an F1 driver? You can kick a ball, but can you kick a ball like Ronaldo?”.
MODJs provides top-of-the-line equipment during its lessons (Credit: Ministry of DJs)
Let’s talk about today’s trends. Why do you think hardstyle has made such an impactful comeback amongst the local youth? And do you see any new or recycled trends surfacing?
The youth tends to catch new trends the fastest. As of now, I feel that hardstyle and hard dance music is in trend, and I foresee that it is only going to be a phase. I have seen music trends in clubs change throughout the years. For example, hip-hop and r&b was huge in the early 2000s till 2009, where EDM music took over, and then it went back to hip-hop and pop in 2016. For now, the trend is the hardstyle type of music.
“ I am very proud that these new faces have learnt to play with confidence in front of the camera.” (Credit: Ministry of DJs)
The government is oblivious when it comes to the wide range of music a DJ can perform; it’s not all about bangers and cake-throwing. How do you feel about this industry blanket ban that doesn’t look like will let up anytime soon?
I feel that DJs should still be allowed to play at venues, but of course with measures such as social distancing in place, to ensure we do our part to curb the spread of COVID-19 together. If there can be 250 people at a concert, why can’t there be a group of eight to groove to the music?
My thoughts exactly. Some out there might believe it’s necessary to split the commercial and underground, whereas I personally think it’s all part of one big ecosystem. What are your thoughts on this?
Yes, I feel that it is one big ecosystem. After all, it is still music, and music is something you can groove and dance to. It is an international language. At the end of the day, it is still up to one’s personal preference. For example at music festivals, some DJs incorporate some underground music in their sets as well. We used to have themed nights at clubs where the DJs played strictly to the music policy of the night, but now in this era, DJs play a more open-format set to cater to the likes of the club audiences.
MODJs, like many others in the music scene, is doing its best to keep spirits alive (Credit: Ministry of DJs)
And lastly, with your wisdom in the industry, do you think the scene can get out of this mess eventually? And what role would you like Ministry of DJs to have in this arduous recovery?
In time to come, I believe that things will go back to normal. During this pandemic, we have seen numerous nightspots being forced to shut down. In the journey to recovery, we aim to be the bridge for event and DJs’ needs so that we can accelerate the recovery process by supplying quality acts to attract customers back to events and the club scene.
Ministry of DJs, 6 Claymore Hill, Singapore 22951, +65 9748 8811. For more information on its curriculum, visit its official website. You can watch past live-streams from its archive available on its Facebook page.
