Herald Café: When and how did you
start deejaying?
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Allison Marchon: I got hooked on to this
art form five years ago, when I was 16. Initially, I started off by playing
music for my friends who persuaded me to follow it seriously. I was mentored by
DJ Ryan Nogar who believed in me and taught me the skills for two months. It
has been the most amazing five years of my life and here I am playing the music
I love with all the love and support from my fans. My first big break came when
I won the second place in a DJ poll conducted ahead of a popular annual EDM
festival in Goa. I also used to play at Club Fresh in Candolim, every Saturday,
until it closed operations. But of late, I have been playing at Leopard Valley
in Palolem regularly for the last two years.
HC: Which artists do you look up to for
inspiration?
AM: Guy Gerber, Dixon, John Digweed, Guy J,
Adriatique and the likes. If you watch them play, you would know why I say
that. They use different controllers to perform live and not play pre-recorded
music like many other DJs do. I have a large collection of their tracks and I
listen to a lot of their music. It’s very hypnotic. I make use of their music
when I play at events and keep getting inspired from them. Another DJ that I
look up to is Arjun Vagale. I think he is the only Indian DJ who has made it so
big in the international circuit. He has moved base to New York and has
collaborated with some big names from the industry. He is also the only Indian
to have played at the BPM festival in Mexico. He has brought industrial techno
from outside to India.
HC: Any memorable incident that you
remember while playing at a certain club or event that you’d like to share with
us?
AM: The first time I played at Leopard
Valley two years ago, it was an insane experience. The place, the vibe, the
setup…everything was something that I had never experienced before. The people
who usually come there, do so solely for the music. To see the people dance and
go crazy is a memory that I still cherish.
HC: Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
AM: Giving the audience something new every
time and to be writing the kind of music I love. I have always dreamt of
playing the opening set for Arjun Vagale. Like him, I would love to see myself
play at the BPM festival in Mexico someday.
HC: How do you keep busy these days?
AM: I’ve had the chance to listen to a lot
of new artists who were down for the EDM festivals like Sunburn, Supersonic and
Krank, and checking the SOMA Project Parties too. I will be playing at a few
venues this weekend, and starting off with a new residency at Chronicle in
Vagator later this month.
HC: What’s the next step for you?
AM: I want to contribute to the growing
underground music scene in Goa. For the next three years, I just want to
concentrate on playing at different venues and giving the audience what they
ask for in terms of music. After that, I’ll be in a better position to decide
the course of my career.
