Toy Selectah at The Big Chill Bar
March 13th, 2008 by sparky
After a blistering set at The Big Chill 2008, we were itching to get Mexico’s DJ Toy Selectah back in the UK to play for us again, and on Saturday November 1st he rocked the block at The Big Chill Bar, alongside Bar regular Flevans.
We caught up with Toy ahead before he jetted off to his next gig in Mexico City, to find out what’s on his mind…
Who are you?
Im Toy Selectah, a mexican DJ and Producer that’s been doing this DJ thing for more than 13 years.
What have you been working on lately?
I been preparing and finishing tracks for my MAD DECENT solo Debut as TOY SELECTAH, we are going to release a 12” during november, and then an EP by march 2009.
Also doing lots of Remixes and gigs,
We just officially Remix NORTEC COLLECTIVE for Because Records, Remix Calle 13 new single for SONY, producing some mexican MC’S as SEKRETO, Niña Dioz, Milkman and Morenuto de Fuego, and blogging and making djs sets…
What are your current top 5 tunes?
Lollipop (DJ Stuart Cumbia Remix) – Lil Wayne
SHOVE IT (Toy Selectah Remix) – Santogold
La Pollera Sonidera – Sonidero Nacional
Sonidero Compay – Toy Selectah feat. DJ Blass and Sonidero Nacional
Township Funk – DJ Mujava
And your all-time top 5 tunes?
Get Get Down – Paul Jonhson
Insane In The Brain – Cypress Hill
What Is Life – Black Uhuru
I Am The Warlus – The Beatles
Martha la Reina – Any of the versions
Who or what inspired you to start DJing?
Music by Itself, maybe 15 years ago, Rap videos and Rap DJs like Jam Master Jay or Eric B, then after my hip hop band, probably Fat Boy Slim, Chemical Brothers, inspired me to take the DJ thing as priority, but now definitely what inspire me more is looking the girls and kids dance and scream….
If you could DJ back to back with another DJ (living or dead) who would it be, and why?
Definitely I would like to play back to back with all around the world people and friends, actually some of them I already DJed back to back…
But again Norman Cook, cause I felt I came from the same type of breaks and beats background, not just one school or genre, I got nothing than respect for the UK ones like Switch, Sinden, Fake Blood. I already did some back to back with my homie Diplo, but I’m really into global ghetto tech thing, so a combination of a gig with like DJ Assault, Scottie B, DJ Mujava, DJ Znobia and the Buraka Som Sistema or Igor and Mixhell would be great…
What’s been your best DJing experience?
I’ve been working really hard around Mexico, mainly Mexico City, I really like that kidz want cutting edge and the new school electro that I can take them to, but at the end of the set they want the Cumbia and Carribean Remixes, versions and Refixes for what I’m known, they ask, request and enjoy all of it…
I really enjoyed also my Europe gigs, but let’s say that Europe is just starting, to mention one, BARCELONA sala Apolo, with 2000 either South Americans or Global Music and Mestizo lovers screaming and dancing on a Wednesday night are so cool…
Argentina gigs or Colombia gigs is where I feel proud to make people happy and show how can we connect with whats going on around the world without forgetting where and who we are…
And your worst?
probably corporate gigs or not so open crowds, think about a gig where you are spinning some Baltimore Remix of a hip hop hit, with all kidz screaming and dancing and somebody in his 30s something almost 40 came to the booth and tell you “CAN YOU PLAY SOMETHING MORE DANCEBLE?”
WHAT THA F$@K!!!!
Progressive House, Psycho Trance and Minimal Tech, left people with a damage in their heads and ears…!!
Where’s the best place you’ve DJ’d?
It’s between LA, UK or Barcelona.
Describe your ideal evening chilling at home…
Never chilling at evening time at home, evening definitely is the best time to be in the studio doing beats or diggin…
Where is your favourite place?
In between studio or the beach.
What are you reading these days?
I’m definitely a Magazine guy, but I never stop reading my favorites Editorials at Monterrey or Mexico City News Papers.
Books wise, I’m into politics and social stuff, I really like a Mexican Journalist called Julio Sherer García, or Miguel Angel Granados Chapa, with these 2 guys you will know exactly what is really happening in México, political and social wise.
Who would play you in the movie of your life?
A jedi master, sorcerer or Mexican guru.
Highlight of your life so far?
Being in the Mexican hip-hop band that takes over the waves late 90′s.
Then being a father of my 2 crazy daughters already doing music.
What would most like to achieve over the next five years?
A succesful worldwide Dj career, releasing music around this GLOBAL GHETTO TECH movement.
I really believe that the music of the future will be that combination of all type of GLOBAL RYTHMS.
At a festival – tent, B&B, or hotel for you, and why?
Hotel , but could be next day after the festival, cause i could live with out a place for one entire night, get to party today and rest till tomorrow…
What was your best Big Chill moment?
Definitely Mexican flags waving around.
Describe the essence of The Big Chill in a few words…
Coolness, good taste, great places, open to entire families, the real chill.
When are you next performing?
Tomorrow – Mexico city!
Where can we find you online?
and also at my Facebook fan page.
Is there anything else we should know?
I got a band that is really great live called SONIDERO NACIONAL that is also a production crew.
Check it out:
www.myspace.com/sonideronacional
And I’m good for business and PR here in Mexico, so if you got something in mind for this territories you better contact me.
Toy Selecta – Biography
The mix-master wizard for Monterrey’s Hip Hop en Español Pioneers Control Machete, created a whole new hybrid by mixing mexican soundscapes with contemporary urban riddims.
As a Music Producer and Remixer, Toy Hernández has been working with a long list of artist, bands and comtemporary music friends as:
Blanquito Man, Calle 13, Diplo, Thievery Corporation, She’s a Tease, Up Bustle and Out, Ocote Soul Sounds, Federico Aubele, Sonidero Nacional, Grupo Fantasma, Miranda, Gustavo Cerati, Locos Por Juana, Ely Guerra, Cabas, Juanes, Notch, Alejandro Sanz, Shakira, Julieta Venegas, Gallego, Don Omar, Celso Piña, Kinky, Zurdok, Café Tacvba, Molotov, Manu Chao, Eminem, Cypress Hill, La Tremenda Korte, El Gran Silencio, Hakim, Plastilina Mosh, Sonidero Nacional, Sekreto, Jumbo, Caballeros del Plan G, Wisin y Yandel, Dj Blass, Vicentico, Paulina Rubio, Sargento García, Dante Spinetta, Tatiana, Los Tetas, Octavio Mesa, Malverde, Abusivo, Los Telez, La Comuna, División Minúscula and many others.
Since 2001 Toy’s been working and kickin it with his partners in crime Sacha Triujeque, Gus Montalvo and Milkman Botello conforming the unstoppable Sones del Mexside production crew.
Lately he has been galloping the rural rhythms of Colombian-Mexican Cumbias, hip hop, breakbetas and Reggae creating his own trademark sound, live Soundsystem and Band called Sonidero Nacional
Toy is also a founder member of the Intercontinental Sound Crewm and for the last 7 years he’s been traveling and Dj’ing all around the world as:
TOY SELECTAH!!!
In 2005 Toy Hernández was a key element in the establishment and development of Universal Music Group Urban Latino Label MACHETE MUSIC and the global takeover of Reggaeton and other Latin Urban genres.
He now lives in Monterrey Mexico and resides as Creative Director, A&R as well as CEO of Sones del Mexside his own production company and boutique label.