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Open Dex - A Winner's Story
As the Open Dex competition rolls into town for 2006 (see below for details), we take a look at last year's competition through the eyes of the eventual winner...Once a month, in the first half of 2005, the decks at The Big Chill Bar were turned into a battleground, as first-time DJs duelled in The Big Chill's Open Dex competiton.
At each heat, entrants were given 20 minutes to impress the crowd and judges with their selection of records and CDs. From first-timers who had never used a mixer before to seamless beatmatching pros, the styles and standard of mixing were varied.
The prize at each heat consisted of a 2-hour slot at a Big Chill Sundae (Sunday at The Big Chill Bar) and entry to the Grand Final. The prize in the final was a DJ slot at The Big Chill festival.
We caught up with The Open Dex Winner 2005...
What's your name?
My name when I'm playing me tunes is Rub-a-Dub but my friends know me as Tim.
Where do you call home?
Where's home ? Wherever I lay my hat!! At present Kentish Town.
What inspired you to enter Open Dex?
My friends put me up for it by telling me I had some wicked tunes.
How did you find the heats and final at the bar?
Having never played in public before it was extremely nerveracking and exciting emotionally. It required a few mojitos to calm the nerves! The crew and bar staff and the people who came along all made it such an experience, and the bar is a great place to play.
What music do you play?
I play 70s 7" of Jamaican covers and versions.
How did you feel when you won?
Gobsmacked, surprised and quietly chuffed I must admit. I felt I was surrounded by talented people with great tunes doing perfect mixing. It was a dream come true for me to be up there playing music.
What was it like playing at the festival?
Totally amazing... on that bandstand kinda stage at the Finlandia bar with nowhere to hide! It was brill pumping out me tunes, on the best PA I've heard.
Have you played anywhere else since?
Yes. A couple of times at the Big Chill Bar which is always a pleasure, but Open Dex gave me the confidence to get out there! I've got a Saturday evening slot at Bar Vinyl in Camden Town, and on Sunday a bar in Bethnal Green is doing open dex so I'm giving that a go too.
Have you got any tips for aspiring Open Dex DJs?
Believe in your tunes, don't worry, go for it and above all have fun!!!
You've got one record to play in a DJ battle. What record do you play and why?
This has to be the hardest question because it so depends on circumstances and all that... so after much deliberation... it has to be a Studio 1 Coxson tune by the Sound Dimension, who were made up of the Who's Who of Jamaican popular music at the time. Led by Jackie Mittoo, members included Ernist Ranglin, Tommy McCook, and Sly and Robbie to name a few. It's called Real Rock, you may not know the title but reggae nerds will know the riddims as they have been used by many an artist since. It really rocks!!
Open Dex returned to The Big Chill Bar on Wednesday 18th January 2006, and will run monthly thereafter.
To enter, please email your DJ name, email address, mobile phone number and a description of the style of music you would like to play to opendex@bigchill.net
Written: 1st Jan, 70
Read: 3868 times
