Phanganist Speak to DJ Chupis

DJ Chupis, originally from Russia is a vinyl DJ on Koh Phangan. Well-known from his previous success with the One Love bar, Ivan continues to DJ for pleasure spanning a number of genres and skills. Turnatablist and scratcher, Ivan mixes with reggae, dancehall, hip-hop, trip-hop, nu funk and drum ‘n’ bass, never restricting himself but sticking to his one guiding principle of selecting only the very best music.

We catch up with him before his performance at Phanganist Hostel on 27th December 2016….

When we last spoke you’d recently opened One Love bar. What’s changed since then?

Before when I came to Koh Phangan I came to open a bar. One Love bar project is now closed. So, I’m working in another direction and sometimes make parties in other places.

Tell us more…

DJ-ing it’s not one of the ways I make money so it’s just for the soul. It helps me to be with myself and stay in my style. I don’t depend on it. So I play on for the audience who like me. I will never play any track I will not dance to or enjoy.

There are just a few DJ’s I like. I like to see them put soul into it.

When did you first start Dj-ing with vinyl?

I’m not sure. Maybe nearly 9 years or 10 years ago. At the time I started to learn about DJing and I was lucky to work in a DJ shop and they asked me to start a DJ school over there.

That sounds great! When was it that you began mixing with vinyl?

In one of their equipment stores I saw that they had turntables which were always standing in one place and no one ever touched them. I asked them what price they would sell for and they made an incredibly low price. So I bought two turntables for $400.

Then, I have no choice I have to buy records.

I love to work with vinyl. I love to search for it, to find the pearls. Every vinyl record I own there is at least one amazing track on it. I wouldn’t spend money on normal tracks. Only the greatest.

So, did you bring the turntable and the vinyls over to Thailand!?

Yeah! That was actually the most part of my luggage. Before I come I sell everything, warm clothes, computers. The most part of my collection, I get already here.

Where do you buy your records on Koh Phangan?

There are no places on KPG, I order online. I can check twenty times a day.

Why do I need to have okay records? Only awesome.

What’s your style?

I play different genres, I play drum ‘n’ bass, but also reggae, funk, old school and new funk, hip hop.. mostly chill hop... old school and trip hop.

Like in life, I don’t like to be in one style. One of my basic principles is that I like to buy songs that people mostly don’t know and have never heard before but which they really enjoy it. They’re surprised in every track. That’s the main thing about DJing. Find the best and show it to the people.

So where on the island can people see you DJ?

Very different places. Every time it’s different. Just find my page - DJ Chupis - on FB.

There’s also some video promo and other stuff on there.  I’m a scratcher so now I’m mostly practicing about scratching since I discover it. It’s like another language. It has meaning but it is hard to describe this meaning with words. It’s a musical instrument of it’s own.

You can play with the basic sound, with different melodies, saxophones, pianos, whatever you can find, and make your patterns, make your style.

Where did the DJ name come from?

Easy. It’s my second name. Officially. On my passport. It sound’s like a nickname, I don’t have to change anything.

Brilliant. So, the next party you’re playing is in Phanganist Hostel on 27th Dec?

Yeah. It will be my birthday. The first part will be chill. That will be the second part of my birthday where I want it to be massive…..

What can people expect?

Cool drum and bass and other broken beats. I would say no commercial for sure. Will be intelligent from soft intelligent drum ‘n’ bass from liquid to ragga jungle to hard beats.

On this night I’m gunna play the more massive drum and bass, like Snake DJ. The other DJ’s will warm up and then I will go.

We’re looking forward to it.

Any words for the aspiring DJ’s out there reading this?

I want DJ’s to become much more critical of the music they select, to select only good tracks and play only the best one.

Another thing, when I am playing, I always dance and enjoy with the music I am playing.

That is how I show people how to move, I give the energy to them. I see some DJ’s standing and concentrating. You need to enjoy for other people to enjoy. But, it’s automatic if you select only the best tracks, you will be in the mood because you love it so much.

My last advice is to look more widely. Don’t become for example a ‘techno DJ’. or ‘reggae DJ’. Try different formats. There will be other styles that suit you too.

I want everybody to DJ and have their own style. So that when I hear their set I can say “this is DJ…..”

What’s your DJ philosophy?....

No rules. Make your own rules. If it sounds cool it doesn’t matter how you do it!

Thanks so much for coming in, it was a pleasure to see you.

Yeah, thank you. See all your drum and bass lovers on 27th December.

DJ Chubis will be on from around 11 pm on 27th DECEMBER 2016 at Phanganist Hostel mixing drum ‘n’ bass and more...