Malaysian Superstar Dj, Kuma, He's back for the Jungle!

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Just like everyone else he knows, after finishing high school Dj Kuma started working.
He got a job in a holiday resort at the casino as a table games dealer, he had a friend who was a DJ in the resort at that time and became interested in learning how to Dj.
“Even in my high school days I was very interested in music and Djing, so when I got the chance to learn how to dj from my friend, I was super excited and at that time it was like a dream coming true”.
It happened very quickly and that’s how Kuma picked up the trade which then lead him to greater progressions and achievements as a professional DJ.

How did you start as a DJ?
I have been a resident in most of the super clubs in Kuala Lumpur, past and present, and I have played quite a few countries in Southeast Asia such as the Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore.
I’m also the only Malaysian DJ to ever play in IBIZA for three years consecutively for the summers of 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Other european performances were the LAKE DANCE festival in Eindhoven, ADE in Amsterdam, FOLLOWERS festival in France,and touring gigs in Marseille, Berlin and Jordan.

Where have you played and what have been your best gigs?
My best gig was in IBIZA at an after party in the morning on a boat in 2013. The resident host of the party who was one of the residents of Space Ibiza at that time, quoted to me that I played one of the best sets for the whole season at that party, it surely was a rocking and a memorable gig for me.
Also my best sets are always at my number one favorite venue ever in the world, which is the massive JUNGLE EXPERIENCE, it’s in JUNGLE where the best sets are belted out by the best DJs that play there. It’s a very special and magical venue to play.

What kind of music do you play and why?
My style is House and Techno with lots of grooves, and every record that I play is carefully chosen and has a good strong beat and a nice rhythm that makes you wanna dance like nobody's watching!
I put a lot of effort and care into selecting my tunes for the parties that I am going to play.

How did you get involved with Moon Island Records?
My close friend or I could say my best buddy, Rob Gritton started Moon Island Records and he asked me if I was interested in this project, so I said ‘yeah why not’ and that’s how I got involved in Moon Island Records, which is a great thing that has helped placed Koh Phangan on the label scene globally.

Where have you played on Koh Phangan and what do you think of the party scene here?
I just love it when I am visiting the island for gigs, then getting into the moon island studio and creating something from the feeling that we felt the day before or still from feeling the buzz that you get from your gigs. Creating these feelings into reality, that’s how a record is born.

Where do you see yourself and your music in five years?
I never think about where I see myself in five years time as nobody can see into the future, you may be able to have an idea, thinking all will be good, but then it’s just a hope. I would rather create my future from day to day than planning it in advance.

What would you say to other Dj's hoping to play in Asia?
To all other DJs that want to come to Asia, just because you can’t or won’t or ever get a chance to Dj back in your country, firstly you have to have a basic knowledge in djing. Beat matching with EARS is a must NOT with your EYES, secondly please don’t think or make Asia a dumping ground, don’t turn up with a bunch of gadgets from watching youtube and having a dream that your gonna be the next best DJ and make it big in Asia just because you're a foreigner.

It doesn’t work that way at all. In my sixteen years of experience I have seen a ridiculous amount of DJs come and go with that hope in mind.
You definitely have to have it in your heart, you will need to have some sort of talent in yourself.

Any last words to the Phanganist’s?
I would also like to say thank you to Jungle Experience and to all the Djs and teams that have been creating all the amazing underground electronic music parties in Koh Phangan that have been keeping it real all these years, for something that they believe in and for fighting to keep alive the real scene that they believe in, which today makes Koh Phangan the raw Ibiza of Asia in the music and hardcore party scene.

Without these DJs, this scene we have today in Koh Phangan would not have been achieved..
You know who you are...