DJ Dimas Exclusive Interview for EDMDroid Asia

1. Please tell us and our readers more about the nightlife in The Philippines right now and mostly in your hometown of IloIlo in times of Covid.

Well, for a start, we haven't picked back up yet. So long as COVID is still existent, non-essential establishments like clubs and bars are going to stay closed for a while. It's kind of sad when you consider that a significant portion of the world has already begun picking up the pieces, but as they say, patience goes a long way. With vaccinations going on as we speak, we'll just have to wait and see how soon things get back to ACTUAL normal.

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2. How long have you been DJing/Producing and what can we expect next from Dimas?

I started producing back in 2011, albeit it was not of a quality I'd probably share with the people nowadays. It was a good start, however, working with FL Studio and just constantly learning stuff to improve the sound quality. I started making dubstep when a few friends of mine from the UK started blasting it on the speakers during webcam sessions, and it was then that I became intrigued enough to pursue making my own music. DJing followed soon enough when I got my first and only controller back in 2012. I played a few minor gigs here and there, but didn't know the first thing about actual mixing, trying to create mashups and playing them in sequential order instead. It was during my time under a digital label based on Colorado, Beats 4 DJS Records, that I got to know more about mixing. The label owner, William Buchanan AKA Yahru El Guru, visited me in the Philippines and decided to teach me how to mix using his controller, which was a Hercules DJ Console RMX. I then got my first official gig at a local club, the biggest club in Iloilo at the time, FLOW Superclub, wherein I tried introducing dubstep and trap to a practically unknowing audience. It was quite a strange experience for them, but that's where it all started for me.

The DIMAS alter ego is currently taking a break from making music, though I do pop it up occasionally on livestreams if I wanted to play more vibey and chill Soulection-style tracks. PVNDVMONIUM, however, is in full swing and is the primary alter ego for music production, so you can expect more melodic dubstep, future bass and heavy drops in the near future.

3. What has been your best and your worst gig experience so far. Be honest please, don't hold back.

My worst gig experience? Hmm... I'd say Waterval 2016 in Iligan. The mere fact that I got flown over there to play alongside some of the top DJs in the Philippines and didn't even get a chance to do the closing set because of crowd control problems made me feel like I wasted my time. Not to mention, some of us still haven't received our payment from that particular gig. We had to chase the organizer around all over the city after the event was shut down just so we could try to claim our talent fee.

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4. If you had to choose, which profession would you be going with? DJ or something else?

I'm currently working as an apprentice trainer for a call center here in Iloilo, still working my way towards progress in getting certified to becoming a full-time trainer. However, if it were entirely up to me, I'd live out my dreams and DJ full time, making a living for myself with gigs all over the country left and right. Heck, I miss going to Manila for the wild and crazy club experience. I still aspire to perform at international gigs to this day, and I've never stopped dreaming about making that happen.

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5. Top 3 tracks at the moment?

At the moment, I'd like to say --- Illenium - Nightlight (PVNDVMONIUM Remix) on Soundcloud, PVNDVMONIUM - Higher & Higher (on Spotify) and a DIMAS remix of The Weeknd's "The Hills" (also on Soundcloud).