Well, no need to have an enormous knowledge of the US house diaspora
when saying that Miami has never been that active in terms of contemporary music
production, apart from what is known as Miami Bass and those controverted hip
hop experiences of triple X-rated 2 Live Crew. Hopefully, the situation
has changed a bit along those last months with the contributions of people such
as Pierre Zonzon with his SFP label, the promoters of Aquabooty
and their residents (incl. Djinji Brown) and Ron D*8*Lim with his
numerous residencies in the city and a whole bunch of events that he has set up
during this week. Those words are his.
Would you
mind having a few words as an introduction to where you're coming from, who you
are and where you intend to go.
Well, it’s quite a long story.
To make this short,
I was born in
NAJU in year 1963, from a
Korean Mother, and a Jamaican-Afro American Father. In 1966, I was selected from
the National TV to sing Christmas Carols… Back then I was 3 years old and it was
my very first TV- experience in Seoul South Korea,
it was an After-war Support-Program conducted by the World-help
program of Korea. (Red Cross and others).This experience guided me until today,
to do what I'm doing.
In 1969, I was adopted by a Swiss family and lived there for
almost 23 years ! I worked for various PR agencies and as a fashion model back
in the days. DJwise, I started in 1977. As for what concerns me nowadays, I’ve
aunched Power Of Love Records in 1993, in Switzerland then, after more than 2
years of back and forth to Europe I finally relocated 1995 in New York City, to
expand it on a global level… Since 1995 Power Of Love Productions has been
growing and involved not only in the Music, but also in the Art, Fashion and
Club industry. Where I intend to go ?
Funny, this will be interesting to answer...
I guess I will soon go to the bush and
playing just for the fun of it.
Where to find you.and your current environment
in terms of local scene/nightlife ?
If I go out...Back Door Bambi
Monday @ Crobar... a wild blend of everything btw rock, house, funk, trash and
dubs and whatsoever...But fab people and it’s a long runnin g event presented by
Carmel Orphir and Mikeal Stevens... (wasabi
new event). Grass Funkalicious Tuesday featuring Richard Vasquez (ex Choice
owner and resident worked with Larry Levan and as well as Joey Llanos, or Wasabi
@ Suhisamba).
Wednesday, My Gig " SoulGem" @ Flute featuring
Souldub quartet aka DJ aladdin (Emerge Recordings) and Paolo Albertoni aka
Noghotime/House of soul hosted by Sabina Karlsson (Power Of Love Productions-PR).
Thursdays...hmmm (Funk'fied soon be relaunched). Fridays.... Saturdays, my 1
year Residency @ FLUTE "Sound journey" Sunday ...chillout at the
RALEIGH...soiree feat Richard Vasquez...
Your heroes ?
Heroes?...Peter Pan...Robin Hood...Errr...Calimero... :)
The ones you feel the closest to…
My Children ( Ilan 17/ Eon 5/
O'Ryan Nanaya 21mo) ... :0 and all which stayed connected to mother earth and
the universe !
The way you work and your source of
inspiration ?
Most inspirations are litteraly
poping up...but mostly the universe, or actual day life and scenes,.
Emotions of present past & future experiences,
all that stuff is inspirational...
Your definition of a good piece of
music ?
Where all
elements join each other in a never ending evolution... But of course most
tracks or songs are based on repetitions of phrases... So in that sense, I would
say if harmonies are there and you feel the sincerity of the piece, yes then
it’s a go!
Of a good
nite…
Everybody is
happy and they ask you where you will play next...
The way you'd
like to be looked at…
Simply as Ron
D the guy which lives as a note in this universe, surfing on the sound waves...
Just me
Your best/worst
souvenir
Maan tons of
both... But best would be when Loleatta Holloway called me up to say she was
impressed to find in Japan on her Wardrobe door the Poster of her following
Party that I featured her along Richard Vasquez and Dennis Baker of SoulXpres
for New Years Eve 2002 in Miami-Beach !
In the same time, this very same
event at the event itself to find Loleatta almost hitting my sponsor... Because
he was so drogged that he was giving a lot of bull...t and finally after I got
her paid, I needed to even call the cops, because my sponsor took the limo, and
all the stuff of Loleatta Holloway was in the trunk...
Maaan, sometimes...
Your
perception of the current situation and the things which need to evolve…
Generally I
would say the Dance industry went top 40... Mostly too money oriented producers
and labels as well as Majors have conducted an evolving mass production... So
the underground artist all ethnitcity included had to choose either you survive
or you're sell-out...which in most cases is more complex than that.
I guess we
need to make the mainstream aware that if we wish changes in our life, then we
need to be ready to discover and search. Especially the Club owners, promoters
and media corporations need to be more open to new evolution of existing but as
well as for new upcoming artists. If we stop the creative individuals or
restrict them, then we will actually stop in short our evolution... Because it’s
always been the creative which has influenced the way we dress, what we eating,
where we live, how we live... and so far. So let them express them self as much
as possible ! United, we can achieve any goals...
Your current projects ?
Musicwise...I
finished some tracks so finally I will have my first Dance fullength album "Sounds
Vol 1" on Power Of Love Productions (featuring some re-mixes of Snap "the Power"
as well as new material...live key insert and kickin baselines...). Then as a
counterpart the, I call it *the spiritual-ethno-classical-journey* music wise
cheer Mozart alike piano virtuosis and violin harmonies... this album "Ambient
Evolution Vol 1" will be also on Power Of Love Productions Both are ready to be
shopped ! By WMC’ 05 who knows... Eventwise, I project to go on a national tour
with the "RE-UNION" I'm working on it right now...
The way you
see Miami and what you expect from it
Naturally a
lot of fun...rush... and friends... But otherwise, I hope that all my friends
are still all well and if some project come up then let’s continue the fun !
Any secret
weapon of yours over there ?
Try to get
the special 8 path (pass) by Power Of Love Productions... It
gives you free entrance to over
8 events ! But you must be at least
Monday March 21st 2005 in Miami-Beach FL USA...
Musicwise,
let yourself surprise... Music will do the rest !
Door, be
polite ! Everybody in SOBE (Miami-Beach will be stressed out).
Come rested !
Make a Dayplan List so you know where you go !
Walk, don't
take the cab! You'll see more of your friends !
Your 3 favourite all time songs…
Really hard
to me, by having bought records from my age of 6... So many good songs and
tracks... Hmm, here few of’em : Billy Paul ‘Me And Mrs Jones’, Jane ‘Meadow’ and
Alison Limerick ‘Where Love Lives’ (Sound Factory Mix)
