Fridae

Anthony Sandstrom aka DJ Antwone, who is set to melt the floor at Slurp on Sunday, April 11 at Zouk (Singapore), speaks with Sylvia Tan about how he got into DJing, his well-known nude pics in Grace mag 10 years ago and if he would strip for the camera again.

æ: You started your DJing career in the mid 90's by playing at underground raves in Vancouver, Canada. How did you get into that?

DJ antwone: Well I used party with this amazing group of friends, some were DJs, and so I learned from them. Then collectively we started organising parties ourselves through the name "TLC Productions," got my feet wet in DJing from the urge of wanting to put something back into the party/rave community.

æ: What other stuff did you do before relocating to Bangkok?

DJ antwone: I used to race professional motor cross for years, been riding dirt bikes since I was five years old. I was working for a long time at this crummy union type job, then took a buyout severance package and quit. Yahooo!! Broke both my ankles racing,
healed up, and then enrolled in a 2-year multimedia/web design school, then decided to move to Thailand.

æ: What motivated you to move to Bangkok in 2001?

DJ antwone: I'd the opportunity to work with a friend (DJ Jnr) on an online DJ music website, which unfortunately didn't get going. Plus I wanted to explore what it was like to live in another country for a while, as I didn't want to live on the same street all my life.

æ: A number of our readers are curious to know more about your heritage and if you connect with Bangkok or Hong Kong - where you had a 6-week residency tour at Homebase in 2002 - in any particular way?

DJ antwone: Basically, I'm half north American native Indian (mother's side), and half Norwegian (father). I've been to Thailand more than 20 times now, spent probably four years of my life here, off and on. I definitely feel home in Thailand and the wicked beaches help that out a lot, but I have to say it was absolute pleasure to hang out in HK, and I do miss the conveniences of HK and it's infrastructure.

æ: We recently saw you in the Singapore edition of Men's Health (March 04 issue) and some people had written to Fridae saying that they saw you in Grace mag looking very 'hot.' What's the story and how did you get into it?

DJ antwone: I was very fortunate to work with Men's Health while I was in Singapore, and pleased they gave me the cover. The Grace mag was 10 years ago. That's along time ago, I'm surprised people can even recognise me then. Back then there where quite a lot of stars in Thailand doing these mags.

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æ: Other Grace mag, have you modelled for other magazines and is modelling still something you do?

DJ antwone: Grace was a one-time deal, and won't be doing it again. Once in a while when a client is crazy enough to hire me, I'll do a TV commercial or some adverts. I still enjoy modelling, but basically it's what I call 'gift from the gods' money, and any job I get goes in to my piggy bank.

æ: Any interesting anecdotes when people come up to you and say that they recognise you from the mag?

DJ antwone: Oh ya, ha ha, there had been some funny ones. One guy from Taiwan said I was a bigger gay icon then "Madonna"� I don't know what he was on, but either way it was a very nice compliment. He was very respectful and I appreciate that.

æ: Do you have a girlfriend and what do you do outside of the DJ scene?

DJ antwone: I am seeing a nice girl from Hawaii at the moment. Other than some modelling here and there, I do a bit of web design work. For relaxing, I love hanging out on the islands of Thailand. I've also just started learning to kite board, woooh that's a blast.

æ: What can the crowd expect at your 3+ hr set at Zouk Club on April 11?

DJ antwone: I'm very excited to play at Zouk, I'm gonna hit the crowd, with some pumped up funky tribal beatz. I'll mix it up with some funky tough disco, solid tribal, breakz, to some progressive. It's gonna be a funk'd up night, something for everyone.

æ: What is the favourite track that you play?

DJ antwone: I have a few favourites I'll whip out for sure on April 11. But lately I have a few awesome tracks i really dig 1: 'ticket to ride' 2: 'motor' (Jose Boquerones).

æ: Do you typically plan your set or play to the crowds reaction?

DJ antwone: Mostly I'll just play off the crowd's reaction. In my head, I'll be planning a set that will have a flow and direction for the night. You can't really plan out a full 3-hour set, record by record. Sometimes I may play a hand full of records in a series that go well together and lead the crowd to where I want to go.

æ: According to your web site, you had just finished producing a funky new track "Fantasy Female" with Groovalax records, on sale now on the Voo Doo records "Bkk DJs" CD House compilation. What are your plans after this? Doing more production work or any residencies coming up?

DJ antwone: Yes, I'm very eager to get into more production work. I have all these tweaky noises and bass lines 'talking to me' in my sleep. I need to record them so I can finally get some rest. I have started up a residency at the new "mystique" club in Bangkok, and will be promoting the sexy 'sindustry' night every Thursday. Will be sweet!! Thanks for the chat. See you Sunday, April 11, at Zouk!

Fridae presents Squirt featuring upcoming local DJ George, and Los Angeles-based DJ Kiokio at Palawan Beach, Sentosa and a small private island off the beach on Saturday, April 10; and Slurp featuring DJ Antwone at Zouk club (Singapore) on Sunday, April 10.