NYLON - June 2008 - (Page 68) HEY MR. DJ It’s no surprise that music and fashion go together like disco and polyester. So of course when designers––in this case Alexander Wang and Kimora Lee Simmons from BabyPhat— are putting together their runway shows, they want to make sure that the person providing the tunes is on top of their game. Just like a party, the music can make or break the ambiance. Here, two top DJs give us a peek into how they get their tracks straight for fashion’s biggest week. RAJNI LUCIENNE JACQUES EVER WONDER WHO THE MASTERMINDS ARE BEHIND THE MUSIC AT FASHION WEEK’S TOP SHOWS? WELL, WONDER NO MORE. DJ CASSIDY FOR BABYPHAT BY KIMORA LEE SIMMONS What was the first 12-inch you ever bought? Nice ‘N Smooth “Hip Hop Junkies/Sometimes I Rhyme Slow.” Do you still use vinyl or are you up on the tech stuff? I use Serato and I don’t miss the days of carrying crates. What gets you excited for Kimora’s BabyPhat show? Using music to present fashion excites me and Kimora is a trendsetter and risk-taker when it comes to doing that. How many times have you done Kimora’s show? I’ve lost count. At least 10. How far in advance do you work with Kimora for the music of the show? Kimora and I meet about two weeks before the show to brainstorm ideas. The process of shaping the soundtrack doesn’t end until the show begins. After establishing our general theme and concept, the music is constantly fine-tuned to complement the designs, the models, the set, and the lighting. It’s important that I DJ the show live as opposed to preparing a pre-recording. Kimora has a clear vision of how she wants to present her collection and brand. The collection defines the music and vice versa. Do you like collaborating with the designer to create the ambiance for a show? I love it. Most aspects of DJing operate in a dichotomy—the DJ and the crowd. Fashion shows bring a third party into the mix, which makes it a unique experience for me. Have you ever gotten any crazy requests from a designer? One designer asked me to prepare a soundtrack of silence…just kidding. How is DJing for a fashion show different from DJing a party? The goal when DJing a party is to make people have fun. The goal of DJing a fashion show is to make people understand a collection. At a party, I speak with the crowd. At a show, I speak to the crowd. g What’s the most overrated fashion show song? Hmmm. “Fashion” by David Bowie. DJ RUCKUS FOR ALEXANDER WANG How did you get started? I was always inspired by hip-hop culture, but when I saw Jazzy Jeff scratch a record on an episode of Fresh Prince, I was sold. What was the last record you bought? A Donna Summer album. What is your most coveted record? A signed copy of a Supremes album. What gets you excited for an Alexander Wang show? Being part of a production put together by someone my age is exciting. Alex is talented and focused, so it’s easy to be inspired by him and his designs. How many times have you done his show? Only once, but Alex, if you’re reading this… I want to do it again! How far in advance did you work with Alexander to choose the music for the show? We spoke about two months before the show. Alex knows a lot about music and has a clear vision of the sound he wanted. We met a few times so that he could explain his collection and show me the looks. How do you go about choosing what music you’ll play? And is it pre-planned or spontaneous once the models are on the catwalk? It’s planned. It’s usually a confluence of the designers’ preferences and musical tastes merged with the DJs views and technical understanding. It’s always exciting to see what emerges when fashion and music collide. Do you think Alexander’s show would be as good if you weren’t the DJ? Haha! He is a great designer and the clothing speaks for itself, but we came up with a very hot mix that definitely added to the show. I’d like to think I helped make it special. How is DJing for a fashion show different from DJing a party? A show is shorter and tends to have more of a consistent theme. Whenever I do a show, the music is designed to accentuate the clothes, not dominate them. When I play a party, there is a greater focus on maintaining a big energy that will keep the dance floor full. myspace.com /djruckus1 Log on, and turn it up. : myspace.com / djcassidy1 Check out where this sought after DJ is spinning next. : dj cassidy: courtesy of dj cassidy. babyphat runway: courtesy of babyphat. dj ruckus: courtesy of dj ruckus. alexander wang runway: courtesy of alexander wang. ca http://myspace.com/djcassidy1 http://myspace.com/djruckus1
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