Anyone who has ever been to an event organized with LGBT people in mind has definitely heard of Chunky’s Phat Beatz, a familiar face in the DJ booth. Al Buhagiar talks to Rachel Agius about labels, Pride and how a young music fan goes on to become one of the most popular DJs on the island.
You have been a DJ and out on the scene for a while now. Overall, how would you describe your experience of being a well-known gay person? Have there been instances when being both has been especially difficult or more of an advantage?
I would like to think that being a homosexual and an openly gay man has not gotten in the way of being a relatively successful DJ, but since the gay scene is where I started playing, then the two kinda go together. Being a semi-permanent fixture on the gay scene (I hate to use the term ‘well-known’, it’s so hedonistic) has of course helped me get to where I wanted to, in DJing terms. Having been on the scene since the very young age of 15, I have experienced many aspects of the local gay scene. Both when it was flourishing with various clubs, bars and monthly events to sadder times when there was not a single club/venue and/or party promoter. One would go to a party and the music was generally not that good. Having worked behind the bar at Lady Godiva has gotten me more directly in touch with music as it was then played by one of my mentors, DJ Pierre who now lives in London. I guess that is where it really happened for me. I would go up to Pierre and repeatedly ask him to play certain tracks and ask him name of others. Now, this is way before we had smart phones when all you need to do is launch Shazam or Soundhound et voila’, its right there on your screen. Whether being recognizable has helped me get or lose gigs, I am not sure I can answer. All I know is that I would like to think that people hire me purely for my music style and my ability to keep a party going. And for that reason I have a residency at a very prominent straight venue and another residency with the best and most important LGBT party promoters on the island.
There is such a range of identities out there - bear, cub, otter, silver fox and others - some people, especially the straight folk, find it difficult to understand them. What do you, personally, identify as and what does that mean to you? Any comments on the local scene in this respect?
Oh honey, the list of categories is endless! The whole categorizing or labeling thing is a contradiction and I believe goes against everything that organizations like the MGRM are fighting for. I mean, we are already marginalized by society at large. Why do we have to create further subgroups within an already existing subculture and go and call ourselves all sorts of animal names under the sun? I mean, I used to identify with the bear scene back in the 90’s mostly because the scene there was a more adult one and less fashionista. Nowadays, I don’t even qualify as a bear as I do not have the right amount of fat vis-à-vis muscle, body and facial hair and checked shirts in my wardrobe. If there’s going to be a category I need to put myself in to be accepted, then I want to be with the fat & hairy twinks. As for straight folks understanding the subcategories, well, I say let them be confused. Ignorance is indeed bliss!
Your work as a DJ involves constant creativity, meeting new people and evolving along with the changing face of music. Has your sexuality contributed to your work in any way?
I feel that being gay does give you a different sensibility in the way you see, perceive, digest and process things, music being one of those things. I mean, I remember playing a track to another (straight) DJ friend of mine last year. I was over the moon with the find going into each and every detail of the kick, the bass, the snare, the peak, the break, the vocals, the highs He just looked at me as said: Man, that’s one nasty track; it won’t work! True to form, I took it with me to play at the End of Summer party and once I dropped it I had everyone’s hands up in the air, singing along to the tune and generally creating a euphoric buzz that only happens once every so often. So, I guess yeah, being a gay DJ does give you that advantage especially when playing for an LGBT crowd. Generally speaking my crowd likes to hear a sophisticated beat full of disco, funk and big vocals. Those big vocal tracks are what separate me from the other DJs. Of course, on the night of an event I do my homework and once I’m on the decks Chunky takes over and the music becomes my Phat Beatz. I always tell this to others: it is not what a DJ plays, but how they are played and in which sequence. The DJ must know his crowd and in return, the crowd appreciates that.
Gay Pride is a big deal worldwide but a relatively small affair locally. Some people have wondered whether it makes any difference to the situation in Malta and whether it is worth having at all. What’s your stand on the celebration locally?
This is such a delicate subject in which I really wouldn’t want to get into. If and when I am in Malta I always try to attend to the Pride March as I feel this is the least I could do in return for the hard work that the MGRM are continuously doing. Does it make a difference? I’m sure it does stir some waters. Lately we have been hearing about the introduction of Same Sex Partnership under the current legislation. I am sure that no political party one day thought: Oh, let’s have all the LGBT Community married! The discussion in parliament alone is the fruit of the labour of such pride marches and activism. So, as I said, without going into much detail, yes the Pride March, be it a small or large affair, is an important one and therefore should be supported by more people from within the LGBT Community.
by - Rachel Agius - eweandme.blogspot.com
illustration by Nadine Noko
