DMC World DJ Championship State Winners

The national final goes down this Friday, 11 September, at Laundry Bar in Melbourne.

SA

Name: DJ Snair

Favourite all time DMC routine: Craze 1999, Dexter 2000, DJ Izoh 2005, Klever 2001.

How long does it take you to put together a set? This year, four months.

Who inspired you to start scratching and juggling? Beats crew.

What've you got up your sleeve that will allow you to walk home from this year's Championship with a golden SL 1200? The strong point of my set this year is my traditional beat juggling.

NSW

Name: Broke

Favourite all time DMC routine: I think it's a tie between Chris Karns (aka DJ Vajra) 2004 US finals practice routine, and Craze's 2000 World DMC win.
How long does it take you to put together a set? The earlier you start preparing, the better. I'd say I started putting together this year's routine about six weeks ago, compiling tracks to use, that sort of thing.
Who inspired you to start scratching and juggling? With scratching, it was all the cuts I used to hear on rap records in the '80s, so I guess it was people like DJ Scratch from EPMD, DJ Cash Money and of course DJ Jazzy Jeff.
With beat juggling, it was watching Rob Swift that helped me really understand it. Then DJs like P-Trix, Craze, Total Eclipse, Slyce, Babu... the list goes on.
What is your pre-show ritual? Just try to relax and make sure you don't forget anything important.
What've you got up your sleeve that will allow you to walk home from this year's Championship with a golden SL 1200? I don't want to give too much away. My approach has always been to try and showcase skill and musicality without too many gimmicks. Hopefully that's enough and I can give that gold plated 1200 a good home.

ACT

Name: Skully

Favourite all time DMC routine: There are too many! Pone (France) was an early inspiration, obviously Dexta has left an indelible mark on turntablism, then there was 2001 with Kentaro and P-money, Swamps’ 1996 USA routine and Japan’s Akakabe is a beast.

How long does it take you to put together a set? I practice and experiment all the time, and then two months out from a DMC I start putting it all together. I’ve got to have it nearly ready by two weeks out so I can practice it a lot, get the timing right and get the tricks neat.

Who inspired you to start scratching and juggling? I remember playing with an old fisher price turntable when I was a kid. My cousin, Han, who was a raver back in the early ‘90s,  had a Technics 1200 and one day he left me alone with it and I practiced all day. Then my mate Matt, who I do Crooked Sound System with, got decks and I had to get some too.

What is your pre-show ritual? Practice early in the morning, eat good food, don’t drink too much, get pumped.

What've you got up your sleeve that will allow you to walk home from this year's Championship with a golden SL 1200? Arms? Seriously, though, I have a lot respect for the other competitors. I have done a lot of practice and preparation and I just hope people enjoy my set.

QLD

Name: Wil.K

Favourite all time DMC routine: Craze 2000 DMC World routine.
How long does it take you to put together a set? I make routines during the year then start piecing the best material together two-three months out to make a set.
What inspired you to start scratching and juggling? Watching videos, DMC and IDA comps, the summit, DJ Q-Bert DIY videos.
What is your pre-show ritual? I keep away from people and listen to music, watch motivational YouTube vids, meditate.
What've you got up your sleeve that will allow you to walk home from this year's Championship with a golden SL 1200? Ticking all the boxes to get the highest possible scores for each category.

WA

Name: Angry Buda (David Tukaki-Johnson)

Favourite all time DMC routine: That would have to be a toss up between Roc Raida DMC 1995 and DJ Craze DMC 2000.
How long does it take you to put together a set? Since I decided to enter two months ago, I spent half of that figuring stuff out, and went through so many tracks. Procrastinated a lot. Lost and found my faith in it. Practiced until my arms got sore. Timed myself the day before the comp, ran out of time halfway through what I had been practicing, spent that night and the day of the comp cutting half of it down. And on the night it came out different and I winged a bit of it.

Who inspired you to start scratching and juggling? I was inspired through watching some friends scratch when I was introduced to the creative world of DMC. After watching the DMC videos, I was intrigued to mess around with music. I love being creative. Turntablism had me at "Hello".

What is your pre-show ritual? Nothing extravagant. I have a couple drinks to loosen up, relax, staying focused. Making sure I’m warm, especially my hands. And strolling around the venue to get a feel the room. 

What've you got up your sleeve that will allow you to walk home from this year's Championship with a golden SL 1200? A formula of something familiar. You'll have to come down to the DMC Finals to find out more. 

VIC

Name: G-Smooth

Favourite all time DMC routine: DJ Noize 1995, IE Merge 2004 and 2005.
How long does it take you to put together a set? It depends, really. Sometimes it can take two weeks to write and two weeks to rehearse.
Who inspired you to start scratching and juggling? DJ Aladdin, DJ Noize, Invisible Skratch Piklz, the list goes on.
What is your pre-show ritual? I train in the dark so when I see them lights go out, I know it's time for some action.
What've you got up your sleeve that will allow you to walk home from this year's Championship with a golden SL 1200? Well I'm rocking 100% vinyl-records just like they did back in the day, followed by six minutes of pure terror.