Kid Koala
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Beats, 3 Turntable Megamixes, Weddings and Doctors...
🕑 Added 2020-04-02 16:49:44 +0000 UTCHi Everyone!
Thanks to everyone who joined us on the Music To Draw To livestream! You can still replay/rewatch it at Crowdcast. I'll be hosting another one this coming Monday here.
On a more uptempo note, here's a stream (plus hi res download) of the 3 turntable megamix I did for Floor Kids. It's 18 minutes of uptempo breaks, beats, scratches from the Floor Kids OST. I'm calling this one Side A as I will be doing more instalments of these for you in the future. Perfect for your indoor workouts, sit-ups push-ups regimen, or if you need some motivational music to clean your house to!
This one is dedicated to my patron and friend Dr. Alok Patel. Or as I like to call him, B-boy A-Lok! He's a doctor currently on the front lines fighting this pandemic in his city every day. Shoutout to everyone out there helping to keep us safe, healthy and fed during this crazy time.
Funny story about how we met. A few years ago, my manager got a call saying there was a request for me to play a wedding in California. Now, I don't normally play at weddings... Too much pressure... I mean, people plan those things for months or even years in advance! Plus I was still traumatized from the only other wedding I'd ever played (years before Alok's) where the dance floor was empty for 3 hours, and it was super awkward until I realized that everyone over 40 at that particular wedding just wanted to hear tango music? I kept getting requests to play tango but I just looked through my record bag with that sinking feeling and had to shrug my shoulders and apologize. I mean, just so many people storming away from the DJ booth and then giving me the cut eye from their banquet tables. One lady even said "You're ruining the most important day of my niece's life!" To be fair, her niece was an old college friend who liked Indie Rock and P-Funk so that's what I brought. I was finally able to save the night when I borrowed a CD discman, sent someone to Radio Shack to get an AUX cable and one of the uncles brought in a tango CD from his car! So it did end well despite being kinda stressful for a few hours.
Fast forward a decade, still scarred from that first "Wedding DJ" experience, I got a message from my manager, Ryhna.
"Eric, there's an offer for you to play a wedding in California."
"Um, I'm so terrible at deejaying weddings, can we respectfully decline?"
She said "Okay. I'll let them know."
A couple days passed and Ry called me again.
"The bride is really insisting you would consider performing at the wedding. She says she plans events for a living and she wants to have a phone call with you to explain her idea."
So I got on a call with Alok's fiancΓ©e, Jenna. She was very amicable and explained how she was a professional event planner. We talked a bit about her plans as I looked through her portfolio on her event website jennalamevents.com. I mean, just look at the gorgeous events on there!
"You know I'm not really a wedding DJ, right? I mean, I have pretty esoteric taste in tracks and I only play vinyl."
"Yes, Alok and I are both familiar with your music and listen to your albums a lot!"
"Uh, for instance, I would never play any of my album tracks at a wedding. It's pretty much 100% the worst music to dance to."
"I think it'll be great!"
"I appreciate the enthusiasm, but have you seen my club DJ sets? I have a very short attention span and I scratch a lot during my club DJ sets."
"Oh yes, we know, we've seen you perform several times and even planned a special trip to Montreal to see your Vinyl Vaudeville show this past summer."
"Okay, so you guys get it, but what about your parents and grandparents and their friends? I just don't want to musically alienate anyone on your BIG NIGHT!"
We agreed that I could play a showcase set in more of an after-party context at a different location from the banquet. They would transport the late night party crowd over to it. I mean, Jenna had this whole thing mapped out in her brilliant mind.
"Just one more thing." she said.
"What's that?"
"Alok doesn't know you're coming to perform... It's going to be a surprise!"
"Woah... what?!"
"Yes, he's going to love it. It's kind of my gift for him!"
So you know how much I like gifting. I mean, this is like a turntable version of jumping out of a cake! This was going to be fun.
As expected, Jenna's event planning skills were top notch. All the preproduction communication was efficient and super professional. All travel, and accommodations, gear rentals were set up perfectly. How she accomplished this while also being THE BRIDE at her own wedding was beyond me!
I flew in the night before the wedding and locked myself in the room. Knowing it was a surprise, I didn't want to accidentally walk by Alok in the hall or see him in the hotel restaurant and ruin the surprise. So I ordered food to my room and just watched tv and drew for about 20 hours...
Then came the day of the event. I shuttled to the after party venue and set up the turntables. I made friends with all the techs and sound engineers there. They were getting regular updates about the wedding.
"Okay... the ceremony just ended, they're taking photos now, okay dinner just started, okay now the speeches are happening... Okay now the late night party-ers are on their way over in the transport." This was a symphonic operation!
"Okay they're here!" I hid behind the stage as the room started filling up with the late night party goers. I looked out from the side of the stage to check out the crowd. I saw the bride and groom and they were just glowing with happiness. Literally just floating... surrounded by all their smiling friends. It was a beautiful sight.
About half an hour later, one of the techs said, "Okay, I'm going to introduce you in 2 minutes and then you can step out."
"And now tonight, we have a special guest all the way from Montreal, please welcome DJ Kid Koala!"
I stepped out from behind the curtain and walked to the turntables.
Alok, ran straight up to the turntables and yelled.
"WHAAAAAAT!!!!! YOU'RE HERE?!! NO WAY!!!!!"
He looked back at Jenna, and the smile they shared could melt a million hearts.
"She's a keeper," I told him and dropped the needle on my first record and proceeded to start cutting it up.
Now I knew they were familiar with my music. But what Jenna had forgotten to mention was that Alok was a SERIOUS hip hop head and had b-boyed all through school. He immediately hit the dance floor and started a break cipher at his own wedding! He started with crazy stylish toprock moves which led into windmills, flares and rad freezes. Literally not giving a crap what it was doing to his very dapper, perfectly pressed wedding attire. The crowd went wild! I felt like I was in a movie! It was just so joyous!
Needless, to say, Jenna and Alok have become some of my favorite people on the planet. Both of them just wonderful beacons of light even in the darkest of times.
As I said earlier, I know he is putting himself in harm's way every day to fight this pandemic. My family and I really appreciate all his efforts.
For those of you who are familiar with the Floor Kids video game soundtrack, you'll know there are samples of kids chanting GO! GO! GO! GO! during parts of the battle tracks. Those were voiced by my daughters. To Alok, and everyone out there on the front lines of this pandemic, I want you to know that with immense gratitude, my whole family are here cheering you on!
Please take care! And I look forward to playing your next b-boy cipher when this is all over.
Stay safe everyone!
Eric
**Alok's instagram is @alokpatelmd and is both super entertaining and medically informative. How does he do that?!
**Jenna's instagram is @jennalamevents and is full of beautiful images from the incredible events she's planned. So much love and inspiring attention to detail on that feed. It makes me miss social gatherings more than ever.
Comments
daniel johnson
As an artist, I'm pretty captivated by the endless cascade muddle of news generally - and in the context of this pandemic, particularly. I've been screenshot-ing about 250-350 headlines each day and lacing them together for a potential performance...all this to say, your story here is what is missing in the larger cultural conversation. Intimacy! Characters! ~ Such a pleasure to read about these two treasures and enter into the personal life of a doctor who is holding the front line in this unfolding tragedy. Much appreciated.
Stephen Nowak
Wonderful way to capture the pre and after wedding story of your 2 dj experiences. I made a mix cd using cooledit for my wedding and the experience was like your first wedding gig except the bride's family wanted classic rock and not salsa. I always wonder if you dj'd weddings. Now I know. Thanks Eric for this moment in history.
Kid Koala
I have an emergency wedding crate with tango music in it now!
Mada
What an incredibly beautiful and rad story!! That is probably the best wedding story Iβve heard, ever. π I hope yer Tango game is tight. π
Kid Koala
Awww shucks, thank you for the kind words. Right back at you! Please stay safe out there in the hospitals, Alok! Such insane times right now. E
Alok Patel
There aren't even words to express my emotions right now - this is honestly of the dopest, most heartfelt messages. Kid K, Eric, you truly are a rare, once-in-a-generation, talent. Not only are you a BEAST at your art but you're also a true human and down to Earth. I was literally jaw-dropped, BLOWN AWAY, that night. Just like you mentioned, I will always recall seeing you open that set and then running up and losing my mind. But what's also important to note: several of my guests also were huge fans of yours and were awestruck. THEN, the others who were less familiar (probably more of that tango crowd), were mesmerized and loved your set. That was easily the most special night of my life and you put a hype cherry on the party sundae. I fondly recall taking Jenna to your set, in Montreal, at the Jazz Festival, 2017, and she literally had a ball. She was like "THIS IS THE MOST ENTERTAINING DJ ON THE PLANET" - I think her fave was the yo gabba gabba remix. Anyway, I'll quit rambling but you're a phenom. I appreciate you, your words, and expect an instastory of me bumping this set at the hospital. ~ Alok
Takeshi Yoshizawa
Thanks for sharing good story. Any video that wedding ; )
Kid Koala
Yes, I was working on music for that game for about 3 years. If you listen closely you can hear their voices start to change from the early levels to the late levels in the game! They grow up so fast!
Kid Koala
Ha! Yes! I have a lot of tango records now if that's what your family digs!
Kid Koala
That night was magic! Hope you're well Amee!
Kid Koala
Hey Melissa, JonJon had already done all the character designs before I met them... Alok needs a character in the next Floor Kids for sure! I'm glad you are enjoying the platform. I'm still learning/figuring it out and seeing what the possibilities are! I see a lot of fun opportunities for events with this community once we're get back on the road. But in the meantime it's really nice to be here connecting with everyone!
Amee Tsai
Awesome story, I love it!!
Melissa Brizuela
Love this story for so many reasons! Oh man, now I want to know, was there a character based on Alok in Floor Kids? The only time I got to play Floor Kids was at your pre-show in Toronto where you had the arcade set up. funny enough it was JonJon who taught me how to play. Thanks for all the stories, music and hope that you share. I feel like I can't thank you enough for all the ways you inspire me.
Erik Bulckens
Maybe I should reconsider marrying, I would know who to call π₯³ Such a great story!
Bruce Young
Man I read your whole wedding story up there .. thanks for sharing that memory with us πππ»!! Iβm sure it was really a fun way to put up your tracks at the wedding !!! And for the vocals of the crowd kids I was wondering if they were recorded or machine made π€― thanks for solving my mystery π€ππ» now I know
Bruce Young
I got the mega mixtape when I downloaded it to my iPhone with the code !! Itβs an awesome mix of all the songs I love it ππ€π»
