DJs Make the World Go 'Round - DJ Noah

Noah's a wise man. Read up and let's make "1200+ dancing maniacs" happen again.

Vancouver residencies, past and present

1990 - 2005: Homebass, Friday nights on CiTR 101.9fm 9pm to 12am
1991 - 1995: Noah's Arc, Saturdays at Graceland
1994 - 1995: Rave Alarm, Thursdays at Graceland
1996 - 1997: Rewind, Sundays at Graceland
1997 - 1998: District 1, Mondays at The Stone Temple
2005 - ????: Homebass, Sundays at The Plaza Club

First introduction to music

I'm going to go with my first introduction to DJ-based music. The year was 1987, I was 17 years old and my older brother took me to Graceland on a Thursday night. The DJ was Robert Shea, who at the time was Vancouver's most popular DJ. He held down Thursday nights at Graceland playing acid house, and combined with The Mixtress Debbie Jones on Saturdays at Graceland playing a mix of acid house, new beat and industrial. We were walking in to the club and my brother said, "If you see the police come in, don't run to the bathroom. It's a sure sign to them that you're not supposed to be there". We entered and I was immediately assaulted with pounding acid house from the massive sound system, as well as being visually struck by the film and video loops playing on the walls and giant screens, and by the crowd. So diverse... full of club kids decked out in crazy getups, gay guys, lesbians, trans and other "alternative lifestyle" folks. I'll admit I was a pretty homophobic teenager up to that point, but almost immediately lost that prejudice after that one night at the club. It was amazing! That very night I told my brother (while pointing to the giant triangle window that looked in to the DJ booth) that one day I was going to be up there doing this for these people. Four years later I took over Saturday nights at Graceland and was spinning for 1200+ dancing maniacs each week.

Favourite all time party/set in Vancouver (doesn't necessarily have to be yours)?

The first rave in Vancouver. It was Saturday July 10th, 1991 and was called SinEnergyX-TASY. I had interviewed on Homebass the techno-house band Empathy from Seattle who were performing live that
night. It was held in a huge warehouse off of Main and 2nd. The warehouse was dirty (your nose blew black the next day) but the party was wicked and a sign of what was to come in Vancouver.

Are you happy with the Vancouver scene

I've always spoken my mind about the scene, and about the people in it (making sure to only comment on people or events I knew
personally), and that has rubbed some people the wrong way, but I'm not about to change my ways. The scene in Vancouver, as it is in other cities, is full of cliques. For example, there are pockets of techno DJs and promoters, but instead of collaborating and having one packed club night a week where people can hear quality techno, they each do their own thing. At one point this year there were 3 techno club nights on Thursdays, but none of them drew more than 20 people per night (on average). Get together and that all changes. Suddenly there's a busy techno club night in Vancouver! Having said that, there are many people doing great things for the scene in Vancouver and they far outnumber those who are in it only for the money and/or the drugs.

Why do you reckon the scene is smaller than other cities of Vancouver's size?

There are too many trend followers. The most frequent comment I hear after a new club night has been running for a few weeks (or months) is "Is it busy?" If you need someone to tell you a club night, or
other DJ related event, is good or "busy," then you are doing your part to keep the scene smaller than it could be. Don't be a sheep... go explore for yourself. Vancouver has a lot to offer musically, just get out there and experience it for yourself.

Would you relocate as a DJ?

Yes.

What makes Vancouver the best city EVER?

What doesn't make it the best city ever!?