Menu Magazine

MENU meets: David Ding

Menu: Seems like Ding-o-mania has broken out and everyone wants you or wants to be you. How does it feel to be on top of the game?

David: I wouldn’t go that far, but I do feel very privileged. It has been a goal and dream of mine for a very long time and I’m absolutely loving it!

Menu: You started playing in 2005. What made you realise that you wanted to be a DJ?

David: I was making music before I started DJing and when you write music for the dance floor, it is inevitable that you will want to play out. I am now completely hooked on DJing as well.

Menu: How would you describe your style?

David: I sum it up these days as Hard Euphoria -Music that makes you want to dance your arse off and makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. That said I’m experimenting with different music and try to incorporate elements from stuff I love.

Menu: What do you see as your biggest achievement to date?

David: Being a DJ for me is not about the achievements, it is about the experiences. My most memorable one was playing B2B with two of my best mates and biggest influences; RP (Richard Penny) and Daniel Ro at ‘Chemistry White’ to a crowd and atmosphere that was indescribable. The three of us all agreed we could have hung up our headphones that night and retired happy men. On paper my biggest achievement was one of my tracks “Losing Control” (Ballistik) receiving airplay on ‘BBC Radio 1’ in the UK but by far my proudest moment was when Kiwi Producer Sheldon Ives reached no1 in the Hard Dance charts with his track “Only Girl” (Ballistik ). Kiwi music for the win!

Menu: How do you see the NZ dance scene developing?

David: It’s alive and well in pockets of the country. Clubbers DJ’s and promoters are one big community and communicate well. In my view the future is in smaller regular events at intimate venues with a few massive events a year the likes of ‘Stereodays’ and ‘Bezerk’ that attract clubbers from all over the country and even Australia.

Menu: ‘Ballistik Recordings’ has gone from one success to another. Now tell us about ‘Dubble Deeze’.

David: ‘Dubble Deeze’ is in fact an online audio engineering and electronic music production company. Three labels fall under the ‘Dubble Deeze’ banner: ‘Ballistik Recordings’, ‘Dubble Deeze Recordings’ and ‘Meltdown Records’ which is Maniks (Andrew Cullen) label that I manage for him. ‘Dubble Deeze Recordings’ is set up to help develop talent across all genres both locally and internationally.

Menu: So, let us in on the secret – who are NZ’s future superstars?

David: The future of the scene is in great hands with DJ’s such as ‘Miro’, ‘Grimm’, ‘Remarc’, Ryan Matthews, ‘Sambo’, ‘Strike’, ‘Luke H’, ‘Connected’ (UK), Luke Cabrol, ‘Malden’, ‘Mrs Fish’ to name but a few. The most exciting prospect for me being ‘Gainzy’ aka Jess Gaines. Producer-wise I would have to say ‘Luke H’ (Luke Hammington) from Wellington. He is writing world class Kiwi style Hard Trance.

Menu: And tell us about ‘Snow Rave ’. What to expect and who is involved in this?

David: ‘Snow Rave’ is an event I am running in Queenstown on the 6th August and thanks to sponsors like ‘Stargate’ it will be something truly spectacular. We’ve got most of my favourite DJ’s across a multitude of genres playing at Queenstown’s top live venue ‘Revolver’ which boasts two rooms with full on audio and lighting setups. The idea is to get punters along for a week of skiing/snowboarding with an event to celebrate on the Saturday night.

Visit snowravenz.com