MOVE TO THE MUSIC

26 Sep 2012
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Dino-Moran

DJ Dino Moran is hot stuff in the world of music. He has headlined at clubs and festivals in 38 countries, received a personal invitation from Alicia Keys to perform with her at the Black Ball in London and has worked for some of the world’s most famous recording artists, from Grace Jones to Elton John and Seal (okay, okay, we’re name-dropping but you get the point). He is no stranger to local and international fashion shows either. He was the go-to music man during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Cape Town (MBFWCT) and African Fashion International Fashion Week (AFI) in Jo’burg and most recently took part in New York Fashion Week (NYFW). Music is a crucial part of any fashion show and we caught up with Dino to find out more:

MBFWCT: Gavin Rajah

MBFWCT

How did you get into the industry?

I’ve always had a fascination for sound and the way we respond to it, so when I left school at 16 I decided to pursue this passion. It’s been an amazing journey that’s exposed me to such varied audiences and incredible locations.

Top tip for aspiring DJs?

Put more time into being an artist than you do into promoting yourself. Stay true to what you really feel about music and don’t get high on your own hype.

What are you listening to at the moment?

Tonight’s home playlist included 330ml, Black Motion, Anja Schneider, Rudimental, Bassnectar and Uto Karem.

What is the biggest challenge when compiling music for fashion shows?

The biggest challenge is to fully understand a designer’s vision to create a soundtrack that truly captures the essence of the range and brand.

Highlight of your career so far?

That’s a difficult one as I have had so many special experiences, but one that really stands out is working with Grace Jones at NYFW. Alicia Keys also invited me to perform with her at the Black Ball in London. Another highlight was DJing on Nelson Mandela Bridge during Johannesburg Fashion Week in 2010, and playing at Madiba’s birthday and Christmas parties. Who wouldn’t love these opportunities?

What is your process? How do you select music and pair it with a show?

First, I like to meet with the designer and view the collections and gather all the info I can. Then I go back to my studio and compile music and sound clips. Next, I create a demo and meet with the client until we have the basic soundtrack sorted. On rehearsal day, I make timing adjustments and then do the edits and a final mix. Even after all that, I often remix it live at the show to get the timing spot on.

Any funny moments?

I once saw a guy unleash a fire extinguisher on the DJ box – he thought it was on fire! Unfortunately the party came to a very abrupt end after that.’

Were you in on the action at NYFW?

I produced the music for Gavin Rajah’s show in the Big Apple. We created an audio collage of movie samples and orchestral tracks from the ’60s to create a sonic backdrop reminiscent of the days of naivety and new romance.

Gavin Rajah NYFW 2012

Gavin-Rajah-New-York  Gavin-Rajah-NYFW

DJ Dino Moran hosts regular mixes on his Soundcloud and Mixcloud pages at Dino Moran. Stay in the loop and follow him on Twitter @djDinoMoran.

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