| Interview | | | | fun! |
| MG: Congratulations on your recent launch with Hard | | | | MG: What kinds of music outside of salsa inspires you |
| Salsa Radio! Can you tell us how this opportunity | | | | the most? |
| came about and what this collaboration involves? | | | | SC: I listen to every kind of music; I really enjoy oldies, |
| SC: Thanks. I discovered this radio station through a | | | | soulful music, and hip hop. |
| friend who knows the owner. After learning about my | | | | MG: How would you differentiate your approach from |
| salsa involvement in the community, the owner | | | | other DJs? |
| contacted me and asked if I would create a salsa set | | | | Well, like I mentioned before I was a dancer first, and |
| especially for their program. The station plays from the | | | | to be a good dancer you have to feel the music and |
| rare, to the old, to the new. The set I prepared is | | | | take dancing seriously. Most of all, you have to have |
| specifically designed for the rare "hard Salsa Dura" | | | | the feeling of music in your heart. When I play a song I |
| flow. When it aired, a lot of people liked it and | | | | feel and imagine myself on the dance floor, using my |
| requested more...so my set has now been aired | | | | feet to play and interact with the music, feeling each |
| repeatedly for about one month. | | | | note on the song. That's what makes me choose |
| You can log in and listen to over 100 national and | | | | each song I play in a club "the soul of a dancer I have |
| international salsa artists. Their listening audience | | | | in me". For the record, there are no bad DJs out there. |
| expands around the globe, including Europe and China, | | | | There are just different styles, so there's a little |
| reaching various listeners from 13 to 70 years old. | | | | something for everyone. |
| MG: How did you get started as a DJ? | | | | MG: As you know, Giju has established a new music |
| SC: I started my DJ career as a member of | | | | expression within the genre of salsa. By crossing Latin |
| Salsamania (the troupe I used to dance with for 5 | | | | with Hindi rhythms and lyrics to produce a sound that |
| years), when they asked me to provide music for their | | | | reaches beyond borders and cultures, his salsa and |
| salsa socials. I was one of the primary DJs for these | | | | cha-cha-cha music goes beyond rare...it is actually the |
| social events. I would also provide everyone in the | | | | first time anyone has successfully recorded such an |
| troupe and salsa community with my unique mix CDs. | | | | album for the world market. What do you think about |
| Later, I was approached by the SalsaGang peeps to | | | | Giju's approach to Latin music? |
| come over and DJ at one of their special events, | | | | SC: Oh man, I think Giju's approach to Latin music is |
| people really enjoyed my mixes. They kept requesting | | | | AWESOME! By his own unique effort, he's proliferating |
| more...and so the journey began. | | | | Latin music and culture around the world. That he is |
| MG: Will we be hearing more of your music on Hard | | | | also an accomplished salsa dancer (former pro |
| Salsa Radio, or through other venues around the net? | | | | Salsamania member) it makes it that much better. He |
| SC: Yes definitely, I'm working on another set for Hard | | | | can bring a much deeper level of understanding to his |
| Salsa Radio as we speak. I'm also developing | | | | music recordings and performances. I think it's great! |
| exclusive sets for a variety of other programming | | | | Q14: You maintain a lot of responsibilities beyond your |
| opportunities. | | | | work as a DJ. By day you work long hours as a |
| MG: How would you describe your style, Chino? | | | | corporate accountant and at night, you have DJ |
| SC: I would say my style is primarily focused on a lot | | | | events around the Bay Area - all this while managing a |
| of Salsa Dura, or what many of you know as "old | | | | marriage with your beautiful wife Linda, and as a |
| school salsa". I also play a lot of contemporary salsa, | | | | father of two energetic young boys. Oh, and let's not |
| but my signature style is definitely Salsa Dura - the old | | | | forget a crazy passion you have for Raider's football!! |
| school salsa, mambo and cha-cha-cha. Let's not forget | | | | SC: Thanks. Yeah, its pretty tough sometimes, but I |
| about bachata. J | | | | manage to spend a lot of time with my family. |
| MG: What do you think is required to be a good DJ? | | | | Sometimes I even turn down offers because I had |
| SC: Man, there's always something to learn! A DJ | | | | already made plans to be with them. My family |
| definitely has to have solid knowledge about the music, | | | | definitely comes first; it's a conscious choice to make |
| and the artists behind the music being played. This | | | | time for them. |
| requires a lot of listening, thinking, feeling and assessing. | | | | Whenever I get a little free time, I'll go over more |
| Of course, a DJ also needs to have an ability to react | | | | music...it never stops! When I go DJ, I get home really |
| to what the crowd wants to hear. What some people | | | | late. But, I still manage to get up early the next day and |
| may not realize, is that DJ'ing is something of an art | | | | get the kids ready. I'll prepare something for breakfast |
| form. It's not just taking requests, popping in a few CDs | | | | before getting them off to school. After that, I head up |
| and then pressing play. lol! Those just happen to be a | | | | to my regular job. It's challenging and all worth it. I love |
| few of the mechanics involved in the job. | | | | my family. I love the music, and I like what I do. I'm |
| If you pay just a little bit of attention to what a DJ | | | | especially fortunate to have such a supportive wife |
| actually does, you'll notice something deeper. You'll | | | | and loving kids. This makes things much less |
| begin to see and understand that the process goes | | | | complicated. ;-) |
| far beyond the obvious mechanics. | | | | MG: Is there anything else you'd like to share with our |
| MG: Tell us about your involvement as a DJ in the SF | | | | readers? |
| Bay Area Salsa community? | | | | SC: Please support the bands, and support our music! |
| I have been involved with the salsa scene for about 12 | | | | When you hear an artist whose music you enjoy and |
| years. I used to go into the salsa clubs, well actually, I | | | | appreciate, buy their CDs. Talk about their music with |
| used to sneak in because I was too young to get in. | | | | friends, family, people you work with, strangers even -- |
| I've been to a lot of concerts, as well as participated | | | | because believe me, if it were not for these artists, |
| on the performance and competitive dance side. As | | | | there would not be music for you all to dance to!! |
| one of the original members of the Salsamania | | | | It takes hard work for these artists to put together a |
| professional salsa team, there were opportunities to | | | | good quality CD, and with that they tranport us to a |
| dance in salsa shows, competitions...you name it. I have | | | | world where everyone can come together on the |
| done a little bit of everything related to salsa, and now | | | | dance floor. Through their music, my fellow DJs and I |
| I'm DJ'ing - so it's been a full spectrum. It's been really | | | | hope to keep you dancing all night long! |