Hello: DJ Mykal a.k.a 林哲儀
Hello to Taiwan’s most established DJ who is one of the few people in Asia to still spend his days running a record shop
Who: DJ Mykal a.k.a. 林哲儀Where: Taipei, Taiwan
Sounds Like: Electro mash-up, so Jaguar Skills without the scratching
There are few people on the little island of Taiwan that can say that they’ve been deejaying for as long as Mykal. He’s been at it for over 20 years and is showing no sign of slowing down. His appeal and adaptability has even landed him in the opening slot for The Chemical Brothers and The Prodigy, as well as regular residencies around Taiwan in clubs like Room18.
Taiwan may be his home but his heart lies in Japan. He spends a lot of time there absorbing its culture and collaborating with Japanese DJs and fashion designers, and because of this the parties he throws in Taiwan usually have Japanese DJs on the bill regardless of if they’re famous or not. He says he’d rather not waste his money on Top 100 DJs when there is so much good talent next door.
“I think the whole music industry and club scene in Japan, especially in Tokyo and Osaka, are much bigger and with a much stronger structure than in Taiwan. The most important thing is that they always know what’s good from the US or Europe and how to transform it into their own. Japanese DJs have created their own system that combines values from eastern and western cultures of music.”
But there are some international DJs that are worthy of Mykal’s discerning taste and it’s because of him that DJs like Boys Noize, Andy C, Sub Focus, and 12th Planet have come to Taiwan. He also exudes good taste when it comes to fashion and is very well known in Taipei for his trend setting Japanese street style. He cites James Lavelle as an icon in that he introduced to him the crossover between music and fashion in the late 90s.
Mykal is also one of the few people in Asia still pushing vinyl. For almost as long as he’s been deejaying, he’s been running a tiny record shop in the heart of Taipei which he also uses as a headquarters to disseminate music and fashion trends around Taiwan.
The best thing about the small scene in Taiwan, he says, is it’s still so full of possibility and opportunity and he’s taking full advantage of it.
