Contrast Magazine

Red Bull Thre3Style Hawaii from mason rose on Vimeo.

On Friday, Ginza Nightclub played host to the Red Bull Thre3Style sub-qualifier when it returned to Hawaii for the second year. Five local DJs played to a crowd of 700 people in hopes of taking the title of Hawaii’s best party rocker. Competing DJs included Kowai Kowai, Sssolution, DJ Packo, Mike D and defending champion DJ Compose. Compose, member of Hawaii based Nocturnal Sound Krew, was the heavy favorite going into the night and lived up to the expectation. Throwing down a set packed with the right balance of skills, creativity and showmanship, he took the title for the second consecutive year with a unanimous decision from the judges. Local producer and Mike D took second place with Sssolution, also of Nocturnal Sound Krew, taking third.

When Compose took to the decks, it was obvious within the first two minutes that he knew how to work the crowd. Through the duration of his 15-minute set, the entire audience was engaged, throwing their hands up, filling in lyrics and dancing as if it was a pre-choreographed flash mob. It even took Flash, the host for the evening, a full minute to quiet down the crowd to announce the next DJ when he finished his set. When asked how it felt to take the title for the second year, Compose laughed and said, “Momma I made it!” Then in a more serious tone added, “The support was amazing and I can’t thank everyone enough.”

Compose will now advance to the West Coast Regional Qualifier, which will be held in Seattle on February 25. There he will compete against the winners of five additional sub-qualifiers taking place on the West Coast in Las Vegas, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. After that, the top five winners from the Regional Qualifiers (Seattle, Dallas, Chicago, Miami and Philadelphia) travel to Los Angeles on April 5 for the U.S. National Finals. In 2012, Compose narrowly missed the opportunity to compete at the U.S. National Finals when he placed first runner-up at the West Coast Regional Qualifier in Los Angeles.

Red Bull Thre3Style is an innovative concept that gives highly skilled DJs a global platform to showcase their skills, battle and gain notoriety by rockin’ the dance floor. Unlike other DJ battles that are based on solely technical aspects, Red Bull Thre3style has a creative and original format that seeks to find the DJ that has best perfected the true art of rockin’ the party. Competing DJs are given 15 minutes and the challenge to play three different genres of music while keeping the crowd rockin’ on the dance floor. A panel of music industry judges will select the winners based on track selection, creativity, mixing skills, stage presence and crowd reaction. Whoever is named best on the decks gets bragging rights, a prize purse and advances to the next step on the road to the world finals. Event schedule, updates and music from past competitions can be found at http://www.RedBullUSA.com/3Style

(Photo Courtesy of Red Bull)

Last week Wednesday, Playhouse Nightclub in Hollywood, CA became crowded for Red Bull Thre3Style Los Angeles Regional Qualifier. Participants in the DJ contest were to play a selection of at least three genres in 15 minutes. Here’s the fun part, it didn’t matter what music genre it was, as long as the DJ could mix it together.

With 8 competing DJ’s, DJ Compose was crowned 2nd place. “Hawaii’s champion, DJ Compose!” and #JayInLA tweets covered everyone’s timelines, making it even more nerve-racking for those waiting for results back home in Hawaii.

(Photo Courtesy of Instagram)

Model Justene Jaro was there to lei Compose, showing that he had come to rep the 808 hard, and of course Nocturnal Sound Krew.

Favorite tweet of the night: “On to the next…. Birdgang.”

Congratulations DJ Compose!

To listen to DJ Compose’s set, click here.

Interview: Aoloa Patao

Media: Red Bull

SOHO Mixed Media Bar crowd is in anticipation—DJ Compose (Jay Ablan is his given name) of the two-time ITF World Champion Nocturnal Sound Krew is set to launch off into his 15-minute set. Everyone at the Red Bull Thre3Style DJ competition is screaming—even the buff dudes. Then, out of musical silence, he initiates Bone Crusher’s “Neva Scared.” The crowd gets even louder. The competition is done. He wins!

Contrast spoke to the Hawai’i champ to get an inside scoop on the competition, Red Bull and the haters.

Contrast: Congratulations on your victory at the Red Bull Thre3Style competition. How does it feel?

DJ Compose: Thank you. Feels great. Actually, I’m just relieved it’s over and looking forward to the next step in Los Angeles.

This generation really hasn’t been exposed to a DJ comp like this. What is the difference between past DJ comps you’ve been in and this one?

I know our reputation of being battle DJs is pretty well known, but it’s been 10+ years since we won; truly a couple of generations ago. So it was a good way to show those who never experienced what a true “battle” was to see what Nocturnal Sound was really about.

When did you find out that you were selected into this comp and how long did you practice your set for?

Red Bull invited Hawaii’s top DJs late last year—some accepted, some didn’t. We had that long to get our sets ready.

Do you know how the DJs were selected?

It was by invite only by an esteemed panel. Not sure exactly, but everyone deserved to be on stage.

What was the feeling like getting up on stage knowing that while you were given that 15 minutes, everyone’s eyes were on you to see what you could bring?

Nothing like it. It brought me back to the days when I was a bedroom DJ working on my craft. To my own fault, I haven’t been as creative with things as I could/should be because I’m so busy with the grind of being a working DJ. This battle challenged me to bring back that fire of sticking your neck out in front of your peers, your haters, and those who support you. Respect to those who actually accepted the invite. I feel like a lot of DJs, myself included, had more to lose than to gain. It wasn’t easy. That’s why I took this event extremely seriously.

How did the competition work? Were you battling all the other contestants or was there an elimination process?

Basically, the threestyle battle was a battle amongst seven other DJs, all of which are talented and just as capable in there own right. You had 15 minutes to show your skill, versatility, showmanship—everything to show why you should be crowned Hawai’i’s best.

By winning this competition, what happens now?

The Hawai’i heat was a prelim to enter the LA heat on May 3rd. I have to battle 7 of LA’s best.

If you win that comp, what happens then?

If/when…I battle in the US Finals.

How do you feel Red Bull is changing the game?

More so than anything, it adds credibility to it.

Anything you want to add, feel free to.

I’d like to shout everyone who support Nocturnal Sound. Shout to Jami & Sssolution for sticking your neck out with me, DJ XL for helping me get my set sharp as hell and all those who doubt me and the crew, you know what time it is.

Thanks, Jay and good luck in LA!

Red Bull Thre3Style is an innovative concept that gives highly skilled DJs a global platform to showcase their skills, battle and gain notoriety by rockin’ the dance floor. Unlike other DJ battles that are based on solely technical aspects, Red Bull Thre3style has a creative and original format that seeks to find the DJ that has best perfected the true art of “party rockin’.” Eight of Honolulu’s top DJs will vie for the audience and judges’ favor, each with a 15-minute set that MUST contain at least three different musical genres. A panel of music industry judges will select the winners based on track selection, creativity, mixing skills, stage presence and crowd reaction; and ultimately decide who is the best on the decks in Honolulu.

Eight battle-ready DJs from the Honolulu metro area looking to prove their supremacy as the top party DJ. Competing DJs include: DJ Technique, DJ SSSolution, DJ Mike D, DJ Shift, DJ Jami, DJ Bozu, DJ Sho and DJ Compose.

The event will be hosted by FLASH (Purveyor of Honolulu Nightlife). Guest judges will include DJ Jimmy Taco (Hip Hop DJ and Flip the Bird Entertainment), G Spot (Electro DJ, OO Spot Productions & Love Festival) and Chris “Mr. Brown” Kahunahana (Owner of Next Door Honolulu). DEKOsound will be playing the opening sounds. DJ Evil One & D-JR will be headlining with a special closing set.

Earning the title of Red Bull Thre3style World Champion is no easy task. DJs will have to prove their skills in a series of qualifying battles before they reach the international stage. The Red Bull Thre3style battle in Honolulu serves as a pre-qualifying event where the winner will earn a chance to rock the dance floor at a regional qualifier hosted in Los Angeles on March 15. The winner of the Los Angeles regional qualifier will then compete against the top DJs in the U.S. at the Red Bull Thre3style National Finals, which will be hosted this summer in Orlando, FL. After solidifying his/her reputation as the most party rockin’ DJ in the U.S., the National Champion will battle against DJs from all over the globe at the Red Bull Thre3style World Finals, which will be hosted in Chicago. Event schedule and updates will be posted at http://www.redbullusa.com/thre3style.

WHEN: Friday, February 10, 20129:00p.m. – Doors open / 10:00p.m. – Show starts

WHERE: SoHo Mixed Media Bar (80 S. Pauahi St., Honolulu, HI 9681)

ADMISSION: Complimentary with RSVP. To RSVP text 3StyleHI to 72855 (please note, there are no +1s each guest must RSVP separately)