Australian funk DJ Slynk's second tour of Canada has taken him far off the beaten path, but he likes it that way.
"Smaller places have been great," he says during a rare day off in Calgary recently. "I played Grande Prairie (Alberta) and that was pretty fun. It was a small venue and it wasn't completely packed, but all the people there were having fun and everyone was dressed up in neon gear and there were black lights. I don't mind playing little shows because it gives me a bit of a chance to meet some of the fans."
The Brisbane DJ, also known as Evan Chandler, began DJing in his room, teaching himself the ropes before landing his first regular gig at a restaurant in his home city. "I took a train with a turntable and walked to the club every Friday," he says. "I was not a good DJ back then, but I think putting myself in that position it gave me a chance to build my skills up and when I did finally get a gig with people that were drinking and stuff like that, I felt I had the skills to rock the party."
Since then, he's slowly gained a higher profile — largely online — for his ghetto funk tracks and remixes. Touring Canada once before, the highlight of his young career has been playing the Shambhala Festival. "All my favourite guys were playing there and I got to play with them and meet them all," Chandler says. "Everyone else there was stoked on the music too. It's just a cool festival, but it's really the lineup that makes me love Shambhala so much."
He'll return to that festival this summer — but he can't say yet whether it will be as a fan or performer. "There should be announcements coming up soon," he says.
First, though, he'll finish his tour of Western Canada, which includes a stop in Whistler with local DJ duo SkiiTour at GLC March 20.
"I actually love the snow and cold," he says of touring the Great White North in the winter. "Australia is hot as hell. It's a nice change. It's a big change from being at home and it's 2 a.m. and it's like 35 degrees and I'm trying to sleep."
What can Whistler crowds expect from his set? "My philosophy on music is just to play fun, happy music that makes you smile," he says. "Funk music is pretty much guaranteed to do that so I play a lot of funk. I'm not the kind of dude who plays evil, dark music. It's good dance party vibes."
For more check out his Facebook page at Evan Slynk.
