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If you’ve been anywhere near a party in Bangkok during the past 12 months, then you will have heard DJ Oum’s energetic electro assault. Terrorizing dancefloors at the likes of Astra, Glow and Bed, Oum is one of the main players on the Bangkok DJ circuit. You can’t miss him, thanks to his black-rimmed glasses and shaved head. All HYPED up and with somewhere to go, we caught up with the local superstar to see what makes him tick.

Why did you decide to become a DJ in Thailand? It’s not an obvious career to choose.

Just for the sake of loving the music I play.

Do you have any other musical background apart from DJing?

I started learning Piano at the age of five. Then I moved into band instruments (drums, guitar) as a teenager, founded an alternative band called Box-Sur with another three friends who were playing music together at that time. Box-Sur had its first album released in 1996 with Stone Entertainment. With a fast growing indie scene at that time it was quite a success.

Where are all the other DJs in Bangkok? It seems like there are not very many out there. Why is this and when will it change?

I’m sure there are many good ones out there who never had a platform to perform their passions. The scene is limited even though there are quiet a lot of good clubs here but most of them are farang dominated. That makes it harder for Thai DJs out there to make it I guess. For me, it’s not really a problem though ’cause a lot of them are my good friends.

Do you have any other jobs apart from DJing?

Co-producer Nimit productions.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever seen at a party you were DJing at?

Drunk, naked lady. People fucking. Some dude tried to steal my job! Busted for playing extra hours.

Do you get many groupies in Bangkok or are all the girls well behaved towards you?

Can’t really talk to them much. I’m a dead meat if my girl finds out! Maybe you have to ask my mate J-Montonn Jira.

Have you ever had the chance to play in any other countries, or do you plan to in the future?

Haven’t played outside Thailand yet but would like to play in Melbourne, Tokyo, Berlin and Gent, Belgium at Culture Club.

Have you had time to produce any of your own tracks yet?

Yes, I produced an album 10 years ago and some tracks which haven’t been released yet.

If you could organize your dream party in any venue, any country, with any DJs, who would you have, where, and why?

There are two types of parties I would like to throw. One is in a warehouse with loads of party people, and I would like to play with Felix Da Housecat, Miss Kittin and The Hacker.

Another one is in the basement with only real electro-lovers spinning pure electro with Meccanoid crews (www.meccanoid.com) and Cream Organization artists like Legowelt. I want people to dress up like they were secret agents. That would be fun. I personally want to have a party where I do not have to worry too much about making people dance.

The reason why I would like to throw one with real electro lovers is that these people would enjoy the chunky basslines, fat beats, old school vocoder and heavy synthesizer like I do. Would be hard to make it happen here since there are very few people who would truly love that. Melbourne, Gent and Berlin are the three cities I would love to have my dream parties in.

Where’s the best place in Bangkok for an afterparty?

At the moment there isn’t anything interesting. Zurich was the best place (of course!). Hanging out at friends’ house parties would probably be the coolest for afters, and the next one would be No.53.

What was your favorite toy to play with when you were a kid?

Those small rideable motorbikes. I called it mini-bike.

What does your mum think about your music?

She supports whatever I do. My mom is pretty cool and understanding.

If you could only live with one type of food for the rest of your life and one record, what would you live with?

Probably chicken rice or beef green curry with rice. For the record it would be Karabao!

Now that you’re 30, do you think you’ll keep DJing in the future or do something else?

I will keep on DJing. I’m full of energy. I’ll travel the world to DJ. Hopefully to be producing an album sometime in the near future. I don’t know what I would be doing in the next 10 years but music remains my passion.

Finally, what’s the funniest joke you know?

My Dad’s dirty jokes.