THROUGHOUT his illustrious career as a disc jockey, 42-year-old Chris Zafri Hill, better known by his stage name DJ KrizKnight has seen it all, and yet does not show any signs of slowing down.
Born on November 19, 1982 to a Bidayuh mother and Eurasian/Iban father, he began his DJ career by organising and performing at underground hip-hop shows alongside his brother with their band Trigga Figgaz.
Among the pioneers in the underground hip-hop scene since the 1990s, his passion for disc-jockeying such as spinning tracks and setting, curating the music and getting the crowd hyped continues through and through.
Now, after almost two decades into his career, with various involvements in shows such as Borneo Fashion Week in Sabah before the Covid-19 pandemic, DJ for Model Search 2022 Finale, and others, he is the first to admit the journey was no walk in the park.
Still, he keeps at it is because of his love for music and it being a natural conduit to express himself.
Sarawak Tribune met up with Chris in Kuching during which he dwelled on his first gig, weirdest encounter while performing on shows, his achievements and of course, the future.
Hip-hop parties as gateway to DJ-ing
As mentioned earlier, while working alongside his brother in the underground hip-hop scene since the 1990s, Chris learned to produce beats and move away from using a live band due to the challenges involved.
As it turned out hip-hop parties became his gateway to DJ-ing.
“Even though I was not a DJ yet at that time, I loved curating the music and getting the crowd hyped.
“The energy and excitement of those nights inspired me to delve deeper into the art of DJ-ing.
“That was when I started to experimenting with different genre and techniques, gradually building my skills and reputation in the local scene,” he said.
Thereafter, he decided to elevate his skills by taking a DJ course at Goldsounds DJ Academy in Kuala Lumpur, which was sponsored by his boss from his previous workplace, an event management company.
“Goldsounds DJ Academy was founded by DJ Goldfish, one of the biggest names in Malaysia’s DJ scene who has spun at Tomorrowland festival,” he said.
Creating great vibes without needing a drink
As a musician himself, being the guitarist, bassist, keyboardist and beatmaker, Chris stated that DJ-ing is a natural way to express himself without needing any sort of drink or alcohol.
“The ability to control the atmosphere of a party and connect with people through music is incredibly appealing.
“DJ-ing allows me to merge my love for different genres and create unique sets that resonate with the crowd,” he added.
Chris remembered his first gig was at an underground hip-hop bash he and his brother organised.
“Seeing the crowd vibe to our beats, it was unreal and fuelled my love and passion for DJ-ing.
“That night, the adrenaline rush and the positive feedback were unforgettable, which solidified my decision to pursue DJ-ing more seriously,” he stated.
Best and worst gig alongside ‘weirdest’ encounter
“It may be common but I would consider it a weird thing to happen is when the audience request songs that do not relate to the theme of the event.
“It is all about how you would deal with such crowds, and one thing you cannot do is to be rude to them.
“For instance, there is a wedding party where the theme is more towards disco or house music, and if someone decided to request a song that is not related to the theme, I might announce it with the person’s name and let the audience know that the person requested the song just to make sure that it is not my fault entirely,” he said.
Chris then revealed the worst gig he ever performed was when he was spinning at a bar, to a ‘dead’ crowd.
“Imagine spinning for four hours, with no one interested in dancing to the music.
“But if I were to be honest, that time it was not exactly my fault, the owner of the bar was the one that decided which music should be played so I just went along with it,” he said.
He stated the best gig so far was when he was invited as a guest DJ for an event by Tourism Malaysia, with 600 delegates attending the event.
“I remember various delegates from India to Kuching attended the event and I was spinning various types of Bollywood music genre.
“Everyone was dancing all the way with the music and some of them even got drunk at the event,” he added.
Reasonable on the rates
Depending on the shows/gigs, Chris revealed that his rate is from RM100 to RM300 per hour for part time weekends at bars.
“And for that one, it depends on what song they want me to play and others. As for normal events, my rate will start from RM500 to RM1000 depending on hours too.
“For special days such as the New Year’s Eve, my rate starts from RM1,500 to RM2,000, depending on how many hours they want me to play.
“But basically, all of these rates are the marked up rates. I am a very reasonable person and I would never ask for a rate that is too high,” he said.
He stated that if the organiser could not pay him for a small event at a hotel or house event, hospitality is completely enough for him.
“And I absolutely do not mind about it. For instance, I remember spinning at an event at a USCI hotel, and they provided me a two-day stay and free meals.
“Which, I totally am okay with, and it all depends on the dealing as well,” he said.
Support from family members and challenges of becoming a DJ
Chris explained that his family supported his career as a DJ from the beginning, mainly because the focus is more towards performing at prestigious events.
“However, I did get invitations to spin at a bar, depending on the place and such.
“I am not basically a resident DJ, as I am more towards playing at events and programmes,” he said.
As for the challenges he has had to face throughout his career as a DJ, this includes prepping his playlist, which must be as accurate as possible, and knowing how to read the crowd.
“It is all about keeping the energy up and the party rocking. At the same time, it is also important to stay adaptable and open to new music trends,” he said.
For this year, however he revealed he has not had any DJ gigs due to the poor demand.
“Thankfully, I also have another job as a designer so that keeps me afloat.
“That being said, if I am able to secure a gig as a DJ, that would be nice,” he said.
The DJ scene in Kuching and moving forward
Having been in the DJ scene for almost two decades, Chris admitted there are a lot of ups and downs, just like any other industries out there.
“I prefer to do my own thing as a DJ rather than get caught up in the politics of it.
“It keeps me focused on doing what I love, which is spinning music for the vibe.
“There are times I have seen people who have not been in the scene longer than I am, but yet managed to secure huge gigs. And that is because they have a big social media following,” he said.
He stated that there are tons of new talent out there and to him, it is very exciting to see new artists/talents emerging.
“However, the scene can be competitive, and I would like to advise those who are in the scene to always stay true to your style and most importantly your passion,” he said.
As to whether he will step back from being a DJ, Chris said that he is in it for the long haul.
“I love mixing old school with new beats and pushing my DJ skills further and there is so much more that I want to explore and share through my music.
“I plan to collaborate with other artistes and experiment with different sounds and stepping back is not an option.
“Because I thrive on the excitement and creativity that DJ-ing brings,” he said.
He revealed that recently, he joined the audition for DJ Hunt by Redfm RTM Sarawak and passed the audition.
“Now I am just waiting for the opportunity to join Redfm RTM Sarawak this year because it is my next step to evolve from a designer to a DJ,” he added.
He said he adheres to the adage “Stay True To Your Groove, Both in Music and In Life”.
“This mantra guides me in everything I do, and reminds me to always remain authentic, stay humble and to always be passionate,” he said.
