DJ  Leonel Colque: Australia/Argentina

 

Interview with Sima for Australian Tango Festival series:

 

Introduction:

Leonel is an Argentine born tango teacher,dancer and DJ.

His first DJ performance in Australia was at the 2011 Sydney Tango Salon Festival.

Leonel: I remember that night as if it was yesterday!

 

Question 1:

Did you develop your skills as a DJ in Argentina and in which countries have you DJed?

 

Leonel:

I started DJing in Montreal. I was hosting a weekly milonga over there 8 years ago. I got an offer to play at Salon Canning in one of my frequent trips to BA but I did not have my equipment with me, so I had to decline. 

 

Question 2:

What makes a great DJ??

Leonel:

Common sense, a good ear and a good heart. Love and passion for tango, its culture and its roots.

 

Question 3:

Do you mainly present historical orchestras of particular period, such as the Golden Age? Or showcase other periods?

 

Leonel:

I play only danceable tango from all eras. It depends what type of audience I have.

 

Question 4:

How does your many years as a tango dancer influence your choice of tango tracks to play at a milonga?

Leonel:

A lot! As a milonguero I dance 3 or 4 times a week. I listen to what other DJs play and how people dance/react to that music. I learned from the dance floor - the milonga was and is my school.

 

New DJ’s - please go to the milongas. Old DJ’s please start going to the milongas, learn from other DJs, and from the milongueros. Unfortunately we have more and more studio DJs, who get pre-tandas and then play what in virtual space they thought would work - but sometimes the milonga is another reality.

 

Question 5:

How do you choose your cortinas and how important are they to the mood of the night?

 

Leonel:

Cortinas are most important and what you choose depends on the audience. You can choose a topic, such as a DJ once In Buenos Aires who played a zamba brasilera to honour visitors from Brasil. You don't play Rihanna if your audience probably won't know the artist. And you don't play metallica as a cortina (?). Again common sense guys.

 

Question 6:

How do you keep the dancers on the floor? Especially as the after party DJ – how do you build up the energy again, after a live orchestra milonga?

Leonel:

Dancing with live orchestras or dancing with vinyls have their own flavour. Both are special. In the same way, I have the chance to make something different and special too.

 

Question 7:

At the Australian Tango Festival, you are DJ at the Sunday night afterparty – what special considerations may influence the building of your playlist for this special night?

Leonel:

Let's see who is in the room. What other DJs played on the previews nights.

I don't have playlists. I nourish myself strictly from the dancers. The dancers give me the tools to work. I can be very unpredictable too. One thing is sure - Together we will rock the house!

 

-- 22/09/2017 9:10:02 AM: post edited by Esperanza.