Interview: DJ Carlo Atendido

This week we spoke with one of the world’s best open-format DJs, DJ Carlo Atendido from the Philippines. Carlo is the 2014 and 2015 Philippine Red Bull Thre3style Champion where a few weeks ago he competed in his second-straight Red Bull Thre3style World Championships in Tokyo going against some of the best DJs in the world with the winner being DJ Byte from Chile. Carlo has a unique style to his DJing, incorporating his unique musical selection, technical ability, turntablism, and personality on-stage to set off a crowd.

DJ Carlo Atendido at the 2014 Red Bull Thre3style World Championships in Baku:

How did you get started as a DJ?
I was a sophomore in college when I got started DJ’ing. Like everyone in college, I partied a lot. Now, going to these parties, I got to witness quite a lot of DJ’s spin, and I was simply not happy with what they played and how they played it. I said to myself “I could do a better job”, and so I set out to prove it.

Who were some of your inspirations when you started?
The late and great DJ AM, will always be my main inspiration in DJ’ing. Till today I still listen and watch his mixes and performances online. Other DJ’s that also inspire me are DJ Craze, Jazzy Jeff, Short Kut, D-Styles, Qbert and DJ Shiftee. No explanations needed!

Has your life changed being named the 2014 and 2015 Red Bull Thre3style Champion of the Philippines and going on to the World Finals?
Yes. Things have definitely changed for the better. Before Red Bull Thre3style, I was a nobody in the Philippine DJ scene, but after winning Thre3style 2014 and 2015 I gained a lot of respect and admiration. I’ve been getting more gigs, festivals and events thanks to my new reputation as “The Champ”.

How do you prepare for your Thre3style sets?
It’s a very long process. First, I have to go thru a myriad of songs. There, I have to distinguish which songs are useable for the competition. So trying to foresee the impact of the song to the audience and judge is key here.

Second, from that selection of songs, I have to find songs that have a connection to any other song in the selection. This parts takes a very long time, because I have to look for the elements that connect a song to another. Elements such as the lyrics, tones, artist name or song name, etc.

Third, sometimes I can’t find a connecting element for the song so this is the part where I try to analyze a song and think of a turntablist routine I can do with it. Scratching, and juggling come into play here. Fourth, after collecting a set of songs that share the same element, and collecting a set of songs that contain Thre3style-esque and turntanblist-esque routines, I put them all together, and try to make a cohesive and meaningful mix. This part is also difficult because we’re not only trying to impress the judges with our wit and skill, but we’re also trying to set a vibe and connect with the audience. After all, we’re DJ’s and our main purpose is to make the audience enjoy, dance and have a great time!

What is the atmosphere like the week of Red Bull Thre3style World Finals?
The atmosphere is amazing. It’s a mixture of tension and excitement for all the competing DJ’s. Here we are experiencing the best week of our life, and just around the corner are our battle days where we have to see who’s “number 1”. One moment you’re making a friend eating sushi and talking about your love for deep house, and the next moment you’re battling him head-to-head, dissing him and his mama to boot. It was pretty scary, but it was also pretty fun!

Thre3style is more than just a DJ battle, it’s a growing experience. Everyone who comes into Thre3style, always leaves Thre3style as a better DJ.

What is your favorite part of being a DJ?
The risk of playing a song that DJ’s don’t normally play. A song that you really really enjoy and a song that you’re not sure the audience will appreciate. And then having the audience reciprocate and appreciate it. That’s probably the best feeling in the world because that’s like a form of acceptance, concurrence and respect. It’s like saying “I love you” to a stranger, and then hearing that stranger reciprocate and say “I love you too, but not like that”.

What is your least favorite party of being a DJ?
I really don’t like it when people request for a song. That’s probably my least favorite part of DJ’ing. That, and playing corny music because you have to play it.

I really enjoy the curating songs part in DJ’ing, so someone making a request destroying the vibe, really just gets me.

Where is one place or event you’ve always wanted to play?
Coachella for sure would be the dream gig. But besides that, some other cool events I would like to DJ in would be The Do-Over, and Burning Man.

What is in your DJ bag?
Macbook Pro, Pioneer DDJ SP-1, USB’s, Charger, 2 USB Cables, DJE-2000

What is something not many people know about you?
I enjoy listening to classical music before and after my gigs. Chamber music and opera rock!

When you are not DJing or in the studio, what do you like to do for fun?
I enjoy playing sports, like badminton and tennis. I also enjoy kicking my friends butts in a good game of Super Smash Brothers (video game).

Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
I hope to see myself a little bit more famous and renowned in the world of DJ’ing. Not only in the Philippine local scene but in the international scene as well.

Do you have anything to say to your fans?
I would like to quote Celine Dion, and say “I will always love you”. But seriously, thank you all for the support! It means a lot for me. Just 2 years ago I was a nobody, and so having people support me, means the world to me!

I would like to give a shout out to Red Bull Thre3style, Pioneer DJ, and SM Youth.

Follow DJ Carlo Atendido (Philippines)
Facebook: facebook.com/djcarloatendido
Twitter: @djcarloatendido 
Instagram: @djcarloatendido 
SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/djcarloatendido