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BATE
Photo: Hizwan Hamid

BATE interview

We speak to BATE about fame, style and whether they’re the next Goldfish & Blink

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When we last met DJ duo BATE two years ago, Ethan Curzon and Yeoh Wai Hong just gotten their first big break, playing at one of the biggest local parties. In the span of just two years, the duo has landed a residency in Zouk, played at festivals like Thirst and Future Music Festival Asia, performed with some of the biggest names in the industry such as Tiësto, Zedd and Calvin Harris, and more recently, scored an ambassadorship with Topman. There’s no question that these guys are the hottest commodities in the local dance scene at the moment.

We last saw you about two years ago. Look how much has happened since then! What are some of your most memorable moments?
Ethan Curzon: For me, it’d be the first time we played on the main stage for a festival/rave party. It was Future Sound Asia’s Tiësto Club Life in Sepang, and it was absolutely off the hook. Everything was amazing, from the size of the crowd to the amount of energy, it’s something I will cherish for a long time. Another memorable moment would be our first international gig at Octagon Club in Seoul, which was one of the FMFA pre-parties. Playing to an international crowd was something completely different and extremely exciting.

Yeoh Wai Hong: Yes, Tiësto Club Life was one of the biggest highlights for me too. It felt so surreal. That was the moment that it really hit me – ‘Damn this is really happening, we are playing on the main stage!’ It was a really, really great night.

Was there a defining moment when you realised you guys are popular?

EC: We wouldn’t say that we’re popular yet, at least, not by our standards. But it’s nice to know we’re getting recognised and gaining popularity outside of our regular circle. There were even random people who came up to us and asked for photos! It’s still a little hard to comprehend because we really feel like we’re just regular guys at the end of the day.

The chemistry between you guys is getting better. How often do you guys see each other?

EC: We don’t actually see each other that often as we don’t hang out with the same bunch of friends. But we still see each other at least three times a week when we meet for our shows, or when we’re prepping for them. I think the dynamic of BATE is great the way it is. We both play different roles and we’re constantly learning from one another.

WH: Yes, I think that’s how we maintain our chemistry – by having our own space. So when we come together on stage, there’s always a good vibe and excitement we both bring. It prevents us from beating each other up! [laughs] But I think we’ll be fine as we always kiss and make up.

Musically, how would you describe your sound?
EC: If there’s a genre we can fit in, I’d say progressive house. Your vibe and style are quite similar to Goldfish & Blink. Would you consider yourself as the next Goldfish & Blink?
WH: We would never consider ourselves as the next Goldfish & Blink. What people have been saying is a huge compliment which we can’t quite accept. Right now, they are on a completely different level, and their level of success is one of the things that inspire us.

You guys were first endorsed by Pestle & Mortar and now by Topman. Tell us more about the ambassadorship.
EC: We are extremely lucky and grateful for the opportunity to work with fashion brands, and the ambassadorship with Topman was an opportunity that didn’t need much deliberation on our part. Topman was a brand that fitted the BATE persona and also our individual styles. They’re also one of the most recognisable brands in menswear. We love the UK street wear vibe and Topman’s daring/progressive approach to menswear.

Do you see yourselves as style icons now?
EC: [laughs] We would never see or call ourselves style icons, we believe fashion and music come together naturally. There are so many fashion brands working with DJs/musicians, and many DJs are starting their own fashion labels. Like Nasty Inc and Brodinsky’s BMC. I think looking good and expressing your individuality is important, and some might even say that looking good is more important than DJing.

Apart from your residency at Zouk and LUST, you guys started BATE Sessions. Tell us more.
WH: BATE Sessions is basically something we’re doing with the idea of bringing on new and upcoming DJs, or DJs who are very much in the underground scene. We want to give them a platform to perform and gain the experience they need – very much like how we got ours when we were starting out. There are a lot of talents out there and we really think that local dance music still has a long way to go. While festivals have taken off, there is still a lot more territory to cover, many more genres and subgenres which Malaysians have not acquired a taste for yet. So as for BATE Sessions, we’re trying to do something to help further grow the scene.

BATE plays at Zouk every Friday night and at LUST every Saturday.
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