DJ Logistics is rapidly becoming one of the more notable deck masters in the UK. He plays drum ’n’ bass so deep, uplifting and soulful that we couldn’t resist grabbing the man for a quick banter.

What kind of audience is the most fun to play to?
One that is open to all styles of drum ’n’ bass. I love being able to play right across the spectrum. It also helps to have a good amount of girls in the club. Far too many drum ’n’ bass nights are full of nerdy guys and that can kill the vibe sometimes.

And what’s one song you wouldn’t be caught dead spinning?
DJ Hazard’s “Hand Grenade (Clipz Remix).” I just can’t seem to get my head around that one particular tune and I don’t know why!

Tell us about your worst gig.
One gig in Slovenia stands out. I was in Slovakia and had to travel across the country. When I reached the border, the car broke down. My flight was late, so I was really pushed for time. When I reached the venue, I played about four records, all of which skipped. The club owner told me I had to stop as they weren’t earning enough at the bar!

What’s the one achievement that you’re most proud of?
Releasing my debut album on Hospital Records was a bit of a milestone. There’s no better feeling than completing a project, especially when it’s something you’re passionate about.

Complete the sentence. “People who get drunk during my set should…”
Get rowdy! Oh, and buy me a drink too!

More people will be inspired to pick up the air guitar as musician Yngwie J. Malmsteen arrives for the second time to bombard fans with his scorching blend of metal and classical music. Along with Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Eddie Van Halen and more, he has been credited as one of the world’s leading guitarists. We sat Malmsteen down for a chat.

When was your first rock show?
My mother sang in a choir, so I did attend other shows before I went to my first rock concert. My first rock show was when I was 12. It was Richie Blackmore’s Rainbow, with Cozy Powell on drums and Ronnie James Dio on vocals.

Do you prefer touring and playing in shows or producing music in the studio?
It has to be both. When you play live, it’s the instant energy from the audience that’s captivating. When you’re in the studio, it’s like you’re building a house, adding on stuff, and thinking about it. Both are two different things, and both are exciting in their own ways.

You’ve played solo as well as in G3 with Vai and Satriani. What’s the main difference between playing alone compared to playing with them?
The main difference is that when I do my own thing, I don’t have to worry about finishing the solo in, say, five minutes or so. When I play alone, I can just play. Don’t misunderstand, I really love those guys Joe and Steve, and I had a great time with them. But I’m more comfortable doing my own stuff.

Some claim that you focus too much on technique and speed in your music. Any comments?
I don’t agree. The most important thing for me is melody. It’s the passion and energy in music that matters.

You’ve had a long list of albums since you debuted about 20 years ago. Is there any album that you’re not very happy with, and which one do you really love?
I’m not exactly unhappy with any album. I would never compromise when it comes to music. It has to be the best album that I could do at that point of time. Even if I think I could do better now as compared to, say, 1994, I wouldn’t dislike the album, because it’s the best I can do back then. And the album I really love is my latest release Unleash the Fury.

We love Unleash the Fury as well. How did its title come about?
It’s referring to me unleashing the fury musically and it’s also referring to a funny incident that happened in Jan, 1987. I was flying to Tokyo, and the whole band was getting drunk and misbehaving. I fell asleep and about an hour later, a woman came and poured ice water on me and screamed at me to cool down. I shouted something about unleashing the fury. Someone recorded that. And it’s put on the internet 20 years later, which is weird! I just take it in fun.

How do you think you’ve fared in terms of songwriting in Unleash the Fury?
It’s like my baby. I think most forget that I write, produce and arrange everything in the album. Some only remember me as a guitarist. But I really spent a lot of time and effort in making the whole product.

First, how did you get into beer brewing?
I was working at a bar in Seattle where they sold micro-brewed beer. I tried home brewing and started to pester the local brewer. He gave me a job pulling the bungs out of kegs. I moved to keg washing, keg filling and then to cellar operations and eventually, I got to make beer.

We heard you ploughed through places like Geylang sniffing out stuff to make beers with. What is your fondest smell?
I enjoy the wafting aroma of durian. Seriously, I do! It is an aroma unique to Southeast Asia and a flavour like no other. It is too bad that I cannot make durian beer. It would never sell. Many believe durian and beer when combined causes death, which is not true. I have tried durian and beer together several times and I am still here!

Is getting tipsy part and parcel of your job?
Not really. Drinking beer is part of the job, but one learns how to drink without getting tipsy!

The legal drinking age is 18. Do you think this should be so?
Eighteen is a reasonable age for young people to be able to buy alcoholic beverages, but people should be allowed to try these beverages at an earlier age while they are in the company of their parents. Parents should teach children about responsible consumption and the dangers of abuse. Eighteen is reasonable age if you had guidance when young. Otherwise, 40 is probably a good age!

Do you ever think that you’re increasing the number of alcoholics in the population by producing such yummy beers?
No, in fact it may be the opposite! I focused on quality not quantity. It’s always been about enjoying the flavours, not getting inebriated. I think the more one knows about and appreciates something, the less likely they are to abuse it!

Gaia Gaja inherited her passion for wines from her legendary father Angelo Gaja. Founded in 1859, the Gaja Winery is renowned for making some of Italy’s best wines in Piedmont and, more recently, Tuscany. Gaia will be hosting a 5-course wine dinner (B4,600) at Biscotti (Four Seasons Hotel, Ratchadamri Rd., 02-250-1000) on Nov 6 at 7:30pm.

What is the main reason for Gaja’s success?
Five generations of determined people have worked on making their dream come true.

How is Gaja different from other Italian producers?
It’s innovative, but at the same time has a long history. The work of previous generations is still part of what Gaja is, but innovations and experiments are just as important.

Which wines are you most proud of?
Barbaresco and Gaia & Rey. Barbaresco because it represents the winery’s best and is the only wine having been produced over three generations. Gaia & Rey because that was the first Chardonnay planted in the Piedmont, a region known much more for its powerful red wines than for whites.

Which 3 words would you use to describe your wines?
Artisan, ever-evolving, and capable of maturing in the glass.

What’s so great about wine?
Because in a bottle of wine you don’t just find a beverage. A great wine is the light of a dinner, brings conversation and sociality to the table.

Thailand is such a small market—why bother?
Because I’d love to come to Thailand once in a while! If I succeed in making Thailand a more important market for us, I will have a good excuse to come!

What’s the secret to choosing the right bottle of wine?
When I go to a restaurant I choose the wine that I like best, then I choose the food I like best. I don’t care if it’s “right”—the main thing is that I’m satisfied with my choices.

Pick a wine for BK Magazine.
Barbaresco, because it has a lot of personality. It’s the same with wine as with people: Those with a strong personality won’t always please everyone, but they surely won’t leave anyone indifferent and they just might make someone fall deeply in love!

I love music. It’s always been a part of my life.

I started my career as a singer. I played with my band since high school, and we sent our demo out, then settled down with Grammy and became Nouveau.

Completing different tasks requires different skills. When I’m hosting a show, the ability to adapt to changing situations and face problems is essential. You have to be as sharp and as interesting as possible.

As a talk show host, you have to do anything to make the audience feel that you are smarter than them. That way, they will enjoy the show and feel we provide them with useful things they never knew before.

When I’m an actor I try to understand the character. I try to keep the original script in mind. Every writer wants to see his or her work turn out faithful to the original concept.

Being an actor has taught me that working with others is important. If you can work with other people smoothly, all scenes will be finished as scheduled and everybody will be happy.

I feel very proud that I had a chance to sing H.M. the King’s composition “Lom Naw” on the album H.M. Blues. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime honor.

His Majesty is a brilliant musician and all of his works are great. He writes the songs from his heart.

H.M. the King’s songs are like Thailand’s precious hallmarks. When my life is over, the songs will live on. I consider my part as a bridge joining young people to these songs and keeping the songs alive.

Nowadays, nobody remembers what songs were written in Phra Naresuan’s era. It’s the same thing with hip hop or rock—if nobody keeps passing them along, they will die.

It’s our duty to treasure this heritage.

What’s the concept of the winning piece?
Chalotorn: We wanted to find new way to convey the message and came up with “Drugs are not good friends of yours.” We see that kids turn to drugs as a way out from their problems when they cannot turn to their parents, teachers or friends. It helps them forget the problem. We’re trying to say that drugs are not the answer.

How did you feel when you passed the first round?
Chalotorn: It was really good because all the finalists got to learn more about advertising from professionals. They taught us the thought process and how to interpret the theme and convey our idea. It was more like exchanging ideas than direct teaching.
Jintanuch: What they taught was very practical like what kind of image cannot be broadcast such as people injecting drugs and that sort of thing. After the learning session, every team was better in the final round.

Did you do all the work yourself?
Jintanuch: We brainstormed, came up with the concept, shot, played and cut everything ourselves. He played the main character and everyone commented on how well he did.

Why do you think they chose your work?
Chalotorn: Because it was funny.
Jintanuch: Others’ works were good, but our commercial focused on teenagers and we made it funny because that’s the best way to get the message heard.

What did you do with your prize money?
Chalotorn: One of us gave the money to his mom. But we all gave the actors a treat and put the rest in the bank.
Is this your first step into the advertising business?
Chalotorn: Yes. And we will keep producing more works and participating in competitions. We are not prize hunters—we just want to build up a portfolio.

The Auntie

Name: Florence
Occupation: Car Park Attendant
Are bags a must when you go out?
Of course! How am I supposed to carry my umbrella without my bag?
We love your hair! Do you think the higher the hair, the hotter you are?
Not really. Your hair must suit your face—it can’t be too excessively high! Actually, I have had this hairstyle for 20 over years already. It’s fake hair.
Get the look: Blouse, pants and bags, stores in People’s Park, Chinatown.

The Uncle

Name: Ah Chew
Occupation: Coffee Shop Uncle, Fengshui Sensei
What’s with the gold-rimmed specs?
They were a present from my best friend. He was helping me out by giving me glasses because I’m poor. I change the lens regularly at my optician at Bras Basah Complex. It’s pretty affordable over there.
What do you think of the super big sunglasses that celebrities such as Paris Hilton and Victoria Beckham wear?
Big is good! I like big specs because with them, I can see a lot more things! But I don’t like shades. I prefer the light to the darkness. I walk in the righteousness.
Get the look: Singlet and pants, CK Department Store, Chinatown. Big, gold-rimmed specs, optician. Towel, any market.

The Surveyor

Name: Salim Sarip
Occupation: Land Surveyor
Why do you wear so many layers of clothes even though the sun is scorching?
I work in the hot sun all day and I get exposed to harmful rays. I have to wear a lot of clothes to cover and protect my skin. Otherwise, I will start to itch.
Does the sun make your hair grow white faster too?
I think so. People in my line get white hair faster than other people. I have a lot of white hair. But I have to wear a hat everyday which hides it anyway.
Get the look: Hat, jacket, t-shirt, pants, stalls in Golden Mile Food Centre (aka Army Market), Lavender.

The Yuppie

Name: Oscar
Occupation: Associate Banker
Do you think smart-looking dudes like you get the girls?
Yes. People are just naturally drawn to people who look good!
And a major fashion faux pas in your line?
T-shirt and jeans are a no-no.
Get the look: Shirt and pants, Men Tradition, Peninsula Plaza.

The Gym Rat

Name: Terence Lim
Occupation: Senior Legal Editor
What’s the best and the worst piece of fashion advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice is that a good body is the best fashion accessory. The worst advice should be anything the local mainstream media dishes out—by the time it’s in print, it’s already passé!
And what fragrance do you wear?
Does the smell of sweat count?
Get the look: Tank top, Bangkok. Shorts, Nike, Wheelock Place. Asics sports shoes, Queensway Shopping Centre.

The Girl-Next-Door

Name: Sandy
Occupation: Executive Assistant
Is your dress code always this simple?
It’s Monday, and I’m having the Monday blues. I just wear whatever I can find and step out of the house.
OK, what’s one fashion trend on the streets right now that just hurts your eyes?
It got to be the Harujuku-inspired kind of dressing. It’s so passé and so not “in” now, but you still sees people wearing that stuff.
Get the look: Blouse and skirt, Space, Takashimaya. Bag, AvantGarde, Holland Shopping Center.

The Young Gun

Name: Nicholas
Occupation: Student
Who do you think is the best dresser in the world?
Me.
OK, and who is the worst dresser in the world?
Me.
You can’t be the best and the worst! There’s more than one person inhabiting this world you know...
Aiya! I’m not really into fashion! I’m fine as long as the clothes feel comfortable and can cover my skin!
Get the look: Top, a shop in Peninsula Plaza. Pants, Metro, Causeway Point. Bag, a stall in Golden Mile Food Centre (aka Army Market), Lavender.

The Emo Duo

Names: Irah and Fariq
Occupations: Student and waiter respectively
Why are you guys all dressed in black? Don’t you find the color a little emo and boring?
Irah: Well, black is easy to match with other colors.
Fariq: I am dressed in black because it makes me look thinner.
Tell us, who has a kick-ass dress sense?
Fariq: Kumar! He has a wonderful fashion sense because he wears all black. He’s so stylo! Regardless of whether he’s a man or a woman.
Get the look: (Irah) Top, 77th St., Far East Plaza. Pants, a stall in Bugis Village. (Fariq) Top, Hang Ten, Takashimaya. Pants, a stall in Bugis Village. Cap, a store in Heeren.

The Mall Prowler

Name: Sharon
Occupation: Poh Piah Seller
Do you think the branded stuff from Prada and Gucci is worth the price tags?
It’s subjective. Well, the quality of their products may be better, but their designs may not be very different from what you can get at the boutiques in neighborhood malls. For me, I like to change my outfits a lot, so I don’t go for branded stuff. I couldn’t bear to throw them away. As long as I look presentable, who cares if my whole outfit costs only $15?
Any places with cheap buys to recommend then?
IMM and West Mall. I don’t like Bukit Panjang Plaza, it’s not as spacious. Actually China is a good place to shop too. It’s much further ahead in terms of fashion compared to Malaysia.
Get the look: Top, a store in IMM. Jeans, Chengdu, China.

The Slacker

Name: Terence Lau
Occupation: Musician, Event Organizer
How long does it take for you to achieve this slacker look?
I can get up and go out straight away in five minutes flat. There’s no need for me to take, say, three hours trying on clothes and accessories to see how they fit together and all. But this probably means I stink, too. Hence the handy deodorant I carry with me.
Do you think your Bermudas show off your sexy, hairy legs?
Well, I’m blessed to not have too hairy a leg. Or legs. So I’m spared from leg hairs getting caught in my socks.
Get the look: T-shirt, a shop in Peninsula Plaza. Shoes, World of Sports, Funan. Bermudas, SAF.

Little Shop of Horrors tells how a wicked mutant orchid creates chaos and tries to take over the world. We quiz the geeky Seymour (played by Hossan Leong) who is the hero in the production, and size up his ability to stop this evil orchid.

Tell us a little about yourself. What is your favorite pastime?
I’m an assistant florist. I have no friends but I like reading books about plants and flowers. That’s my hobby.

Plants and flowers? Where’s your favorite hangout then?
The Ginger Garden in the new Botanic Gardens!

Do you have a secret ambition?
My secret ambition is to own a whole chain of florist shops in every major GRC.

We heard you’re in love with a ditzy girl called Audrey. What’s the noblest thing you would do for her?
She’s the only girl I’ll ever love. We’re friends and colleagues. She’s everything that I could ever wish for in a girl. And I would step aside and let her marry someone else if she loved him.

And what would you two be doing on an ideal date?
We’d be having a picnic in Botanic Gardens.

Alright, let’s turn to the mutant orchid. How the hell did it come about?
Errrr... It was my fault... I bought it from an old Chinese man in Mandai. And let’s just say it’s a man-eating plant!

Have you ever thought of setting fire to the evil orchid? Like how the Indonesians are burning the vegetation?
It did cross my mind, but a parang might work better!

Well, the orchid is also our national flower. Anything to say about that?
Our orchid is also a mutant. Enough said.

The word is out. A Grammy-winning flutist is in town to spread some love and peace. Flutist Nestor Torres, known more for his smooth jazz, but who often incorporates other genres into his sound, is stepping into the limelight to perform with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) come Oct 28. We chat with this maestro whose music is inspired by the yearning for peace and understanding.

How would you describe your own sound?
My sound is a blend of my Latin heritage’s melodic and rhythmic sensitivity, classical music’s clean and precise technique, and the improvisational freedom that jazz allows. Mix that with two cups of pop music’s crossover appeal and three tablespoons of world music, and you get my sound, which, by the way, is unlike anything you’ve ever heard! It is very likely you’ll find a certain sense of comfort and familiarity in my music.

Yes, we noticed you often marry different genres in your music, even Middle Eastern beats. Is there any rationale behind this?
Yes and no. No in that the music is who I am; a reflection and expression of the diverse experiences and different cultures I come from and am exposed to. Yes in the sense that, for all the distorted perceptions we in the West may have of the Middle East, I wanted to reflect its humanity, richness and innate beauty in at least one or two songs in my new CD Dances, Prayers & Meditations for Peace.

Dances, Prayers & Meditations for Peace seems to be driven by ideals such as peace, hope and harmony. Is this a departure from your previous works?
It is not a departure in the sense that I have always created my music with the intention of inspiring and empowering people. But it is also a departure in that I am being vocal about it. I feel that the times we live in require that we confront the tough issues and the difficult questions head on. I am an artist and a musician; this is how I choose to do it at this time.

So who are your influences?
My father’s my most significant musical influence. As for the flute, Hubert Laws is, and will always, be my flute idol, especially the work he did 30 years ago. Other influences include Tito Puente, Miles Davis and Nat King Cole.

Let’s talk about your concert with the SSO. What songs will you perform?
Familiar songs like “El Condor Pasa,” “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White” and “Somewhere over the Rainbow.” There will also be newer pieces from Dances, Prayers & Meditations for Peace.

And is there any symphonic pop musician who you feel is promising?
Yes. Nestor Torres!

Which Star Wars character are you?
I’m a TIE fighter pilot (TI 5850). I’m just one of the many soldiers in the movie. But unfortunately I’ve been mistaken as Darth Vader many times!

Darth Vader? So have you ever made kids cry?
Unintentionally, yes. Some parents like to bring their child close to me. And then the kids will just start to bawl and cry. We try to be observant. If kids look uncomfortable, we won’t force them to approach us or shake our hands.

We’re curious. What happens if you guys go to the toilet?
We get stares and very amused people who sometimes whip out their camera phones very excitedly!

Do you guys get harassed while in costume?
Yes, occasionally there will be people who hit us from the back! That’s why we have one or two members who are not in costume to take care of us. They are also there because our mobility, vision and hearing get affected when we are in costume.

501st Singapore has been cosplaying and doing charity work. Where do you get your funds?
501st Singapore is a non-profit organization. We are all fans who own our own costumes so we are mostly self-sufficient. Because of copyright governed by Lucas Film, we are not supposed to collect payment. When it comes to private events, we usually request for payments, to be channelled to charity.

OK, last question! Who’s the Darth Vader in your life?
No one really...erm, my boss?!