DJ's Plastic Puppet Motives are pure
(Profile)
Publication title: Vue Weekly
Page: 26
Publication date: May, 1999
Document type: Opinion
Article author: Yuri Wuensch
Transcribed by: MW
When most people look back on the summer of 1999, they'll probably remember Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. For some. however, the truly memorable event of the season will be the May 1 pilgrimage to Saskatoon to celebrate the five-year anniversary of Plastic Puppet Motive, the company that was the brainchild of Deko-ze and his partner Wade Fornwald. Best of all, the duo will scoop George Lucas by a whole 20 days.
Other parallels between Deko-re and Star Wars aren't difficult to find. Deko-ze grew up and got his start DJing in Saskatoon—the stark, open landscape isn't much different from Luke Skywalker's native Tatooine—heck, the locals even sort of sound the same. And just as young Skywalker would become hero to a galaxy, Deko-ze (a Jedi knight in his own right) has emerged as one of Canada's premier DJs.
When I sat down with Deko-ze for an interview, my list of questions was quickly tossed aside as we began talking about music, mixes and mayhem. Deko-ze's love of the scene, and especially his love of music, quickly became apparent.
“I can't imagine not being part of this scene,” he says. He's had a lifelong interest in music and recalls dancing around the house as a youngster, making a racket and wrecking furniture. More chairs might be ruined when Deko-ze throws what portends to be one of 1999's best parties.
The lineup includes Chris Liberator and D.A.V.E. the Drummer. “Chris and I formed a friendship largely because no matter where I went, we always seemed to run into one another,” laughs Deko-ze. Other performers during the three-day festivities include Speedy, Nitro, Dr. Trance and Edmonton's own Geoffrey J. The celebration is based on friendship; Deko-ze’s biggest regret is not being able to accommodate every performer he's become close to. "There are really over 100 people we wanted to bring in and, however attractive, it simply wasn't possible,” he says.
Obscure Motive
Plastic Puppet Motive's motives (as it were) have always been driven by less tangible things like friendship, rather than profit. "Wade and I never got into this to make money," says Deko-ze, adding with a laugh: “In fact—we've never made money."
What is the Plastic Puppet Motive, then? Deko-ze simply smiles, enjoying answering the question he's been asked so many times before. “It means whatever you think it means," he says.
I venture a guess, comparing Deko-ze to a puppet master, pulling strings and manipulating people on the dance floor, exercising his powers of trance, house and (as a poster for a party in Calgary put it) "everything phat"
“Sure,” he cackles with a laugh that begs to be sampled.
Wandering around with Deko-ze at that same Calgary party was like being part of a Hollywood entourage. Kids screamed upon seeing him and scrambled to find their disposable cameras and paraphernalia for him to sign.
Brent Muloin, a longtime friend and fan of Deko-ze's, recalls one gig in particular: "Deko-ze was on the bill at Graceland, a club in Vancouver. He got the crowd worked into a frenzy and it was easily one of his best shows." Muloin says larger acts like the Crystal Method didn't garner as much praise as Deko-ze did that night.
"I had known of Deko-ze for while," continues Muloin, "and people were wandering around all night demanding to know ‘Who is this guy? Where does he come from?’" He says the real laughs came when they found out the evening's hero was from Saskatoon. “’Saskatoon?!'"
A set and battery
Deko-ze takes his popularity in stride, saying the crowds are just as important as he is. "A good set is never good just because I played well, but is heavily influenced by the energies and emotions that people give me," he says. He calls the crowd a battery he draws power from over the course of show.
He's also a booster of the recently burgeoning prairie scene. “I'm forever telling skeptics, 'You’ve got to check out the prairies,’" he says. Sheer population makes Toronto and Vancouver obvious party territory, but even the biggest urban DJs are beginning to take notice of the wide open spaces. During recent visit to Edmonton, trance master Taylor said, "It's so good up here—I hope nobody discovers it.” I think I speak on behalf of most techno-heads here in Edmonton when I say I hope they do.
A Calgary partygoer and Deko-ze disciple asked me if I thought Deko-ze would go international soon. While a Jedi master's gifts should be shared with everyone, I can't help but think how he would be missed back on the old moisture farms of Tatooine.
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