DJ Qu is someone I used to run into at the “good parties” in NY; When I followed good music, he was there as well. I thought he was a DJ / producer as that’s how I got to mee at that time. Soon later, someone told me he used to be a dancer and actually a really good dancer from back in the day. From the interactions I had with him, I already felt he’s someone with good artistic quality with authenticity and realness, honesty and respect.
When I finally saw his old footages of dancing, right away he became one of my most favorite dancers to watch. His style, the way he grooves, I had to and wanted to study for learning house dance.
For Qu, “It was more of a urban dance type of thing, think of b-boy or break beat I’m sure you know what breaking is, it’s an urban cultural dance like that that we did but we did it to house music and it was a club thing. It started as a fun hobby thing that everyone just loved to do and somehow or another it just started becoming a business you know and everyobody just started travelling around the world teaching classes or doing shows or whatever it might be that you just did with the dance but it was all representing that club dance thing.” (interview from “Fabric” )
As a dancer, He was “a world traveling house dancer through the 90’s and resident at New York’s esteemed HouseDanceConference” and toured with Marjory Smarth (RIP) and Joey Anderson as you can see him in the video below.
I’ve been to House Dance Conference. It was always one of the best times of dancing in NY. Music was definitely part of it and Qu was the resident DJ. That made so much sense. If Qu was a dancer, to me, he still is, and will always be. I’ve seen him grooving on the side sometimes. It was seldom to catch it, but when I did, I love it. Groove was there, Feeling was nice. It made me wanna dance but also wanted to just watch. and that dancing, I think it lives in his music.
And, I heard Marjory was the one who saw Qu’s talent and potential earlier than anybody else. She encouraged him. She was right, he became such an amazing artist!
As a DJ and a producer, He is also one of the best. Please listen to his first full album “Gymnastics (Strength Music Recordings)”, other productions on his label. They are all not-to-miss, every single tracks are Fire! Please check his label Strength Music Recordings:
He’s been out there and inspiring the world again through music. Artist like Qu, whether it’s a dancer or a DJ, fine quality will always show and shine.
DJ Qu’s Upcoming events :
“Black Out” @Contact Tokyo / December 1st (Fri)
“Sebo K’s Scenario” @Watergate, Gemany / November 17th (Friday)
About DJ Qu (DJ Qu’s Bio on soundcloud : https://soundcloud.com/djqu-strength-music) :
“The New Jersey based producer and DJ referred to himself as “the dancer’s DJ” in Resident Advisor’s 2009 feature on the US east coat house renaissance, a self-title honestly earned given his background as a world traveling house dancer through the 90’s and resident at New York’s esteemed HouseDanceConference. He’s been steadily reinforcing that description ever since, with a well-received run of rhythmic, dark, stripped-down productions for his Strength Music imprint launched in 2005 as well as having a rich output in both original and remix work for labels such as Rekids, Desolat and Synchrophone.”
