Cover Courtesy of Tomas Cabili
Courtesy of Tomas Cabili
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Stream our monthly mixtape of riveting tunes curated by leading DJs and musicphiles in the country
“A DJ must be confident enough to be vulnerable and express himself to a crowd. This non-verbal conversation between the DJ and the crowd is a thing I find very alluring. Of course, when the music I play is received well, it gives me a good feeling; but when the crowd seems unsure, it’s up to me to look for that equilibrium,” says DJ Tomas Cabili, who has played music since he was just a shy teen in high school. “DJing has helped me come out of my shell through the years,” he adds.
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His father introduced him to music by playing "Sweet Soul Revue" by Pizzicato Five when he was a baby. Now, he’s produced his music during the pandemic with Transit Records and Nais.
Above Courtesy of Tomas Cabili
Courtesy of Tomas Cabili
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While Cabili can set the mood for partygoers, the DJ also uses music as an emotional outlet. “The music I listen to reflects what I feel at the moment. When I’m sad, I listen to sad music; when I want to dance, I listen to dance music,” he shares. “When I DJ, I always look for the collective mood of the venue; that being the mood of the people and my personal mood and try to look for that sweet spot in the middle.”
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When asked about his most memorable night, Cabili says, “I can’t really pick one specific night because there’s been so many. However, those nights where it seemed like the whole crowd was one, were the most memorable ones. In recent memory, those were at weddings playing with other DJs. Weddings seem to be the perfect recipe for a great night!”
“You Don’t Know My Name” by Alicia Keys
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He mostly plays house and disco apart from techno music at bars like Futur:st, Bowery and Oto, as well as weddings.
- “You Don’t Know My Name” by Alicia Keys
- “Sunshine” by Steve Lacy
- “Right Down the Line” by Gerry Rafferty
- “Ain’t Nothing Gonna Keep Me From You” by Teri DeSario
- “Fantasy - Sweet Dub Mix” by Mariah Carey
- “Never Gonna Leave You - Housemix” by Evans Pyramid, Joakim, and Max Pask
- “Et annet sted” by Hubbabubbaklubb
- “I Want You - John Morales Extended Mix” by Marvin Gaye
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Christine Andas is a features writer and the style lead of Tatler Philippines. She mostly covers style-related content but enjoys writing about space, sneakers, and her favourite stars. She acquired a master's degree in Creative Writing at the University of Santo Tomas and has written young adult short stories which can be read online.
