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“Music is an important part of my life,” says Bombi Balquiedra. The frequent DJ of Nokal, Kampai and The Spirits Library adds that it jumpstarts his day and helps in expressing himself every time he plays. “It is also my escape from the craziness of life,” he adds.
Balquiedra does not remember the first song that made him fall in love with music, but he clearly recalls that he grew up listening to jazz. With a father who is an FM jock and an audiophile, he was first given a mixer when he was just in the sixth grade and seriously started his profession right after college.
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He credits his strong attachment to music to his father who was once the vice president of ABS-CBN’s radio department. In following in his father’s footsteps, Balquiedra was also once the head of Lopezes’ FM station for ten years.
Throughout the years of his career, he opened for a lot of popular DJs but Balquiedra’s most memorable performance just happened recently at DiniBeach in Boracay. “We played from sunset until around 10pm. Many thanks to Manolet Dario and Jason Soong, who are my partners in Groove Manila, for inviting me to play; and to Julia Lervik of DiniBeach bar. It was magical and spiritual for me,” he said about the unforgettable experience.
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Although a main DJ of House and Tech House music, Balquiedra shares that he’s been playing a lot of Organic House lately. Moving past the beats and tempos, and mentioning he is featured in Louie Ysmael’s coffee table book; the DJ gives us a glimpse of his go-to songs
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