Since opening its doors to the public for the first time in 2007, Woei has left its mark on the international sneaker and streetwear community with several collaborations including Asics, Patta, and Stüssy along the way.
But the interests and passions of the Woei crew reach far beyond just shoes and apparel; Besides providing the streets with the latest from Nike, Adidas, and Co., music has always been at the heart of the store. Considering the highly curated playlists and mixes that can be heard in the store and hosting some of Rotterdam's most notorious parties, the belief that music unites is deeply ingrained in the Woei DNA.
Based on this deep connection, we want to shine a spotlight on some of our favorite local musicians to talk about what sparked their passion for music and hear their take on common dilemmas in the music industry.
For episode #34 of WOEI FM, we met with OG Karin to talk about her introduction to DJing in Rotterdam, the love for deep rhythmic sounds, and her go-to spots.
Can you please introduce yourself?
My name is Karin, aka OG Karin. I was born and raised here in Rotterdam, with my mother being Dominican and my father Indonesian. I’m currently working as a sustainability consultant, which means that we advise companies and investors on developing sustainable business strategies and becoming more sustainable in operations.
How did you come up with your DJ name?
OG Karin comes from my gaming past. I used to play GTA San Andreas a lot, and one of the first characters you meet is OG Loc. The name had a nice ring to it and I started calling myself OG Karin ever since.
How long have you been spinning?
My first club gig was in 2020 right before Covid hit. I’ve had my own decks since I was 16, so I’ve always been playing but until 2020 it was never for a real audience.
What does a typical day in your life look like?
I work full-time so it depends on if I’m working from home, or at the office in Amsterdam. Around the Autumn/ Wintertime I’ll workout after work and then go home to relax. In the Summer I’ll be more active outside and do more with friends, but around this time It’s usually pretty calm and laid back.
What does Rotterdam, as a city, mean to you?
I mean it’s pretty much my hometown. It’s always great coming back home here. I have all my friends here, all my memories, and special connections to certain places. For my studies I’ve lived in a couple of different places, like Barcelona, Warsaw, and Hamburg, but in the Netherlands, this will always be home.
Do you have any favourite spots in Rotterdam?
1. Restaurant Tai Wu.
2. Vintage store Stil Leven.
3. West Blaak skatepark.
4. Amazing Oriental supermarket.
When did you realise that music was going to have such a big impact on your life?
I feel like it started from home. My mom liked Bachata music during breakfast, and my father listened to a lot of Classical music. We’d always have the TV turned to The Box and TMF, as well. When I was a smaller child, my dad brought me to music lessons for a vast range of musical instruments, but none really stuck.
As a teen I used to skate at the skatepark at West-Blaak, and we all used to go to Drum ’n Bass parties at Waterfront. My neighbour used to spin at Waterfront and we started talking about the craft. I believe my DJing journey started from that point onward.
What was your first performance, and how did it go?
I did some small things here and there, but my first club gig was for KLAUW Collective in WORM.
I was extremely nervous, but it went pretty well and people complimented the set. Thinking back, I probably would have done the set differently, though…
What do you spin exactly?
I always find this to be a hard question to answer, it tends to lead to being put in a certain roster.
I guess it's more about the energy and vibe. But I tend to play more tunes that fall into the Techno, Breakbeat, Hardgroove, House & Acid categories. I think that rhythmic sounds and repetitive melodies and vocals trigger my brain easier than those who aren’t necessarily.
Vinyl or Digital?
Digital.
"My neighbour used to spin at Waterfront and we started talking about the craft. I believe my DJing journey started from that point onward."
Where do you find inspiration, music-wise?
Usually whenever I’m going out or searching online; If I hear a cool artist I’ll immediately start digging deeper and deeper. Then you look at the clock and suddenly 6 hours have passed.
How do you select your music for upcoming gigs/mixes/events?
I’ll usually look at my latest purchases and what sounds I’ve taken an interest in at that moment. I’ll do some research on the venue size and other artists from the line-up. As preparation, I’ll fill a playlist with tunes I might play that night. If I have the time, I’ll download that list onto my phone to spend more time with the songs and get a feeling of what goes together with what.
Club nights or Festivals?
Club Nights— it’s sweatier, smokier, darker, more intimate!
Is there a certain club/venue you’d still like to perform at?
Bassiani, in Tbilisi.
Are there any DJs you currently look up to?
Objekt, CRYSTALLMESS, and Jeff Mills.
Do you have a tune you’d like to share with the readers?
I found that I played this tune fairly often this past Summer. The repetitive melody combined with the percussion put the crowd and myself through a nice vibe on the dancefloor.
Top 3 parties of all time?
(In no particular order)
1. Waking Life Festival, Crato, Portugal.
2. Same Bitches, OHM Berlin.
3. Weekenders at De School, Amsterdam.
What can we expect from your Operator set?
I’ve purchased a lot of tracks lately and some I haven’t been able to play yet, so I’d like to bring these to the radio show!
Any last words for the readers?
Keep it real!
