News

Get to know: C’est Qui

From Seoul, Korea

FOR FANS OF 

BEESMUNT SOUNDSYSTEM, CHAOS IN THE CBD, YOUNG MARCO 

 

NEXT GIG

Oct 12 CIRCUS, OSAKA

 

C’EST QUI’s Naone and Closet just came back from their first overseas tour a month ago before their interview with DJ Mag Asia. They had toured five cities including Bangkok, Amsterdam, London, Sicily and Berlin. “I am not tired, not one bit.” Naone would say with a playful grin after partying all night before the interview. “We were out till 10 am after DJing in Berlin and went straight to the airport. I am such a people person. I like getting to know the staff, bouncers after DJing and am always open to new friends.”

Closet on the other hand, is an introvert. “Naone is full of energy and wants to be at the scene. I enjoy being the outsider, observing from the outside.”

C’EST QUI is ‘Who is that?’ in French. Closet and Naone created the group in 2017 when they circling the Itaewon scene in Seoul. Though one year, they have grown so fast. They mixed at the Boiler Room with world renown DJs like Hunee and Nobu.

They have a wide range of music; deep house, acid, disco, techno, recently even experimenting with breakbeat. If there is mainstream and underground in house genre, they would be underground. The songs that dominate Beaport house chart are not attractive to them. For them, DJing is so much more than just playing hits.

“Or A.I will replace you (laughter). My favorite pastime is digging. Finding a record that no one knows about. I am usually very chill, but the thing that I’m too obsessive about it, is interesting. I enjoy the process itself. Sometimes even buy expensive Balearic vinyl and don’t even use them. DJs should be opening their eyes to tracks others have never seen; the chart is meaningless in that sense.” Naone nods and adds, “That’s cheating. You got to find your own stuff.”

The Duo became a thing after an improv back-to-back at Contra in Itaewon. “At the spur of the moment, we said why not and had way to much fun. What I was always criticized for was that I lacked the flow from start, build-up to climax and end. I am always hyper, so I need to let go and calm down. Closet is really good at this. I thought she has what I need.”

They also have a lot in common other than their complementary style. “It’s a perfect fit. We both prefer talking in English, though we are Korean. Being women was another advantage. There was no reason not to get together.”

The response was immediate, and it seems they are on the perfect trajectory, returning from their first world tour. However, they are wary about getting cocky. “We have so much to do, so much to improve. There are times when I feel I just got the hang of it, and then I am lost. It’s embarrassing sometimes,” says Naone.

However, it is regardless to say that they are steadily growing after standing on large stages, like the Boiler Room. Closet, especially has grown to trust in her music. “House is a sub-genre when you look at the Korean music industry. I was worried that there wouldn’t be any place for my kind of music, but I am still here. Guess I am doing something right.” Naone is growing too. “I am more confident. My hands used to tremble during performances. Not anymore, I can breathe.”

We asked both of them what they really want to achieve next. Naone said, “being called back. Performing once is easy, but if you don’t deliver, that’s the end of it. Dekmantel, the Boiler Room means nothing when you invited once. Constant transformation is what I want.”

Closet is preparing an EP currently. C’EST QUI also has producing plans and a single in the pipeline.