Member Since: 4/16/2005
Band Website: djsoma.ca " djsoma.ca
Band Members: Bret Hames + thousands of his 12'' friends
The S.O.M.A has been residing in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for the last 20 years. Originally from Calgary, Alberta he spent most of his youth playing air guitar with a hockey stick to his parents collection of music. When he arrived in Vancouver the summer of 1990 he began studying music mastering a selection of brass instruments including trumpet and french horn. As his taste in music developed he listening to mixed tapes and radio sets which led to his love of dance music. He started studying this glorious world of djs and discotheques during the 90's and continued to collect all types of Juke, house, hip hop and rock n roll.
Focusing his efforts on commercial club music in 95 the young jock started running weekly club nights in the burbs and spent the rest of that decade dropping the hits. He traveled overseas to europe in 1997 and then in 2000 spent a year living in Cape town, South Africa. He spent the next 12 months playing rugby, learning how to speak english again (with some help from the local girls) and buying house records. Getting a taste of what the rest of the world offered, Soma soaked up as much as he could. Returning to Canada in 2001 with a ton of fresh wax and inspiration, he studied sound engineering, did some road work for a few bands and started gigging more often. Doing so he began a legacy that has been satisfying party goers for years to follow.
Playing breakbeats, progressive house, electro, 2-step and mash up sets for the last 8 years he has had the pleasure of working for production companies such as Ph1, Twenty Hz, Blueprint, Solid Corporation, Twisted, and Silverwaters. During this time he as played along side the likes of Infusion, Hybrid, BT, The Bassbin Twins, Shiloh, Adam Freeland, Global Djs, Seb Fontaine, Lee Coombs, Evil Nine,Dj Marky, Planet Of The Drums tour, Dj Icey, Junkie XL, UFO! (San Francisco), Qzen, DJ Fixx, Rouge Element, Aquasky, Jon B, Baby Anne, Mr. Wiggles, and DJ Deekline.
When asked what to expect in 2007 and beyond the cheeky cat replied, “Come to the club and see me rinse out this week. There are just some things you have to see live.â€
How long have you spinning the decks for?:
13 years
What originally hooked you into the DJing scene?:
I fell in love with funky grooves at a young age. Not sure if I can blame early music classes or my parents for their tastes in music.
What type of music do you specialise in?:
All types of Break beat, Garage Progressive House, Techfunk and B-more
Most expensive vinyl that you have paid for?
The Orb - Little fluffy clouds (remixes)
What is your most treasured record and why?
Thats a tough one!...
Orbital - halcyon on + on (original promo mix with miss jane vocal)
What National / International clubnights have you played at?
Vivid Sessions (sonar, tokyo lounge), Residence (capetown south africa), The Pacific Coliseum, The World, Shape, Automatic ,POUND/Seks, The Lotus Sound Lounge, Union parties, Edit, Logik, Ascension @ Viva Club, Exhibition Room series, twenty hz @ the lotus., BLUE!, Hush in Victoria, Stereotype @ Celebrities, Caprice, and Gorgomish
Have you got any DJing horror stories?
nothing that has killed me.... bad gear, paint chips falling of the ceiling on to the vinyl ect.
Are you a resident DJ, if so where?:
solid corp. // Silverwaters // PH1
Any other information?
I'm in this game for the love of the music and the people! Youre all crazy! Thanks for the support over the years.
Influences:
Orbital, Underworld, wynton marsalis, Robert Palmer, u2, the beatles, red hot chilli peppers, led zepplin and the doors, classic rock n roll, steve miller band, goldfinger, new order, The Crystal Method, Black box, Nine Inch Nails, propellerheads, Us3, Jimmy Buffet, Beck, and Mr Scruff .
Sinden, Dubfire, Plump djs, Moby, Way out west, hybrid, lee coombs, elite force, james zabila, james holden, Aquasky, BT, Ed rush, Luke Chable, Hyper, Bassbin Twin, Czech, dj Sodapop, PQM, Shiloh, Lee Burridge, Nick Warren.... the list goes on...
Freerange, U&A, Kilowatt, Distinctive, Kingsize rec, Lot 49, Burrito Breaks, ibreaks, Mantra, silver planet, Streetwise, Wall of sound and many more amazing producers and artists that keep bangin out the tunes
Sounds Like:
THIS
Record Label: Solid Corporation // Silverwaters
Type of Label: Indie