DJ Corey Dawkins has been spinning soul, R&B, house, hip-hop and other grooves for 14 years. Dawkins grew up in Calgary, but can now be found playing clubs, special events and part of a community radio show in Toronto. He’s all about positive energy and love for the music. And like any great DJ, he loves to make people dance. I asked Corey about his DJing style, what he plays, and who is making music we should listen to.
Q: What attracted you to soul and R&B?
A: Soul and R&B are the soundtracks of our lives — love, hardships, politics, sex, the struggle etc.
Q: What are some memories you have of connecting to this music?
A: My folks were the biggest influences on me: Playing records in the house, listening to the radio in the car, gospel music at church, forming an R&B group in the 90s.
Q: How did you get into the soul/R&B community?
A: I used to make mixtapes from the age of 13; always received great feedback to continue making them — still doing it today.
Q: What are your some of your new music discoveries?
A: 1. Love Controls The Sun ft. Justin Nozuka - The Slakadeliqs
2. Know Go - The Purple Hearts
3. Golden Lady (Louie Vega Roots Mix) - Reel People f. Tony Momrell
4. The Walk - Mayer Hawthorne
Q: What is your DJing style?
A: I’m a beat matcher, mixer and selector.
Q: What sets you apart?
A: My programming is very strong, the music is always soulful. I educate when I throw down.
Q: What’s the vibe like at your nights?
A: It depends on what genre I’m playing. Music is always eclectic. You will hear vocals, chords, base lines — musicality.
Q: Are you trying to get the crowd to relax or dance?
A: I always want the crowd to dance — always!
Q: What song will absolutely get people moving?
A: Brazilian groove and Earth, Wind and Fire
Q: What songs are commonly requested?
A: Terrible top 40 tunes.
Q: Who are some Canadian artists that you champion?
A: Theology 3, Via Linez, Brendan Philip, Amenta, Ayah and Ian Kamau.
Q: Who’s coming up on the scene?
A: The Weeknd, Key N Krates, Slakah the Beatchild and Art of Fresh.
Q: I’ve heard you described as a “neo-soul” DJ, how would you describe that sound?
A: Neo-soul is “new soul.” It used to be stuff you could hear on the radio. It’s music with emotion, creativity and substance.
Q: Who are some key artists doing neo-soul?
A: Erykah Badu, Dwele, Musiq Soulchild, Frank Ocean and Anthony Hamilton.
Q: Any Canadian neo-soul artists that we should be proud of?
A: Zaki Ibrahim, Mz. Chawls, Saidah Baba Talibah, and Wayne Tennant.
Q: What’s the best compliment you can get as a DJ?
A: That I tell a story when I spin.
Q: Anything else you’d like to say about being a soul/R&B DJ?
A: DJs keep digging deep, fight the war on bad music — life is too short!
Related links:
Q&A: The abundant soul of Ian Kamau
K'Naan and the Weeknd: evolving African identities in Canada
Q&A: Slakah the Beatchild is feeling good
posted by
Jeanette Cabral
on Feb 13, 2012