Hi DJ Toro

We appreciate the work you have put into the scene over the years and we think it is about time the community got to know more about you.
Below are some questions which we would like you to answer.

1. How did it all begin and what inspired you to become a fully-fledged DJ?

I first started D-jing back in 1989, where I got my 1st pair of turntables. Back in those days I was mainly into Hip-Hop, I really didn’t even start out as a DJ, the reason I bought the decks purely was to give me something to work with as an aspiring rap artist back in the days of the 80s. I then fell in love with the ability to mix music, scratch and be able to start using various DJ skills. After various influences in the 90s mainly from Reggae and Soca music and the culture of Carnival, I then started to change the genre of music I played. It wasn’t until 2006 that I fully completed the transition and became a full-fledged Soca DJ known as DJ Toro.

2. Where did your DJ name come from?

The name DJ Toro basically is a short version of my surname. My surname is Torres which is a Spanish name and I wanted to use something that will relate to my Spanish heritage.

3. What was the first record you ever bought?

I think that the first 12 inch soca record that I bought was Ras Iley, a track entitled Inez.

4. What kind of equipment do you work with?

The main equipment that I use is; 2 pioneer CD turntables, a Rane TTm57Sl, Serato mixer and a Apple Mac laptop.

5. Vinyl, CD or MP3?

With so much new music becoming available and having such a large library of music its becoming so much easier now to use all my music in MP3 format, filled within the serato scratch live software.

6. What sets you apart from other DJs?

What sets me apart from other DJs, I know good music when I hear it. I integrate various skills into my ability to DJ. Well I play all the latest jams and I can easily switch angle back in times. The library of music that I have available to me is very vast and I can also play varying styles of music from soca to reggae to dancehall to soul, R&B and also hip-hop.

7. How would you describe your style of playing?

What would describe my way of playing music? I like to blend music very very quickly and I am also  able to create new sounds whilst blending a variety of songs together. I like cutting and scratching and I have an excellent mic control. My main island affiliation is to Trinidad and Tobago, but I also include all the best music out of Barbados, St Vincent, Antigua, Grenada and more.

8. Tell us how do you unwind after each gig?

This is an interesting one, the best way I find to unwind after a gig is to generally go out and get something to eat and enjoy some late-night food.

9. What are your thoughts on the soca scene at the moment and what would you like to see improve?

When talking about the UK soca scene it’s very very easy to simply relate to the London soca scene, which is still obviously the largest soca scene in the UK. What I would like to see is more events happening outside of London, large-scale soca events to be happening in cities like Leeds, Manchester Bradford, Huddersfield Birmingham and even up in Scotland etc …..

10. What advice would you give to up and coming DJs hoping to break it out on the UK scene?

The best advice for the young new soca DJs wanting to break onto the scene is not to copy anybody but to be themselves, to play the music that inspires them and to play it well.

11. What is your favourite soca tune of all time?

That is a really hard question as there are so many great soca anthems that mean so much to me in my life. If I was to single one song out I would think it will be Black Stalin – Black man come out to party. I just love the rhythm in that particular song.

12. Who is your musical soca icon?

I would definitely say Machel Montano.

13. Favourite 2013 soca lyric and why?

They would have to be the opening lyrics to Bunji Garlin – Differentology. Just the lyrics alone states what its like in a fete in Trinidad and Tobago for Carnival, especially Insomnia fete.

14. Where do you spin usually and where can music lovers find you?

Bookings for myself can be anywhere around the UK. From one weekend I could be in London then the next weekend I could be in Huddersfield or even Manchester or Leeds. For a regular show the easiest place to catch me is probably on radio which you can hear me every Sunday night between 7-10pm on Soca Frenzy radio or Mondays 8-10pm on Passion Radio UK.

15. And last but not least 5 things that we didn’t know about you?

1. I like fishing
2. My football team is Leeds United
3. I can speak Spanish due to my heritage
4. I am married, I have three children and I am also very very happy
5. I was born in the UK to English and Spanish parents. My interest in music comes from my father, he is a big fan of music and often played music by artists  such as Stevie Wonder, genres such as Country, African, Spanish, Calypso  and varying other forms of Latin American.