Pocari Sweaty

BPP’s Stories series interviews the pioneers of our radio. These are the guest DJs, artists and musicians who went out to the world with having their own mise en place stories behind and managed to find audiences for their taste. The guest DJ we cover on the first episode of “Stories” is Pocari Sweaty.

Summer has wound down in Taiwan and so has Simon Imbot aka Pocari Sweaty’s years-long stay in the Taipei city. Simon, a Taipei-based DJ, low-key ion water promoter, and a crate digger with a distinctive taste came to the city to spend time teaching Math by day, and spinning his collections by night in several places like Pawnshop, B1, 23 Music Room, Down Bar and more. At his age, he’s impressively adventurous and accomplished.

His stay in Taipei and his journey with music came about almost by no accident. No more speaking for him, let’s hear what he says about his story there, nestled among Taiwan’s iconic hot springs.

His stay in Taipei and his journey with music came about almost by no accident. No more speaking for him, let’s hear what he says about his story there, nestled among Taiwan’s iconic hot springs.

Q: Is there a specific way you would like to introduce yourself?

Hello I’m Simon, I’m from Washington DC and I currently live in Taipei.

Q: What do you do for a living?

I teach math at a high school.

Q: What feeds your tummy, and what feeds your soul are the same thing or not? If not, is that something you aim to achieve in your life?

A good meal, full of vegetables and spices, is easily something that feeds my soul. I can get really cranky when I’m hungry.

Q: How did it all started with DJing?

I just love good music, and I love collecting music.

Q: All of us had our own awkward (positive or negative) moments at the booth. What was yours?

The first time I ever played was at 23 Music Room. It was my first time ever using CDJs instead of a DDJ400, and I didn’t format my USB properly. I absolutely train-wrecked. It was so stressful and embarrassing. Since then I’ve had a handful of awkward moments here and there, but nothing worse than that.

Q: Do you think online music streaming platforms (Spotify, SoundCloud etc.) today isfunctional/satisfactory enough for music artists? How come?

It’s definitely functional and satisfactory, but it doesn’t live up to the joy you can get from spending an afternoon digging for records, chatting with people in a record shop, and stumbling upon hidden gems.

Q: What about social media? There are many artists, are cool people, good-looking people,and that’s just what they did: be cool and good looking. Also a few artists/DJs there, and, for example, they didn’t have YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, or Facebook. What you think about it and how important it is for your music?

I follow a lot of record stores and DJs on IG, so the algorithm feeds me a lot of their posts. It’s a great way to find new music, and it’s definitely necessary for promoting events.

Q: What are your thoughts on going back to the US, in terms of creativity and inspiration?

No thoughts on that right now!

Q: Like dancing?

Ohhhh yeahhhh.

Q: This is a must-ask question: Do you own a plant? How is your relationship with it?

I do own some plants! We all get along really well!

Q: Do you have any qualifications of you that you think that sets you aside from the bunch in a unique way? In other words, what is your super power? (This is not bragging at all, feel free to vocalize your self-esteem)

I see a lot of DJs who don’t really dance much throughout their sets, so I think what sets me aside is that I’m comfortable with looking like an idiot behind the decks, just enjoying myself.

Q: So you have decided to go Taipei from way back. Why did you choose there?

Oh that’s a long story for another time.

Q: Tell me about your apartment and and equipments. (Your favorite spots in there, and objects at home, and why?)

Right now I have an XDJ RX2 and a pair of Technics SL1200’s. It’s a really convenient combo to practice mixing through digital and vinyl. The whole setup is positioned in front of a big window, so when I practice in the early afternoon it gets great light. Sadly there isn’t enough consistent light throughout the day to keep a lot of plants happy.

Q: What is that your favorite instrument at hand or that you keen to purchase one day?

Hmmm. No plans as of yet.

Q: Do you often complain? What is that moment in your music career that you’re not so proud? What was the trigger that put you in such unpleasant position?

Yeah I love to complain. I’m also pretty overcritical of my sets, so I regularly walk away from the booth feeling “not so proud” of my performances.

Q: What a day, you’ve spared for music (either production or just spinning), with you would be like?

Just hangin out, drinking some coffee, maybe having a pastry, and playing some tunes in the early afternoon!

Q: Do you believe in the concept like ‘sleeping on it’, or something like that in the process?

Definitely. Pause and reflection are a key part of the process!

Q: What happens if you lose what you were trying to do?

Better to take a break and come back to it later with a clear head.

Q: Do you have a label? (Or a plan of it?)

Nope!

Q: Were there many times when you thought, ‘This is not working’ about your DJ/producer career? (Like months at a time or weeks at a time?)

There have been a few periods of time when things weren’t really working out, but those come and go! I’m very fortunate to have been in Taiwan throughout the pandemic, and to have been able to play shows while the rest of the world was locked down.