He sang in temples at 10 years old before taking up mall-broadcasting gigs in his teens while pursuing his studies, and eventually picked up deejaying in college.
Although he is an engineer on paper, Double D couldn’t visualise himself in the industry after graduating. “It just wasn’t for me – I knew I wanted to be a performer,” he tells FMT.
“Right after my degree I decided to pursue events full-time and found my first job as a radio host for Traxx FM.”
The radio lifestyle suited him and he has remained with them for the past 20 years. But he recalls his parents were less than pleased. “My dad was an engineer, and wanted me to follow in his footsteps,” he shares.
The mention of his father colours his face with sorrow. The 43-year-old, whose real name is Vimal Gnanasekaran, has lost six family members over the course of the pandemic – his father, mother, godbrother, and three dogs.
The heartbreak doesn’t end there. Since the movement control order (MCO) came into effect last year, the nightlife industry has been shuttered, leaving DJs like him in the lurch.
At first he joined the bandwagon of artists who livestreamed to virtual crowds, but the demand for those events soon fizzled out. Some DJs have since been forced to diversify.
“I know of DJs who are now Grab riders or have taken up jobs at call centres. I’m so fortunate that I still have a stable job with radio. But even then, my pay has been cut because SOPs mean I work fewer hours,” he says.
The last time he performed as a DJ was in March last year, just shy of the first MCO that brought a stop to his scheduled performances.
He recounts the time he performed at a Malaysian Grand Prix event in 2011, playing for some 50,000 cheering people, and the yearning in his voice is unmistakable.
“I love what I do. I was the only one among my friends who went dateless to prom all three years of college. Instead, I would be up there onstage, doing my thing,” he recalls fondly.
Despite the troubles of the past couple of years, Double D maintains a sunny disposition. The animation with which he speaks, coupled with his youthful laugh, suggests a man younger than his years – an observation he says is not uncommon for those in the profession.
“That’s the thing about DJs – we’re always on our feet, socialising, dancing, feeling the music. It keeps us young inside, though our outsides don’t always agree!”
Describing the scene as a close-knit fraternity, Double D says the pandemic has brought DJs across Malaysia closer.
Last August, the Malaysian Collective of DJs took part in “DJs Jaga DJs”, which saw them break the previous achievement in the Malaysia Book of Records for the longest DJ livestream. Theirs lasted 11 days and involved 124 performers across the country.
Friends and family members rallied behind their initiative, and as they performed, people sent food and drinks to the studio in a sign of support.
The event was even sanctioned by the police, who paid a visit to the studio in Kuala Lumpur to ensure adherence to SOPs.
“Breaking the record helped us remember what we do best, and that is entertain audiences,” Double D reflects. “We wanted to show the country that DJs can have a positive impact.
“The MCOs have stopped us from performing our craft, but we have so much to give.”
He says the collective is campaigning for DJs to be treated on par with other performing artists. “DJing requires a special skill set. What makes us different from singers or dancers? We want to be recognised as professionals,” he states.
In the meantime, Double D is patiently waiting for the nightlife industry to reopen. And when it does, “outlet owners, patrons and DJs alike will need to work together to make sure we stay safe, or we risk this all happening all over again”.
When asked what he misses most about deejaying, he is unequivocal. “The smiles you see when someone appreciates your music out on the dance floor – that’s priceless,” he says.
“I am so looking forward to the day we DJs get to grace the decks once more, rather than play behind a screen within the four walls of our homes.”
Check out DJ Double D on Instagram, and watch his livestreams on BIGOLIVE with his user ID @djdoubled78.
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