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PROFILING DJ COQUE

He has over twenty years of experience in the Salsa scene. He started back in Colombia when he was a young boy, and now he has the reputation, experience, and salsa selection like no other in the state. Dj Coque tells us about his thoughts of the Salsa scene in the state, but not just that, he comes and let's us get a bit more personal on what his future plans are, and how he thinks we can all improve the Salsa community here in Salt Lake City.

That's right Dj Coque comes under our profiles page with his interview about materials relating to Salsa, and some stuff that are not necessarily related to the subject.

Alright, first tell us your Name, Nationality, Marital Status and your Profession?

Let's see,... first my name is Alvaro Gonzales, better known as DJ COQUE. My nationality is Colombian, I am married and my profession at the moment is only Music... right now anyways.

Alright, why do people call you Coque?

Heheheh... everyone asks me that! Well, since my name is Alvaro... and in my country there is this fruit called ALVARICOQUE, that's how it started - it's a fruit like the apricot, and everyone over there in my city calls it ALVARICOQUE. And I remember that back in school my friends always called me "Alvaricoque, Alvaricoque..." but since it was too long, people started calling me Coque, and it just stuck that way, so I've been just COQUE ever since!

Do you have any hobbies?

Yeah, I love the sport. Well, I just love soccer a lot... I usually practice with my son who plays in the Latin League here in Salt Lake City.

When did you start in the Salsa Scene?

Hahhhehe... It's been so long ago. Sometimes I forget... heheehhe... I really started in this scene so long ago, about 25 years ago. I remember that a friend of mine, he would rent his equipment to parties and I would DJ with him. I used to help him out, and that's how I started as a DJ. I remember that he was a Salsa Fanatic, he loved the band "La Sonora Matancera", and that's how I started liking Salsa. I got to know a lot of music from that group, and because of them I started to dig more into the rhythm, and found out that Salsa really came to be the fusion of a quantity of beats and rhythms - I realized that the genre is the togetherness of Mambo, el Son, la Guaracha, el Guaguanco, even Danzon Mexicano and many more - all those rhythms that come from the Caribbean, the mix of the Afro-Latin beats, and by the I was done researching salsa for the first time I was already in love with the whole rhythm. But don't think that that's all I play, because now days for example, here in Salt Lake City, I play much more than Salsa. People come to dance to Merengue, Bachata, Cumbia and more, but if we were to talk percentages, you could say that Mambo plays Salsa about 40% and 60% everything else, so we mostly play salsa.

What would you say was your first Great Experience in the Scene?

Well, my first Great experience would be when I was about 14 years old. I remember that an uncle of mine - He resides in New York now - He had a club that was quite famous in my city. I remember that I used to go dancing there, but at one point he told me: "You are gonna have to work here too since you are consuming the drinks and all... you either attend the tables or play the music after you dance some!" hehehaeaehe,... he already knew that I was gonna choose to play the music, so I started to do that. And you have to remember that in our countries in Latin America, the party doesn't stop at 1 or 2 AM like here in Salt Lake, but people are still dancing until 4, 5 or even 6 o'clock in the morning, and I was still playing at 7 in the morning... and I loved it, because people didn't want to leave, they liked how I played. That motivated me a lot, I've been playing since.

Why did you choose Salt Lake City to expand your Skills?

Well... I didn't REALLY choose Salt Lake City. What happened is that I ended up living here in Salt Lake City as a BREAK from playing at clubs, because in Colombia I was playing in various Salsa Spots in Bogota. And you know how it is over there, most of the places over there serve alcohol and it can get pretty rough sometimes. I mean, playing every weekend for so many years, I needed some time off. It has been over 20 years... so I was definitely looking for a break out of that. Then the project Mambo came to me, and well... I started to play and now look, three years later you can still see me every weekend here at Mambo Club.

Do you see yourself as a winner in what you do?

Hmmm... Really... I don't see myself as a winner but I see myself as a person who is very satisfied in what I do, and very pleased to see that people are appreciating what I am doing. Seeing people enjoying what I do. I really like that, it's very satisfying.

If you could make yourself better, what would it be?

Well, I believe that everyone always needs to improve and get better... And in my case I am always looking into new rhythms, new groups and songs. Everyday I am looking into more possibilities to make new mixes, new ideas, always digging and digging into new stuff.

What would you need to get better, something spiritual or material maybe?

Spiritually... well... I look at music as something "divine". I mean, I wake up with music, and I go to bed with music. So you could say that I look at music in a spiritual way.

Since we are in the subject, let's talk Religion, do you practice any religion?

Yes, I am Mormon, LDS... very proud too.

What Salsa group or singer do you admire most?

As a group of Salsa I always admired La Sonora Ponce�a, and El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, both of them from Puerto Rico. And from Colombia I like a lot of groups, but something that I want to clarify is that when people think of Salsa in Colombia, they always think of Grupo Niche, or Guayacan and people don't realize that there are so many more groups there that are really good too. There is this group called Alpha 8 that I really liked, they always played Salsa, and now are playing more rhythms like Cumbia and more.

Who was your inspiration into getting in this scene?

Well, like I was saying before... that would be my friend that started me into this scene, his name is Carlos Zolaya. He now resides in Colombia, and he has a really good taste of music... The man can really pick some GOOD talent and Salsas.

What do you prefer most, Salsa, Cumbia, Merengue or others?

For me... Salsa is my life, Salsa is my passion... But here I had to learn about other rhythms that we didn't have in Colombia, I had to learn about Bachata - that I didn't know about - and the different types of Merengue people dance to. But, oh well... as a DJ you have to learn and modify yourself to the place you are in. You have to accept other rhythms that people like in the area... I mean, think if I didn't accept other beats, I would starve as a DJ. But still now days Salsa is the best to me, Salsa is just my life.

Any song in particular that makes you remember special moments?

Well, to think of a song - A favorite song - ... well I have so many, about ten songs. But one that really comes to my mind would be a song called "Pensando En Ti" from Chichi Mendoza. He is from Venezuela, great singer.

How do you compare the Salt Lake City that we have now, from a few years ago?

Wow... the difference is big,... I mean, we started Mambo three years ago and I remember that back then there was only one Latin Club in the state, and we came in the picture to give people an alternative of Latin Entertainment. Right now, there are a lot of places in the city where you can go listen to Salsa. I noticed that a lot of places owned by Americans are trying to move into the Latin night, and I think that that's great because it always gives people a different view and different experiences to listen and dance music to. But to that, we are always working harder and trying to give a place where it is a 100% Latin Music, a place where it represents the Latin Community.

Do you think you contributed to the Salsa Community for it's growth?

I would say yes in a way... Yeah... I believe so. And I think that way because I noticed that a lot of the songs that I have in my repertoire are songs that people never heard before. And I really worried about that a lot, to be putting new stuff out there every week. And by that I don't really mean new songs that just barely came out, but songs from groups that are no longer playing, or stuff that DJ's never played here before, or old songs that in other places are very popular.

Do you think that you have any competition, someone that you think of equal maybe?

Bueno... about competition, here in Salt Lake City there are good DJ's. But when I was in Miami, I got to know many clubs and places there, and I saw people that has a lot of experience, people that do big events, and I am always working to get better. That's what competition is for, to get better.

In the last three years that you've been playing in Salt Lake city, you only played at Mambo?

I really started playing for local parties. I started with a company called "Latin Party MaxiMovil" with which I do private parties, and local events... you know - Like Quincia�eras, Weddings and such. I also played for this club that is closed now that was called Excalibur, and also a bar called Millers, and always doing different places and playing latin music all over.

About the Mambo Competition 2003, how did you see it?

Bueno... What I realized, and had to opportunity to see that people here, that are involved in Dancing Salsa, well, some of them are getting really good. I've seen the growth of some of the couples, and now are competing and doing really good. But if I were to think of mistakes or something that didn't quite fit in - In my opinion - I got a bit disappointed at one of the couples... Fransisco and Daiyani,... who were the champions last year. Compared to what they brought last year, I was disappointed in the routine they brought this year (2003)... I mean, I've seen them dance amazingly, and last year they took the crown, no doubt about it. But I think that routine wasn't quite as good as the one in 2002. It was like they thought to themselves "Well, we were the champions last year, so we can win again!". And I think they should have worried a bit more about the other couples, and always keep working harder. I mean, they are really good, but this year I think they might have not been completely ready for the event. You never know, things always happen. Things sometimes don't go your way, and that's probably what happened to them this year, but they are amazing still. My suggestion to them is to keep going as hard and strong as they have been because you guys are fantastic, you guys can go far.

Do you admire a dancer in specific?

Well... I just have to admire Cubano. It fascinates me seeing him dance - El Cubano is...well, I think he is one of the best dancers in the state - He got 2nd place this year at the competition.

Do you have any future plans in this business?

Regarding music, I am working on new stuff... I am actually re-mastering old songs and making them audible to the new generations. And I really don't do that for the people, but more for me. And at one point people will be listening to some songs and they'll say "Hey, I heard the original version of that, but this great too!" You know... things I work on.

Do you have any suggestions to people that want to get in this field?

A suggestion to the people that want to get in this business, let me say to them that - EVERYONE can be good at this - And I am not saying that I am the best, but with hard work and a lot of dedication you can get where you want to be. And most of all guys, you have to enjoy what you do. I mean, I love what I do, and I can feel that my energy goes to the people on the floor... so you have to enjoy it too.

Do you believe that the Mambo Competition will get as big as the Mayan maybe?

Well, I haven't had the pleasure to see the Mayan Competition yet, but I heard so much about it... I mean all the dancers here talk about it. And I think that Utah can get to that level. I think that the support the scene more. We have to grow more in the Salsa World. To compare the size of the Salsa Scene here in Salt Lake to Los Angeles, New York, or Miami we are still young. They have so many people salsa dancing, they have the crowd to pull something like the Mayan off, and I think that someday Utah will have the means to get there.

Have you seen our site, what do you think of it?

Well, I am fascinated by it. It was something that was VERY needed in the state. The job that you guys are doing is amazing. You guys tell us where to go listen, dance, play, sing Salsa. Pretty much all relating to Salsa can be found, it's great what you guys have done.

Any last words to the people that follow Salsa?

For all the Salseros and Salseras, and people that follow the dancing - DJ COQUE would like to send special greetings to you all and remind you that you always have to enjoy Salsa, not necessarily here at Mambo, but wherever you go... always keep Salsa alive and most of all guys, enjoy it - Pasenla Bien!