Rolling with the Swiss

Swiss spinner Fred Jungo of Bed Supperclub fame heads back up to Bangkok next week for a one-off party at V Club.
Jungo started his DJ career in clubs in his native land where he carved out a solid career before settling in Bangkok. He joined the Bed Supperclub resident DJ squad and rose through the ranks, becoming a household name for his exceptional taste and unique execution of electronic music.
Now the head DJ at Bimi Beach Club on Phuket’s Surin Beach – a much less crazy vibe – he’s coming back home to play his freshest house set. We had a chat with him.

How did it all start for you?

Back in 1991, after three years of working in a record store, some bar owner offered me a job as a DJ at his venue. I haven’t stopped since. I grew up listening to all sorts of influences, from rock to funk and blues to disco, but UK indie rock has always been a major influence and my inspiration throughout the years and still is now.

You’ve been in Thailand for a long time.
Being a witness as well as one of the actors of the birth of the first house scene in Bangkok back in the 2000’s was probably the best thing I have ever experienced as a DJ. I started working for Bed Supperclub three weeks before the opening and was lucky to be one of the weekend residents from the start.

How has your style evolved over the years?
I’ve been married to music since 1991. And when you’ve been married for 23 years, mistakes tend to creep in. I needed to feel younger in front of an increasingly younger crowd, so I cheated on my “soulmate”. As a DJ, it’s fundamental to relate to the music you play, but more importantly, the crowd also needs to understand that there might be a reason why a 40-year-old DJ is not playing the same type of music he did 10 years ago. I’ve lost myself a few times and now I’ve finally found myself, I feel at ease with the music I play – house music – because it represents who I am now.

Why did you choose Phuket as your next base?
I had to leave. When Bed Supperclub, disappeared, it was difficult to start all over again. It wasn’t until later that I realised afterwards how much I’ve benefitted from being away from Bangkok. I needed to reconstruct myself and Bimi Beach Club in Phuket did the trick.

How is the clubbing scene there different from Bangkok?
I can’t speak about clubbing in general between Phuket and Bangkok, as I am now working in a beach club and as far as I know there are no beach clubs in Bangkok! What I can say is that the crowd I play for seems to have more time to listen to the DJ’s music than in any club in the city. Having more time also means that they are a lot more open to new sounds and new experiences.

What do you have in store for the Bangkok party this time?
Soul-based sexy house music filled with fat basslines, blues and a few diva supplications.


In the groove
>> DJ Fred Jungo is performing at V Club on Sukhumvit soi 11 on Thursday. The party starts at 11pm.
>> Entry is free for all. Ladies get three complimentary drinks before midnight. Call (082) 308 3246.