ACTIV8
DJ Ikon, 26, brings years of experience to Activ8.

DJ Ikon hopes to
lift dance scene

He promises lots of 'eye candy' in the
form of go-go dancers to match the music

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By Shawn 'Speedy' Lopes
Star-Bulletin

"What I'm trying to do with this show is something that's never been done before, at least not here," says DJ Ikon, whose new venture, christened Activ8, promises to add a new and novel twist to the usual ho-hum deejay experience. At tonight's event, Happy Go Lucky, at the Hawaii Country Club in Kunia, the 26-year-old deejay and promoter will be joined by several dancers best known for their sexy, provocative work with the Viva La Diva events of the now-defunct Evolution nightclub.

"At these kinds of shows, there's usually a lot of hype surrounding the deejays, and sometimes people are let down because they don't really give their audience much of a show. We've got three go-go dancers, so there'll be a little more eye candy for those who come out. (The performance) should also be a lot more crowd-friendly, not so deep and moody as raves can get sometimes."

The allure of Activ8 however, reaches far beyond its visual appeal. DJ Ikon brings years of experience (he is the prime architect of club promotions crew Disciples of Energy, or DOe) to Activ8. "Nowadays, people seem to think that anyone and their mama can deejay, but it's a little more involved than that."

Born Ryan Galinato some 26 years ago here in Hawaii, the future DJ Ikon (a name retained from his days as an aerosol artist) moved to San Jose, Calif., at the age of 5 before returning to the islands at 17. "I've always been musically inclined," he says. "I'm not athletic or sports-minded, so instead of playing basketball, I bought 45s."

As soon as he was legally allowed into nightclubs, Galinato immersed himself in the Honolulu underground club scene, assisting scene stalwarts like Matt Grim and Daniel J. in their grand productions before forming DOe in '97.

"I liked the scene better then," he says of the not-so-old school of Hawaiian electronica. "It might be a lot bigger now, but it's also a lot more politicized than it used to be. Back then, all of the other music scenes got along; went to each other's events and respected each other's scenes. When Radio Free Hawaii went off the air, it seemed like the scenes started to grow apart. There was nothing to hold them together anymore, and everyone lost a little identity. Nowadays, you can go to the mall and buy your image from some raver-slash-gothic store. It's too easy."

Still, he has continued to do his part in perpetuating Honolulu's ever-growing club scene, partly because of his inextinguishable passion for music, partly out of duty. "If I wanted to, I could have done the same thing I've done here somewhere else," he states. "But I like being part of a foundation here and being involved in the advancement of this culture. Those guys that I looked up to now consider me an equal, and I feel honored in a sense. That's something I never expected."

Happy Go Lucky Featuring: DJs Robert Oleysyck, Thomas Michael, Activ8 and others On stage:10 p.m. to 4 a.m. today Place: Hawaii Country Club, 94-1211 Kunia Road Call: 591-3500

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