72-string player wins DJ contest

by Jayden McDonald  13 May, 2011

A 23-year-old Iranian university student has won the first Murdoch Electronic Music Society Disc Jockey competition using a traditional Iranian instrument.

Sobhan Esfahani used a Santur during his 45 minute set last Friday at Murdoch Tavern.

Santur, which means 100 strings in Persian, is a  72-string hammered instrument.

Three judges chose Mr Esfahani as the winner out of the final five contestants.

The three judges consisted of two disc jockeys from the popular radio website, Sub.FM and a local event organiser who has experience working with many international acts.

Mr Esfahani was taught the Santur by his father who also played the Santur when he was young.

“Besides the Santur, I’ve been disc jockeying for four years now and interested in music since my father taught me how to play the Santur,” he said.

Event organiser, Patrick Hay, a Murdoch university student, said he was very impressed with how smoothly the event ran and did not have to deal with any issues throughout the day.

“The Murdoch Electronic Music Society Disc Jockey competition’s first place prize includes a DJ set at a Northbridge nightclub which matches their genre,” said Mr Hay.

“Murdoch Electronic Music Society is in the process of arranging a suitable club night, we will do our best to connect him with a night that suits him and he will obviously have the choice to play or not play.”

“I have not really thought much about it but I want to play at Ambar nightclub in Perth,” said Mr Esfahani.

Ambar nightclub is considered one of Australia’s best nightclubs after being the only Australian nightclub in DJMag’s Top 100 Clubs.

Mr Hay said the Murdoch Electronic Music Society has more events planned for the second semester of this year.

“We are planning to host another one next semester and more than likely it will become a second semester event as the National Campus Disc Jockey Competition is held then so we would like to enter Sobhan into that.”

The National Campus Disc Jockey Competition involves over  40 universities and TAFE student unions throughout Australia.

Disc jockeys will be given  10 minutes to perform during this competition, which takes place in September.

The winner of the competition will be given a  $500 voucher from DJ Warehouse.