DJ’s, much like any other artist, aren’t all cut from the same cloth. Some are party-rockers, using their natural and honed ability to feel out what the room needs and deliver it at exactly the right time. Some are tastemakers; responsible for showing you your next favourite track for the very first time, or maybe playing an old favourite in a way that makes it seem new again. Some are tricksters, who came up through the storied school of turntablism and belong to a small group keeping the niche art of scratching and juggling alive in the era of the digital DJ. And then there are the rare ones who bring a little bit of everything to the table—or in this case, the turntables. Some call them “the DJ’s DJ,” and C-SIK is one of them.
After starting his career as a turntablist battling in such competitions as the DMCs, over the last 15 years C-SIK has become one of Canada’s most versatile DJ’s. He began playing in clubs in 2007 and since then has become known for the undeniable style he brings to his sets, regardless if he’s rocking an intimate basement jam or for a crowd of thousands. His crowd-reading ability and taste-making selections have brought him around the world to DJ in Toronto, San Francisco, NYC, Honolulu and everywhere in between. His competitive roots also led him to enter the Red Bull 3Style, where he won the Canadian title in 2014, going on to represent his country on the world stage in Azerbaijan.
Closer to home he’s been holding down coveted residencies at some of Calgary’s best venues including Hifi Club and Commonwealth Bar & Stage; and also co-founded one of the city’s most successful old-school hip-hop and R&B parties, Rewind (which has consistently sold out its 1000+ person venue for eight years running). He’s also passionate about sharing his love for his craft with the new generation, and since 2013 has been heading up the DJ program at Beat Drop, Calgary’s first DJ and production school. He is also one of the founding members of Skratcher’s Calgary chapter and an ambassador for Heavy Hits Record Pool.
Whether he’s dropping a guest mix on Sway In The Morning, playing alongside De La Soul’s Maseo or directly supporting Diplo; whether he’s cuttin’ it up to some classics or dropping the latest heaters—C-SIK does it all with flavour and finesse. And the best part is, that even after 25 years in the game, he’s just getting started.