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Author: Benjamin Bruel
Translation: Alex Menu-Kerforn & Fanny Rousselot-Viallet
Photo credit: Deaf Rave
Vibrations
In this flat located in Hackney, in the suburbs of London, there are always some vinyls scattered all over the floor, on the walls, on the shelves. You can find old drum and bass vinyls, reggae and a lot of jungle music. Troi “DJ Chinaman” Lee can hardly stop playing with his new mixing deck, which takes pride of place in front of him like a totem, in the middle of the room. “I’m having a blast with this new gear,” he says with a smile, in that North East London accent. “I don't really have time to vibe right now because I am finishing up a big project for Deaf Rave.”
Troi was born deaf. “I think that was caused by a lack of oxygen when I was in my mom’s belly. I grew up with hearing aids,” he continues. He grew up with music also, a lot of music. Anyone who has ever set foot in the East End of London knows about its buzzing cultures, smells and sounds often hailing from Jamaica and Africa. Some of London's first raves were held in this mosaic of graffiti and parks.
“I did my first rave just next ...
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