Published
Fri, Jul 9, 2021, 15:30
- The artist (AKA Gabriel Mustaqim and Jeneral Kai) passed away due to health complications on July 7th.
DJ Gabriel Chong, a dance music pioneer in Singapore and Malaysia, has died aged 48, The Star reports.
Also known as Gabriel Mustaqim, Jeneral Kai and Deep House Society, Chong passed away earlier this week, July 7th, in Malaysia due to health complications.
Born in 1972, Chong is considered one of the founding fathers of electronic music in his native Singapore and, especially Malaysia, where he has lived since the '80s. His tireless work as a DJ and promoter helped transform the capital, Kuala Lumpur, into one of the world's top clubbing destinations in the '90s. He was also a radio host and mentor to young artists, introducing them to music and equipment via Singles Shoppe, the city's first dance music record store.
As a producer, Chong released on labels like Micronautics, OneWithMusic and Jerome Sydenham's Apotek, as well as working on Mysticam, the 2006 pop-dance album by Malaysian singer Camelia. His most prolific period was in the late 2010s, when he put out dozens of EPs under his tech house alias, Jeneral Kai. Most of these landed on his label, Turn It Up.
Before discovering house and techno, Chong was a hip-hop fanatic and turntablist, representing Singapore at the DMC Championships in London in 1988.
"Gabriel was that beacon for the dance scene in Malaysia," Victor G, the music curator of the W Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, told Resident Advisor. "At the peak of his career, this man had Kuala Lumpur's dance scene at the tip of his fingers. Everywhere he played was magical with an almost cult-like following. His versatility of sounds complimented his technical flair, entertaining and inspiring so many. His contribution to the scene influenced me to do the same by creating special moments and to also encourage and inspire the young and upcoming. A mentor to many, Kuala Lumpur has lost a true dance music legend."
Watch Chong's DMC performance.
Credit: Handout