The skin he's in

>> The return of DJ Onionz brings a tear to one's eye

by KRISTA

If "rave" in Montreal was a religion (as some felt it was), and that religion had a spiritual guide, his name would be Onionz. Unfortunately, the "underground music scene" in our city has increased in size exponentially since its crude beginnings in abandoned warehouses and airplane hangars and lost most of its original magic. There are probably few partygoers nowadays who remember, or who were even there to feel the very special gift of music given to us by this mystical DJ from NYC. Forgive me if I'm coming off like a flaky wingnut; I can honestly say the little man known as Onionz played more than one set in this city that changed my life.

"I don't like to get all spiritual or cheezy about it, but basically, whatever you believe in, music, God, a chair, that's what I turn everything over to when I play," Onionz tells me over the phone from his Brooklyn flat, after I confess my admiration of his ability. "It's funny," he continues, "when I was coming up to play in Montreal at those parties, like Liquid, Dubtribe and Knowledge, I was in a really bad place in my life. But things were really pure back then, too. People were open and receptive and looking for direction. That was part of it."

Whatever devil the O-Man, as he is affectionately known, had riding on his back during that period, it certainly didn't affect his ability to deliver funky, bumpy, breaky house of the highest order. And in the years since Onionz has managed to shake that devil off without losing an iota of the divine talent he possesses. He now runs a label, Elektrik Soul, for which he also produces with his roommate Master D, and produces for American labels Moody and Siesta.

"Things are really good," he tells me happily. "The label is going great, I have a monthly residency in Texas, and I'm travelling a lot." This Sunday, Onionz makes a highly-anticipated return to Montreal for the first time in about five years. "It's been so long I don't really know what to expect," he says, "but I'm very excited. I hope to see some old faces." :

With DJ Heather at Stereo on Sunday, April 23, $20