DJ Star set to perform at community festival

There’s something about the thrill of being a disc jockey that Alister Wong can’t explain.

The Southbank product manager has been spinning records since the ‘90s and his energy today has never wavered.

“There’s kind of nothing really like playing to a big crowd and having them cheer to something you’re doing,” Alister, who goes by the name DJ Star, said.

“It’s very hard to describe the feeling – the hairs are standing up on your arms. You’re kind of really excited, and that type of buzz is something that is hard to replicate.”

While gigs have been a “little bit hard to get back into” since COVID, Alister plays as often as he can in pubs and clubs around Melbourne. He also does corporate functions, weddings, 21st birthdays, and parties.

“I guess being a seasoned operator, there’s plenty of people I’ve worked with over the years, so by word-of-mouth through other performers and stuff like that, I typically get work filling in ...”

“My preference is what I call a rock star gig where you just turn up with your music and the venue has everything there already.”

But one event he said he was most looking forward to was performing at is the new Festival at Boyd on May 19, a community event featuring stalls, arts and crafts, children’s activities and more at the Boyd Community Hub.

“I often find that events like this foster a little more engagement between people that you often see every day,” Alister said.

“I’m excited to do something local.”

He remains grateful for the opportunity to share his music with the world since he began his side hobby at the age of 17 with his passion to this day being R‘n’B (Return of the Mac is his number one favourite song).

“I started with vinyl and in fact I still play records so I’m a bit of an old-school DJ,” he told Southbank News.  

“I was kind of lucky when I first started, I was actually sponsored by all the record labels and used to play at all the big clubs in Melbourne.”

“Sony, Warner, Festival, BMG – all those guys used to give me white label sample records before the internet came along.”

When not DJing, Alister loves tinkering with his two motorbikes – one of which he “pimped my ride” over COVID. He also has a classic Porsche, which of course has the number plate “DJSTAR”.

Alister has been a Southbanker since 2007 and he won’t have it any other way.

“It’s like a cultural centre point for Melbourne. We’re constantly surrounded by international and local sporting events and festivals – that you can walk to!” •

Caption: Alister Wong with his turntable at his Southbank apartment. Photo: Hanna Komissarova.