Perth’s up-and-coming DJ Reggie Matthews, better known as Ta-Ku, has opened up his own barber shop.
While running and operating a barber shop is an unusual hobby for any DJ or performer, Ta-Ku has punted on a passion he has for hair opening Westons Barber Shop And Shave Parlour recently. “It's been a lot of fun, it's come along really well and I'm excited ... I've always had a passion for the barber industry. I've always wanted to be a barber.
“There's a resurgence of barbering and men’s grooming happening worldwide at the moment. Perth is a good place, it's a developing city, it's not a developed city yet — there's still a lot that needs to be done within the city. [The barber shop] just came at the right time, it was good timing and something I always really wanted to do, and so I did it.”
When he’s not cutting hair, Ta-Ku is expanding his musical palette. “I'm a big fan of [dance music]. I come from a hip hop and electronic background, so that’s my heart. But I guess I listen to a lot of electronic music and dance music as well. I just wanted to give it a crack; this is my take on dance music.”
While Ta-Ku enjoys performing and is excited to be playing the national Listen Out tour in October, he usually prefers creating and recording music. “I think recording is more my thing, I like being behind a [recording] desk. I think [performing] just comes with the territory. Once I've finished this next EP I definitely want to put on a show, but I want to make it different. I want to make sure I do it right, do it a little bit more uniquely.”
While DJing is something Ta-Ku has always wanted to do, he didn't always take it seriously. “I've always been into music and I wanted to buy turntables to learn to DJ to begin with, and then I started collecting records and when you collect records you develop a passion for wanting to learn about samples and how to make them different. It’s a natural progression.”
Listen Out Tour Dates
Sat 27 Sep - Centennial Park (Sydney)Sun 28 Sep - Ozone Reserve (Perth)
Sat 4 Oct - Observatory Precinct, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
Sun 5 Oct - The Avenues & Expo Place, Brisbane Showgrounds
