KOCHI: The excitement level of around 50,000 yellow-clad fans of Kerala Blasters FC amped up as the beat and tempo of the music played by DJ Ryan reached a crescendo. Ryan, who has been selected as the official DJ for Kerala Blasters, will be following the team throughout this season.
Ryan, has been DJying for the past 15 years while juggling his other job as an aircraft maintenance engineer. Ryan said,”The selection for the official DJ was based on popularity.” He was very happy to entertain the audience for the first 3 hours before the start of the Indian Super League on November 17. “Usually, the gates open only two hours before a match. But on the inaugural day, gates opened 3 hours before the match. So I had to play the music for that period of time. Songs from both Hollywood and Bollywood movies were played along with Kerala’s favourite ‘Jimmiki Kammal’ and ‘Lungi Dance’. Songs related to football were played more,” he said. He took to DJing from Class XII. After doing BTech from Southern College of Engineering and Technology, Chalakudy he came back to DJing. Ryan, however, said it is difficult to handle an excited crowd inside a stadium. He had to keep changing the songs according to the response of the audience.
Ryan will DJ for all the ISL matches that will be played in Kerala. “I want the audience to be a part of the music that I play. Just like how they were in Kochi. While playing ‘Sky full of Stars’ by Coldplay, the audience was asked to switch on the flashlights of their mobile phones. I was surprised by their response. Almost everyone acquiesced and I wish to try some similar techniques next time,” he said. Ryan is also planning to include chants prepared by the Kerala Blasters Fan Club ‘Yellow Army’. He also DJed during the Celebrity Cricket League held here. As a freelance, Ryan usually DJs at star hotels.