Dj Cola is a real pro, from starting fledgling nightclubs in Taipei such as Triangle to running weekly Salsa dance nights at Brass Monkey, and even an hour-long weekly radio show featuring what else: latin music.

He also hires foreign Djs from Mexico and elswhere for long-term residences, and can play on any format imaginable.He regaled me with a story for a foreign Dj at a salsa festival who brought folders of CDs only to learn that the newest model CDJs don’t accept CDs anymore, they only take USB drives.

So when playing Blue Galaxy, of course DJ Cola would pull out all of the equipment, hooking up two CDJs which were delivered to the stage days ago, but never connected, and also installing GoPro cameras on tent poles and various. other areas. He seems comfortable managing four different tracks: a USB list, 12-inch records, 7-inch records, and even making sure his live stream is working. delivered one of those moments, bringing a blast of cumbia heat to the mountains of Naeba.

But when it came to the music, he delivered an old school cumbia set with just a little reggae ton at the end.

Admittedly the crowd started slow, with just a handful of people dancing around the outer edge of the festival. But it grew with every minute and the hypnotic percussion and rolling bass lines, the heart of Cumbia’s magic drew more people in.

That is the secret weapon of Blue Galaxy: it is not chasing spectacle — it is chasing moments. No giant screens. No fireworks. Just a DJ, a stack of killer selections, and a crowd discovering a new favorite song together.

As the afternoon light faded over Fuji Rock’s forest paths, DJ Cola proved once again that the festival’s most unforgettable experiences are often found away from the main stage. Sometimes all it takes is a pair of decks, a great groove, and a few hundred people ready to dance.