CHECKING IN WITH ... CLARK CHUKA:

Summer’s almost here, so it’s that time of the year for parties and celebrations. From graduations to proms to weddings there’s always one person on the invitation list — the DJ. So we thought we’d catch up with Newport Beach disc jockey Clark Chuka to ask what’s new in his world.

What do you think is going to be the hot single this summer?

Unless there’s a smash hit that hasn’t hit the airwaves, I think “Low” by Flo Rida will stay the top song for this summer. It came out early in 2008 and has been strong all year.

During the summer months, what kind of events are DJs frequently working?

During the summer months, the outdoor events tend to increase. We get a nice uptick in weddings and corporate picnics.

Does contemporary technology, like the iPod, change the way you do your job now?

Yes. I’ve been a laptop-based DJ since 1999. When I switched to a laptop, instead of requesting songs, people would come up just to check out my DJ system.

It’s not as shocking now to see a DJ working off a laptop, but in 1999 people were blown away. Technology has helped make things sound better, and get smaller and lighter.

My DJ system is one-quarter the size it used to be, and it’s really fun to use.

Do you feel you are competing with the new technology, and, if yes, how so?

Competing against the new technology? No. I’m a beta tester for a few software and hardware products. We’ve always made a point of embracing new technology, and I really enjoy previewing and fine-tuning products for our industry.

What is your most popular request?

“Lady Marmalade” — the Christina Aguilera, Pink, Mya and Lil’ Kim version. “Got To Be Real” by Cheryl Lynn is a close second.

What is the craziest request you’ve ever gotten?

When I was DJing for “Mad TV” (2003-04 season), someone from the audience tried to play “Stump the DJ” and asked for “Goodbye Horses” by Q Lazzarus (It’s from the “Silence of the Lambs” movie). I logged in to our central server, did a search, found it and downloaded it.

It took about five minutes to get it and play it. The audience member requesting the song was blown away. I think that was my weirdest request. If you don’t remember it, it’s now available on iTunes. You can preview it for free.

Do you ever get stumped?

I rarely get stumped, but it happens now and then. There is such a variety of music out there, and it’s ever-increasing. You have to have a good memory for music to be a great DJ.

How often do people sing you their requests because they don’t know the title of the song? Do you ever find that annoying?

At almost every event someone comes up to request a song without knowing its title. Having them sing their song really helps me. I can key in to the song’s melody much easier than the lyrics. So, even if they’re only a great “shower” singer, I can usually figure it out after I hear part of a verse or chorus.