1 When did you start DJing – and what or who were your early influences?
I started DJing when I was 13-14 years old in the mid 70’s when obviously there was no DJ culture at that time. I just enjoyed listening to music and was the person sitting next to the stereo choosing what to play. That was before the evolution of non stop mixing.
2 What were some of the main challenges and goals when starting out as a DJ and how have they changed over time? What is it about DJing, compared to, say, producing your own music, that makes it interesting for you?
Well of course having the equipment to play on first. The dream of owning your own turntables and a mixer. Nowadays it’s more economical to DJ in every sense of the word. Today you can buy a cheap controller that has the decks and the mixer all in one. You can buy self powered speakers and the cost of buying music on the internet is nothing. I am a DJ first and producer second. I find music interesting and it has evolved over the years into different genres. There is so much music to play today. Too much really.
3 How would you define the job and describe the influence of the DJ? How are the experience and the music transformed through your work?
The job of a DJ is to select and program the music to create an atmosphere of joy and happiness. Dancing is a form of celebration that has been going on for centuries. The experience and the feeling is what makes DJing so exciting. It never gets boring. It’s not a job it’s an adventure.
4 What was your first set-up as DJ like? How and for what reasons has your set-up evolved over the years and what are currently some of the most important pieces of gear for you?
My first setup was a Fisher turntable with no pitch control. a Phillips turntable that had pitch control a radio shack mic mixer with no cueing and a cheap home stereo. Over the years of course I was able to afford to buy better gear. It was always exciting to buy the next level of turntables and mixer.When I got my first technics B1 turntables I was so excited. I saved up money every week to buy them and they only cost $100 each but when you’re 16 years old with a part time job it’s alot of money. When I first got my first rotary mixer which was the UREI 1620 professional mixer was the next level. Now 40+ years later I have a small club in my studio with a sick set up. I prefer a rotary analogue mixer. I now use the Pioneer 3000 CDJ’s and my music files are wav. I even take my own mixer with me to play if it’s not available.
5 Tell us about a normal day in your life and a day when you will perform as a DJ
A normal day for me is waking up around 6-7am having a dish of pasta then laying down on the sofa and watch the news. I will not get up until I am ready to start my day. I have a studio so I normally will go to the studio in the morning and spend my day in the studio. Usually I’m working on making music. I normally go to bed early. When it comes to a day to DJ, I normally relax before I have to play. I tune out. No music whatsoever.
6 What is the show/gig you played in your career ?
I’ve had way too many to count in 40 years.
7 What is your state of mind during a DJ set? What supports this ideal state of mind and what are distractions?
I’m a very sensitive person so anything can really distract me. Poor sound, ignorant people. The best is when you’re the resident DJ in a club where you have the power to create the musical journey.
8 What are some of the considerations that go into deciding which track to play next? What makes two tracks a good fit? How far do you tend to plan ahead during a set?
I never plan a set. I don’t believe in that. How can you plan a set when you don’t know what the DJ before you is playing or how the energy is when it’s your turn to play. What makes the difference between DJ’s is how good one selects the tracks. Some DJ’s are more natural to this then others.
9 Which are the essential tracks in your sets ?
All tracks are essential.
10 What is your favorite club or festival you have played in ?
My favorite club ever would have to be Club Yellow in Tokyo. Actually Tokyo is my favorite city in the world to play in.
11 How would you describe the relationship between your choices and goals as a DJ and the expectations, desires and feedback of the audience? How does this relationship manifest itself during a performance and how do you concretely tap into it?
I don’t have goals. DJing is art. It’s a form of expression in my opinion. Music for me is a way to escape and relax. There are no expectations. In life if you have expectations then you’re bound for disappointment. You have to win over your audience so that they ride the same wave as you are.
12 Especially thanks to the storage facilities of digital media, DJ sets could potentially go on forever. Other than closing time, what marks the end of a DJ performance for you? What are the most satisfying conclusions to a set?
You know if you had a satisfying set. Your audience will let you know. The same as you will know if you’re not happy with your performance.
13 Art can be a purpose in its own right, but it can also directly feed back into everyday life, take on a social and political role and lead to more engagement. Can you describe your approach to art and being an artist?
Not every DJ/producer is an artist in my opinion. for me it’s in your DNA. Some are trend setters and others just follow.
14 After having achieved everything as a DJ, where do you set your goals?
I love DJing it’s in my DNA. I started DJing because I love music not because I wanted to become famous. I will always enjoy DJing and with the evolution of technology it’s still exciting. There’s always new music to play.
15 We can say that your are the Producer with the most prestigious remixes in the dance history “The Chimes, Aretha Franklin,De La Soul, Jamiroquai, Mariah Carey Janet Jackson, Bjork, Madonna, U2, Betty Boo, M People, Technotronic” just for name few… which one are you the most proud of?
That’s a hard question to answer. But I would have to say Space Cowboy, Dream Lover, Where Love Lives, Mr. Loverman, Instinctual.
16 Which track would you qualify as the best track of your label ?
I can’t really answer that question because I’m still putting out tracks.
17 When was the last time you performed in Dubai and where?
It’s been a few years now. It was NYE at Q something lol.
18 Your best advise for the young DJ’S & Producers ?
You must have passion. Without it you have nothing. It’s not a job, it’s an adventure.
19 Do you already have next gigs scheduled, considering the current world situation?
Yes I do. This month I have my first gig in London with Groove Society and I have some booked this summer as well.
20 Best partner in DJ Booth ? Best Partner in the studio ?
Frankie Knuckles. Eric Kupper.
21 Which Gig was the most insane and crazy that you performed?
I would have say playing for the Matinee group in Barcelona.
22 Dirdim is an amazing radio show. All our listens just love it, we want to ask you where you get the inspiration to pick all these amazing tracks ?
Believe it or not the majority of the tracks that I play are mine. I use my radio show to promote my music. Of course I play other people’s music but it’s mostly mine.
23 Your last track “Loving” whit Kym Mazelle is beautiful , how was born this collaboration ? Who wrote the lyrics ? Did you start to write the lyrics first and then the music or the opposite? Tell us a bit more about this amazing collaboration
I love Kym Mazelle. She has a very special voice. Lovin’ is really a cover of Brainstorm’s Loving Is Really My Game. I replayed some of the original music and then reworked it and had Kym Mazelle just sing freestyle over it.
24 Last but not least, who or what makes you the happiest ?
Playing music makes me the happiest.