MR DORIS

Dan Prince·
DMC WorldFeatures

DMC World catches up with Award Winning Ibiza DJ and funky island fav Mr Doris to chat about his summer 2022 residency at Pacha, Hip Hop in Ibiza, his early years in Ibiza and a forthcoming appearance in Exeter, UK next month.. 

 

Interview by Nick Coles

 

Hey Doris, how are you? and what is happening for you this week?

I’m good thank you. Exhausted after an insanely busy year but very happy. This week, I have been mostly changing nappies.

I hear you have just had a new arrival?

Yes, a test press vinyl of my new release and my new baby boy James! It’s been a good one.

It’s been a pretty incredible summer for you in Ibiza, care to tell us all about it?

Oof. Where do I start? My project with Felix Da Housecat at Lio and my Pacha residency were incredible as well as my guest spots at Hi. On the Balearic music vibe, I thoroughly enjoyed my sunsets at Hostal La Torre and Mambo plus my deeper jazz-influenced sessions at Cotton Beach.

Check the video here…

Ibiza Summer 2022 Highlights Pacha @HiIbizaofficial Lio @CafeMamboIbz

 

A little birdy tells me you have a pretty exciting release planned for 2023, can you reveal any details yet?

Can’t say too much but you can hear a snippet of it on the promo video that you guys published. It’s a beast on a hip-house tip.

You’ve carved yourself into the Ibiza tapestry over a number of decades and gained a huge amount of respect with your diverse approach to music. Tell us about your very first years on the island. Was it difficult to find the breaks you needed?

It was extremely difficult for me as back in the late 90’s and early 00’s, I was one of a handful of DJ’s that didn’t just play house and particularly my funk/soul/hip hop infused style. I continued pushing though and was lucky enough to be heard by the right people at the right time (Simon Dunmore from Defected, Mark Broadbent from We Love Sundays at Space and Carl Cox to name just a few). The support of such people really helped me in my career and gave me the confidence I needed to know I was on the right path.New 

Living and working in Ibiza, can be tough going year on year. Have there ever been times when you have thought, I just can’t do this anymore?

Quite a few times in the early years (particularly when living in a tent and the. A squat!) but the energy and people of the island kept me here.

You picked up ‘Best Ibiza DJ’ at the DJ Awards Ibiza back in 2016, that must’ve been some moment for you?

Yeah, it was pretty special, particularly because it was after closing the Space Terrace with Paul Reynolds only a few hours before. It’s an honour to be recognised by your peers in any form of work, so again, it was another sign for me that I was doing something right.

It’s DMC’s 40th Anniversary next year – have you been a fan of the World Mixing Championships over the years? If so, what champions stand out for you?

Fuck yeah! Very few institutions continue to push the full art form of the DJ. I have always followed DMC since the 90’s (I have a heavy hip hop background and try my hardest at rudimentary scratch techniques when playing myself). For me it’s all about The Invisible Scratch Pickles, DJ Krush, DJ Kentaro, the C2C crew, damn, the list is endless.

What were your thoughts on Cathy Guetta’s attempt at promoting Hip Hop in Ibiza a few years back?

It was done in a way that wasn’t really my bag but at least there was an attempt at something different. I’m not the biggest fan of modern trap or reggaeton which seemed to be the styles on show there. There was a great event called Applebum at Sankey’s a few years back with the likes of DJ Premier, Grand Master Flash and a whole host of others, where I was also resident. That was more my thing.

All time 3 favourite records?

I find these type of questions incredibly hard to answer as I love most styles of music but here are 3 tracks that are floating my boat at the moment and showcase what I do musically in the club and aimed at the dance floor ahead of my gig in Exeter.

Catch Me – Dirty Channels
New Rising – Gledd & The Funk District
The Curse – Mr X

Favourite places to chill in Ibiza?

Hostal Talamanca – super chilled, no music and affordable. A breath of fresh air.

Now you’ve held residencies for an enviable list of brands and clubs, such as Defected, Space, Hi and of course, your weekly appearance at Pacha this summer. Where can you go from here? Are there any Island stones left un-turned for Mr Doris?

There are a few places that I would still like to play but I’ll be honest and say that I still want to perfect what I do at the places I already have.

You are hitting Exeter Devon on Sat 17th December for Kitchen Disko and Re#Set’s Xmas Party at EX4, this is your first time in the city, what can people expect from your set and are you excited?

Funk of the highest form.

Where else can we find you playing in 2023?

I’ll be taking my foot off the touring pedal a little due to my son being born but I’ll be in London, Manchester, Bath, Birmingham, Dubai, Bahrain and a tour of Australia plus Bali before the Ibiza summer season starts.

Any final words for the readers of DMC World?

Hope you’re all keeping well out there!

*****

Catch Mr Doris in Exeter, UK on Saturday 17th December