Everything’s coming up Roses for the Greek d:vision dynamo
Interview : Dan Prince
John a big welcome to DMCWORLD…where on planet earth are you today?
“Thanks for inviting me onto DMCWORLD!! I’m living on Dubai at the moment and am the Resident DJ at the Cielo Skylounge Club.”
What was the first piece of music you heard today?
“Well the first piece of music that I heard today was the new Dirty Vegas cover version of Duran Duran’s classic ‘Save a Prayer’. I loved it from the first moment I heard it.”
A really exciting start to 2015 for you with the release of your brand new track ‘Roses’ swinging our way on the seminal d:vision label. Please talk us through the history and sound of the tune…
“As a music producer I like it nowadays if house music has a sound that has come from it’s roots, I love it if a new house track has elements of a classic house style. Also I have always had in the back of my mind to do a track with some Blues guitar chords and saxophones. So I started working on ‘Roses’, the title came to mind just because I wanted to be…let’s say more sexy, but also to have the house groove at the same time.”
Well what a journey you have had young man. Born in Athens, as you mentioned you are now resident at Cielo Dubai no less. Cool club dude! But let’s head back to Greece for the start of your musical adventure. Are you from a musical family…when did the idea of a career in music start to form in your mind?
“From my early years as a student I was working as a DJ in many bars and clubs. I was collecting a lot of vinyl every week and I always wanted to do some edits and to do one track with my own music. So I started out just to make one track…but I couldn’t stop with just one record! The music production gave me the opportunity to work in Greece with big record label’s such as Planetworks and also as a resident DJ at Club Venue alongside many superstar guests like Hardwell, Nicky Romero and Solomun. The club was voted No. 33 in the DJ Mag Top 100 last year.”
Early DJ heroes?
“Of course legends such as Franckie Knuckles and Todd Terry…and later Axwell and Eric Prydz.”
Your first big break into the music industry?
“I made a cover version of Sam Brown’s ‘Stop’ and in 2008 d:vision picked it up and released it worldwide. Strictly Rythm US, Ministry Of Sound and many other labels re-licensed the track and at Christmas 2009 I saw my track on top of the Hot 100 on i-Tunes and at No. 2 on the world famous DMC Buzz Chart. That was a big step for me.”
What did your family think of your career path you chose?
“They believed in me to know what I was doing. They trusted in me because they saw from my young age that I had a lot of passion in my music and happily bought me a PSR Yamaha keyboard to begin work.”
Cielo Dubai – truly a fabulous club…for the thousands of people reading this who have never been…please try and describe this stunning venue…it is a monster!
“Yes! Cielo Sky Lounge Club at Dubai is for me one of the best places I’ve been to anywhere in the world. It’s an open air club where you can have an amazing view across the sea and Downtown Dubai. Amazing cocktails and beautiful people who love to listen to good quality house music – I always think myself blessed to work there as a Resident DJ. Also many famous DJs have taken to the DJ booth – Robin Schulz, Nora En Pure, Zwette, Mambo Brothers, Ivan Gough and Vanilla Ace to name but a few. There is a great team behind the scenes who always keep the levels really high, which is so important today with so much competition.”
The scene has really changed in Dubai over the past 5 years – how musically educated would you say the clubbers are in 2015?
“Yes the scene has changed these past 5 years, I put it partly down to the big explosion of the big festivals and the return of deep house into the main room. Also that the DJs have become major stars.”
What are the big 5 records in your box this weekend?
1. Luca Guerrieri – Harmony
This track has the magic touch!
2. Steve Lawler – House Record
The sound goes exactly back to the sound of the 90s
3. Nightcrawlers – Push The Feeling On (Me & My Monkey & Juafra Munoz Remix)
I think this version is the best one these days
4. Little by Little – Bang The Box
Groovy and heavy at the same time
5. The Beatangers – My Game
Nu disco sound with a lot of groove and pump
Three bucket list adventures you would like to do before you die?
“I think I can tell you one for sure. I want to have the courage to do a skydive in Dubai over the Palm, but I’m still too scared to do it. I hope to do it in the future!”
Who are some of the producers from around the world doing it for you right now?
“For me right now it’s The Magician, Luca Guerrieri, Oliver Dollar, Shiba San and Cristoph.”
A celebrity you would not want to get stuck in a lift with…
“Nice and funny question! Paris Hilton.”
When was the last time you pressed rewind and listened to a track over again because it was so damned good?
“I think the remix of Oliver Dollar’s ‘Wake Up Of The Freaks’. Sounds simple and the groove coupled with the vocals gets really pumpin’ and sexy at the same time.”
Your ultimate sunset sessions track and idea location to play it…
“Well this is easy. I love to play Robin Schulz’s ‘Sun Goes Down’ (PingPong Remix) during the sunset on Cielo’s roof every Friday evening at my after-brunch party.”
A DJ date in your diary this year you just cannot wait for?
“I think it’s the party that we do every summer along with DJ Vassili TsiliChristos and DJ Alceen at the Nammos Club in Mykonos at the end of July. It’s called Made In Mykonos and it’s insane. You must be there.”
And finally, what is coming out next from you studio wise?
“I’m working on a lot of stuff right now. A new cover version of ‘Tango To Evora’ for 2015 along with DJ Pink Noisy. A new track with a diva house vocalist and some other deep and dirty groovy house tracks with some new upcoming producers – for example Jayworx and Carlos Tadros.”
