Hi dude, what you been up to this weekend?
“Hi Dan, just got back to my home in Holloway, North London. Just played a couple of amazing gigs, a festival in Amsterdam which was just like ‘Bestival’ – but weirder if you know what I mean. And ‘Electric Picnic’ in Dublin on Sunday was amazing, 2 Many DJs, Basement Jaxx, Lamb, Just Jack, Orbital, Zero 7 – The Sugarhill Gang, Madness – the list just went on and on.
Dude. One of the most diverse DJs I have ever seen and heard. I remember one Essential Mix you pleasured us with on Radio 1 you totally screwed our heads up playing anything from Madonna, DJ Shadow, 50 Cent, New Order and The White Stripes – who were the artists that you grew up listening to – who inspired you…?
“I owe so much to my parents, they had such a great collection of music from T-Rex to The Beatles to The Who but also as we all Turkish, my dad had a love of Turkish music but with a real modern twist on it. The radio was always on, I used to love all of the above, but also bands like Abba and Duran Duran – a real musical house.
True story about you sneaking out your parent’s place to DJ in a club for a tenner?
“Ha. It was actually for five Pounds. This was back in the day when you would play for five drinks or something, it was about the love of being a DJ, we wanted it all to be an extension of making DJs, bringing other people behind the decks.”
So first club you played at…?
“Well I was making mix tapes for my friends, I knew what people wanted to hear at the time so I just approached a promoter one time and told him exactly that. I got the gig and the show began…in a way, I still think it’s the same today for DJs, knowing what the kids want, but also having production skills behind you.”
I have been promoting nightclubs for donkeys years, and in my opinion, there is nothing so stressful as running a club – apart from your girlfriend. You are famous for ‘Trash’, one of London’s coolest ever nights holed up at The End in Covent Garden on a Monday combining Indie, Rock, Pop, Punk and cool young things. Your opening night though only attended about 60 people, did you shit your pants thinking this ain’t gonna work?
“No Dan to be honest. Back then getting 60 people wasn’t a problem for me – it was a Monday after all, I had a good feel for the club and I knew that these 60 people were going to spread the word to their friends. Dan, I would rather DJ to 25 people who love what I do rather than to 25,000 at a festival who some couldn’t give a shit.”
‘Trash’ cool as fuck – it changed London club life – best artists you ever had on?
“I can’t answer that – we had so many brilliant artists on.”
Oh come on…
“Okay but I have to divide it up. LCD Sound System – awesome. Justice when they played the first time blew everyone away, Soulwax when we FINALLY got them were obviously on another level. Gonzales I had to carry three friends down the stairs, it was that messy.”
Which artist or DJ got the most smashed?
‘Trash was all about everyone on the same footing – we were all er, merry. Lot’s of musical scrapes.”
What is the latest on the sneaky Disco 3000 and Beyond The Wizards Sleeve parties?
“We are putting them on here and there at little venues. Had a great party at Camden’s Lock Tavern recently. I just love putting on cheeky do’s with great sound systems, it supports my belief as being a DJ”
Obvious question, what was supporting Madonna at Koko like back in 2006?
“A bit surreal, great gig…”
What one type of music do you secretly love – for instance, do you have a guilty pleasure tune or band?”
“There are no guilty pleasures in music, you are either in it for everything or not at all. I would dance to anyone, even Barbara Streisand!”
You should meet my sister Erol. So, is there an artist or DJ that ever escaped ‘Trash’
“We really wanted The Horrors to close the club on final night but it just didn’t work out because of dates. Faris is always down the club, a great mate, a shame.”
You have been given so many awards, does winning gongs like Mixmag’s DJ Of The Year Award and Best International DJ mean much to you, also, DJ 100 – do DJs give a shit about these competitions?
“Errm, personally to me, it’s not about being 100 or number 1. I don’t see it as an accolade getting awards, sure I am flattered. I don’t respect DJs who think they are the ‘shit’ all of the time, we can all be the worst or best DJs on any occasion.”
