You are one of the most busiest DJs on the worldwide clubbing circuit. It all began at one of the most famous waterside clubs in the world – Bora Bora in Ibiza. Your staff were from Canada, France, the US, Spain, Uruguay and Germany. Mad times I take it?
“Yeah, that was a really crazy time and to be honest, some of the best I can remember. That fusion – and pardon the pun, cocktail of such a collection of cosmopolitan workers was incredible, we all just clicked. They were so professional, swinging cocktails about and juggling bottles around my head while I was playing. At that time the decks were set up on the front of the bar which made it very easy to communicate and make friends with everyone coming down to party. The bar crew were also far too good looking and at times the stock room become nothing more than a knocking shop. Working a sleepy little bar that only had a radio cassette player for playing background chill out and 70s music to the odd family and turning it into the most famous beach bar/club concept and making a party to thousands of people is something I am very proud of, I never had a poster or flyer, it was all done by word of mouth and with friends that worked on the island who would come down on their time off. I would go around the town at night with my friend Raj (Romolo) meeting friends who worked there and invitied people down for the day party, then we would go on to the clubs, party and meet people who we would see the next day at the bar. I’d set the tables on the terrace so people could dance on them, send out trays of shots from time to time and had a blast. The first two years were fantastic, unfortunately the bar staff moved on and I didn’t have a choice then on the replacements that were not good, they were not into the music so much and didn’t have a clue behind the bar so my passion started to wain a little, it was still fantastic though but I had to isolate myself with those coming down to party to keep the vibe that I had made there. The bar then felt like a separate part to the place. Although I had much needed help from people and friends from time to time it was very much a one-man band thing. I had a lot of self-tuition in the first year especially how to DJ in a beach situation, its much more difficult and challenging than a night club – no lights flashing or images and if they don’t like it they can easily walk off because there was no entrance fee.”
You used to DJ for 12 hours in the sun every day – how?
“Something must have possessed my body because I can’t really understand how I did it fully myself, I made a conscious effort to stay away from alcohol and drugs – to be honest I was always on such a high with the vibe of the place, I would build up the day from chill-out through house, tech-house, tribal, trance and even techno sometimes by the end of the session. Building up the day and getting the feedback from the people the way I did, there was nothing I could take that could compete with that feeling – also playing for 12 hours a day everyday for 4 months I could not afford a comedown. My diet consisted mainly of pasta/bolognaise and pizza that I would eat in between mixes. I had a few 10-minute tracks that came in handy at meal times, I got hooked on Red Bull at one time because I didn’t realize what it had in it, I just thought it was a safe energy drink until someone noticed I was all shaky while drinking two cans on the spot one early afternoon – we had a conversation about it and after I told him that I drank about 10 -15 cans a day I was enlightened and went cold turkey after that. It was also for sure the reason I had bad stomach cramps. There was a time I remember at the end of the first year when I started to fall asleep while playing at the end of the day, I corrected myself after jogging the needle on the record, I then had to fight with my body and mind to stay awake but my body had the last laugh and switched off my consciousness – I then passed out on top of the decks and that was that for the day. It was good training for me if nothing else and came in very handy when one year I also held residencies in all the top 7 clubs on the island, a different club each night and and was a complete wreck.”
Tell us about the forthcoming ‘Bora Bora – The Beach Is Back’ comp. album…
“As with the recent years and double compilations in the Bora Bora series, this one is also released by our friends at DJ Center Records. The albums have all had a ‘Beach’ theme of course but this one is reflective in the fact that we are not in Ibiza anymore and are now moving on to bigger and better things including the new official home of Bora Bora – now under construction in Brasil. So, thus ‘The Beach Is Back’. It’s also the name of the world tour. I’ve kept the same format, completely Bora Bora in style with many exclusive tracks including a few of my own productions and co-productions. The sound progresses through the album much as it would a day’s set on the beach.”
The bar was renowned for mad people coming down in fancy dress. Craziest person who ever came down?
“At one time or another I think we had every super hero, including the senior history lecturer from Lisbon University who would spend many days and nights dressed up as Spiderman with his special weapon between his legs – we had many hours of interesting conversations where I found out that he was a punk band front man and loved Marilyn Manson. I think those that were more crazy (and he was crazy) would all hold a race with each other – and there were thousands of them. Including the guy who professed to be Jesus and brought me strange pictures and codes from time to time – after a year one day he came and told me that he wasn’t Jesus anymore (sad because I was starting to believe him). Then there was the German Red Indian.”
You had the likes of Da Hool, Naylin & Kane and Tenaglia down – who was your best guest DJ?
“I wish I could list all the great DJs that have played alongside me at Bora Bora from 1997 – 2005 when we were in Ibiza but you would have no room for other content in this edition of DMC Update. To be honest, I didn’t really know who most of them were. I come from an indie background so didn’t know who the DJ’s were, they were just new friends I had made that I had met or been introduced to, I invited them to play because they were nice guys, I remember a lot of the time only realizing who they were when I played a track of there’s and noticed the name on the cover. I remember this happening especially with Da Hool and Naylin & Kane, it became such an embarrassment that I got pictures of the top DJs so I would not be caught out so much. I have been in the most envious situation of not only having the worlds most talented DJs and producers play alongside me for free, but also to see many of them having great times dancing on the terrace – it’s impossible to say there was a best DJ but I will single out Danny Tenaglia for a perfect example of the sort of talent that was regularly there. I have nothing but the highest regard for this DJing legend, he has rocked Bora Bora and on countless occasions. I remember him dancing allday around the terrace – he has nothing but passion for this music and party and his personality can turn on the vibe in a place like hitting a light switch. That’s the thing, it was also a place for DJs to hang out and party purely for the love of it, there were famous film stars, singers and sportsmen like Maradona. I remember spending the whole day with JK from Jamiroquia. He sat by the mixer and sang and danced completely adlibbing, he told me that this was the first place he had been where he could be himself and not get bothered by anyone. That was the thing about Bora Bora and Ibiza back then, you could be who you wanted to be and do what you wanted to do and all were cool about it.”
Tell us about what you are doing in Brazil, Asia etc…
“In Asia we are looking to continue the world tour including an interesting offer to make a Bora Bora date in Tahiti. After leaving Ibiza, I’ve had many offers from other parts of the world to make new Bora Bora venues. It’s a good time to start again and once in Brasil I knew it was the best place to make it the new official home of Bora Bora, we have always had a good following from the Brazilians. The new official home is there now and, as you can imagine, I am very excited about the move and now it’s all coming together. We have the studios set up there now from where I have started the new digital Bora Bora music label, the first release is out now called ‘T.Control’ by Gee and Pigbwoy, the long awaited follow up to ‘Take U inside’. The first signings from outside the studio are from Paul Keeley and Lenny Fontana – due for release at the end of the year. We are also releasing an album from newfound Braslian talent Audio CL. There are construction plans to construct two new Bora Bora day clubs and nightclub complete with hotels and restaurants, pools etc. The first is set to open in the very fashionable costal town of Buzios, about a two hour drive from Rio where there is already a very successful Privilege club – and newcomer Pacha to the area. It’s a beautiful place, perfect beaches and a very trendy holiday destination at the mo.The other Bora Bora to open is further south in the state of Santa Catarina, about 40 minutes drive from the island of Florianopolis. This area is famous for it’s high standard of clubs and venues. Apart from the day club, we are also constructing a night club for 2000 people – it will be on two floors with 3 rooms, a chill-out lounge and a main room with terraces overlooking the sea. We are also constructing eco hotel apartments, pools, spas and restaurants. There is a feeling similar to the first few years I had in Ibiza, the difference is that here the authorities work together with the clubs more effectively and have a much better attitude towards tourism. They are in control and welcome any ideas that will improve the area. Making the plans for the venues was is a real buzz a dream come true to let my imagination run wild on the design and to eventually play in the venues, It’s a very exciting time for us, we hope to be open September/November 2008.”
You have done so much production wise on so many different labels, what has been your proudest release?
“The very first release is of course a very special time I remember – I took the package with the first vinyl I had recorded and opened it at Bora Bora, it was winter time but it was kind of symbolic, I had been invited by Mauro Picotto to produce music with him and sign to Media Records. I had a similar buzz when hearing the follow-up track ‘Gimme More’ played on Radio One by Judge Jules while a bunch of friends and I were driving up the M1 to play at Cream – the reaction to hearing the tune almost caused another road statistic.I have to mention too ‘Take U Inside’ as this really was also a Bora Bora anthem in every sense, it’s an incredible feeling when you get a united reaction from everyone on the terrace when you know it’s your own production – there really is nothing like it.”
Tell us about your walk on part on US sitcom F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
“I am constantly wanting to do new things in life and around 2004 when the club mafia closed Bora Bora down, I had a new plan to try out something else. I love acting and performing – it’s as it’s playing and singing in my earlier bands or making a music video. I figured the only way to get on was to gain some experience in front and around the cameras. Just as Ibiza was the place to be as a DJ, Hollywood would be the place to gain some first hand experience and get used to camera, lights, action so that when I decided to return in the future and make a go of it I would be totally accustom to the surroundings and not look like a newbie all gooey-eyed etc. While I was there for 6 months making the Bora Bora tour USA and filling in for DJ Ruff as resident for After Hour Powe.e I started to get various TV walk on parts. One time I went to see the comedy Friends after an invite from someone I knew who trained animals for movies, I was asked to sit in a coffee shop scene which was a great surprise, a few weeks later I had a phone call asking me if I would work on the last ever episode. it was an incredible experience especially as the set was full of cast, crew, family members, their friends and a who’s who of famous people. I was in for two or three walk on scenes mainly the airport ones. Everybody was so friendly and happy and for me it was a dream. I didn’t see it until a year later when I was in a video rental store and it was playing on the screens. Maybe now I’ll become a real life Joe or Andy Millman.”
What clubs around the world are rocking it for you at the moment?
Most definitely, Warung in Brasil, It’s a fantastic place to play and party as its made like a Thai construction completely of wood that gives a fantastic resonance to the sound and when all of the dancefloors jump, they spring with such a movement. In the morning, when the sun comes up from the edge of the sea the colours of light that comes through – amazing. I have spent many memorable nights into days there both in and in front of the DJ stand, but don’t take my word for it ask Sasha as ‘m sure he will agree, I saw him play the last time he was there and he rocked it! The other place would have to be Green Valley that by chance happens to be only a few miles away from Warung club, although, I haven’t had the pleasure to play there yet I would recommend to anyone. It doesn’t have a sea view but it makes up for it with a vast terrace and vibe.