Hi Jose, welcome to the DMC world. You are originally from Venezuela – a beautiful and very colorful South American country that has so many different musical styles associated with it; Salsa, Merenge, Ilenera, Neo-Folkloe, Gaita plus many other forms of percussion such as African derived Sangueo, Fulia and Parranda. A wonderful country to grow up in for someone with music in their veins. So, tell us about growing up in your home country, what were your musical influences?
“So many people have influenced me and my music but especially the great Salsa singers and musicians such as Hector Lavoe, Ismael Rivera and Ruben Blades really stand out to me. There’s also the incredible House producers such as Masters At Work’s Little Louie Vega & Kenny Dope Gonzalez, Erick Morillo, George Morel – but i love so many things. Gotta include Afrovenezuelan music, Spanish Flamenco, The Cure, The Clash…I llove pretty much all music.”
Did you grow up in a house filled with music?
“Yep, my dad is from the countryside so I would get to hear a lot of folk music but growing up with a brother who was into clubbing who made me hear a lot of pop and new wave music. My first club experience was when I was 14 in a House club and I’ve never been able to leave since.”
What is your earliest ‘musical’ memory?
“I spent my early years in the Venezuelan countryside and most places did not have electricity. I remember going to my first parties where people would play “llanero” (kinda cowboy music) music for hours. Things have changed now and you don’t experience that kind of thing no more.”
So what is your story, how did you jump from the streets of Venezuela to the streets of London, super clubs in Ibiza and such an important figure in your scene?
“Well, I am probably the face of the movement and the one who had the vision of making it big, but there are a lot of people involved and whose work and drive made it happen too. I came for a holiday in the UK for a week as I was on my way to Ibiza and had the chance to stay and learn some English and do some work. I stayed and stayed and after a few months I was working in a music shop. I have always been involved in club nights, but working in a music shop made me find my vocation – and it was all by chance. After a few years I met up with my mate and La Bomba partners, James Horrocks (who now is the godfather of my son) and Justin James. I also brought in my partners in crime Edd Marin and Waldo who do most of my street promotion and we created a team and we took ‘La Bomba’ from scratch to what it is now. After a while we started to knock on doors and the Ibiza opportunity came and nowit is just fantastic to be part of that too. Imagine playing in such a great club like Pacha with some of the best DJ’s in the world playing just next to you, the whole experience is just fantastic.”
We are all getting ready for Carnaval del Pueblo on Sunday August 2nd, the streets of London have not been the same since 1999, the largest Latin American outdoor festival in Europe. An intense cultural experience seeing a three mile carnival procession, floats, 200 marquees, four music stages, 19 Latin American countries represented – for those who haven’t had the pleasure of witnessing and enjoying this amazing spectacle – sum it up for us…
“Carnaval del Puebo is just a fantastic street party where latinos get together to show their culture to the world. There’s loads of warm people, music everywhere, families, and the whole thing is a beautiful experience. Now it has become a bit like Notting Hill, a bit bureaucratic but the spirit is there..so it is the food!”
You host a monthly night at The Ministry of Sound. Girls dress up (with next to nothing on), boys look good in their threads, it’s a throwback to when UK Garage hit clubland – totally sexy but without the bling and violent side of things – it’s all about fun, being sexy, letting your hair down and to be honest, showing off your dance grooves. So, what has been The Ministry Of Sound nights been like and why, do you think there is such a sudden boom in Latin music?
“Ministry and ‘La Bomba’ are a marriage made in heaven. Ministry’s location is just great, 1000’s of Latinos live in the area and the club has great staff and sound, so the set up is perfect, and the rest of its success is the clubbers. Latinos are not a race but a culture, made up of different races, and that is why anyone can feel at home in a Latino party like ‘La Bomba’. As the music industry now is going through so many changes, clubland is not so radio driven and so smaller promoters have a better chance of making it just like La Bomba. If we keep doing things right, I hope in a few years when there is a real boom of Latino music we can sell out much bigger venues and put on some real superstars.”
What countries that you have been putting on ‘La Bomba’ parties have you been surprised at the reaction you have received? Norway for instance – did you really expect that such far flung places would get your Latino vibe?
“Nope, I did not expect that at all. The best example has been for me in Nuremberg where we have hosted ‘La Bomba’ a couple of times. Every time has been such a massive success that i cannot really believe it, but when you are there you see the people having such a great time, it is a very rewarding experience.”
You have a fantastic residency at Pacha in Ibiza – the world’s finest club. How did that actually arise and what have been the best night’s there?
“We started last year and ‘La Bomba’ hosted six exclusive parties – and this year we have returned to host four, working once a month on the third Saturday of the month. I think that Pacha Ibiza as well as Ministry are such important club icons of dance music and culture that anyone who is into it should visit them at least once in their lives. Having been involved with both of them makes me really proud, especially with Latin music that is not considered commercial enough for most clubs in Europe and the UK.”
Living in London, you must get pissed off at the prices of petrol in our capital – over a quid for a litre – coming from a country that has the least expensive petrol prices in the world – are you ever tempted ditch your car and go to your DJ gigs on a bike?
“Ha – don’t get me started on that. Last month I went back to Caracas and filled up my brother’s car with 50p. The bike is a good idea, and I have been thinking about it for a while, but when the winter comes I will probably change my mind Dan.”
What is the best album ever made?
“Too many again to mention but NuYorican Soul from Masters At Work on Talkin Loud is up there.”
Can you dance?
“Only if requested.”
Who is the most beautiful Latino woman in the world?
“My mum.”
What other musical styles do you like? – Which bands outside of your world do you enjoy?
“It’s hard to say because I work with many genres within Latin music, but Flamenco is something I love and have never done anything with…Camaron de la Isla, Paco de Lucia, Tomatito…I just know the big names, but I love it.”
Can you explain the whole Reggaeton scene…
“Hot girls dancing ‘Perreo’ style, getting down and and having a great time. It is all about the vibe, no attitude, just get a drink, dance and have great time. The guys are just accesories in our parties, the girls are the centre of attention.”
What has been the best ever party you have rocked?
“Some ‘Bomba’s have been just unreal but another great party I have amazing memories of was last year at the Bacardi B Bar in Oxegen in Ireland. I played a mix of Reggaeton/ Latin House and a few things in between and people were really up for it. That was a great party.”
And finally, what is coming next from Jose Luis?
“I just keep working and working…I’m going to Venezuela to do some events with Ministry of Sound later this year and making ‘La Bomba’ even better is my main thing. After the summer, I hope to work on some mixtapes with a view to launching a compilation. You know, you have to keep yourself busy, especially in London which is a fast city and you cannot afford to drop the ball.”
