What is your earliest memory of a DMC Mixing Final?
“It was in 2002, two years after starting Turntablism where I entered the nearest DMC regional battle. It wasn’t my first battle, but it was the first one which allowed myself to enter the French Final and it was kinda important!”
How did you decide on your own name as a Turntablist artist?
“Well, all my friends use to call me Pfel before I got into DJing, so when I had to choose a name there were no other choice than this one! Actually, it comes from a French comic book where Pfel is a funny character…”
Who is the best technical Turntablist of all time?
“It’s hard to just give one name, there’re so many great DJs out there!. Well, I’ll say Q-Bert for everything he brought to the scratch game, he’s one of the originators for sure and he’s still doing great. But I also have to mention Craze, The X-men, A-Track, the Perverts, Netik ,Rafik, Tigerstyle and Troubl’.”
List the most important five records that you have ever used as a Turntablist…
The Rolling Stones ‘Satisfaction’ – I did one of my first routines with this song and performed it in my first battle.
Slum Village ‘Disco’ (Timbaland remix). I had eight or ten copies of that one, spent too much time on this juggle…
‘FlyinSaucer 3’ C2C I also did a lot of routines on that one.
‘Supa Seal’ – for all the scratch training.
And of course, our own press vinyl with C2C from 2004 till 2006.
What track that when you hear up on stage spun by a rival, do you always think, ‘wow’
“I’ll say DJ Troubl’ with the Prefuze73 juggling which is, according to me, one of the best beat jugglin ever made on this planet. If it goes well nobody can beat that… “tu peux pas test” in French. Also, A-Trak many times – I had that feeling while watching his routine so much…
What has been your best ever display on the wheels of steel?
“There have been so many but what I want to mention is the set up we are using with Beat Torrent for our AV show at the moment. It’s a big installation with 2 screens , 4 turntables , 2 audio mixers, 2 laptop and 1 video mixer and it’s very impressive live.”
What is going through your mind as you are waiting to step up on the biggest stage of your life moments before you hit the stage?
“I make sure I have something to drink, something to smoke and focus on rockin the crowd!”
Who in your opinion, has been the best ever DMC Champ we have ever had?
“I’ll say Craze ’cause as a solo DJ, he did one of the best routines ever for three years in a row and he always did it well.”
Best Hip Hop record ever made?
“Hard to tell. I like Diamond D ‘Stunts , ‘Blunts and Hip-Hop’.
How many weeks/months before the big night do you start planning your set?
“It takes approximately 2/3 month to prepare the thing with the practising included.”
What did your parents think back in the day of your chosen career profession?
“I should ask them! I guess they did not agree 100% at the beginning but they seem quite happy with that now.”
The DMC World Mixing Finals are 25 years young/old this year – how do you think the art of this craft has changed over the years?
“Of course since the beginning there were a lot of evolutions in the way of mixing, scratching ,juggling and using the turntable. Many DJs mastered many technical skilz and it ‘s not just 2/3 guys who ruled the game. There are more and more DJs all over the world, some feel concerned about technicality some others don’t, but one thing is for sure, now the turntable is truly considered as a musical instrument and the status of DJ is getting bigger and better .”
How did winning the DMC title change your life?
“It hasn’t change my life from one day to another . But it is true, that after 5 world title with C2C and all the work we’ve done with our management team over the last 3 years, it does start to pay and all of this combine together to as you say Dan, it does “change my life”. But it takes time and also a bit of luck.”
What country/city that you have visited after winning the DMC title has really blown your mind?
“We’ve been in so many nice places it’s hard to just choose one. I would say Asia, especially Thailand, Japan, China and Taiwan.”
What one Turntablist would you choose from 1985 to the present day – any category – would you like to battle against?
“I’d like to battle against DJ Nike from Italy, he was off the hook.”
Can you Breakdance?
“Only when I’m drunk”
And finally, please give DMC a message of love for pioneering this amazing artform we have…
Make scratch not war, but if you can make love instead scratching, go for love ! PEACE!