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Yousef.
Aus: Liverpool / UK
Move's on: Cariocas Records & Circus.
Biographie: Reputation is a wonderful thing. Liverpool DJ/Producer Yousef is renowned for his love of travelling. Given the chance he is happy to combine two of his greatest loves: beats and beaches. "Yeah, I love to travel", he nods. "I get a real kick out of going to places abroad, I love going to Montreal, it's multicultural and multi-sexual and musically, you can go in any direction you want to go. I've also been playing at Avalon in LA, I've been playing there every 9 months for 4 or 5 years, I have a good following over there. I love South America and Brazil, it's so good down there - Rio, Sao Polo, Porto Alegre, amazing, high energy parties. In Argentina - I played at The Mau Club and it was so underground and so intense. I did Manumission out of the blue last month too. I played in the music box after Afrika Bambaata, playing anything from Daft Punk and Lauryn Hill to the Justice Mix of Franz Ferdinand and the room was rocking." Relentlessly playing worldwide has given Yousef a more mature and broad musical taste.
Now that Yousef is 31 things are changing a little. He says his wild days are behind him and that running is more important than raving. This leaves time for Yousef to get his head down in the studio and make great records to road-test in warm countries. There are worse ways you could make a living. "The priority for me is to continue making hot records", he nods. "People are playing what I'm into - I'm developing a broader taste, I never went down the electro route at all, although, I do enjoy electronic sounding music. I'm into housey techno, not soulful, good energy, mixed with personality but the kind of music that picks up the ears of people like Nick Fanciulli, Steve Lawler, Roger Sanchez and Deep Dish, who have been heavy supporters. Nick has put one of my tracks on his new Renaissance compilation and both 'Spooky' and 'The Approach' are big anthems in Space now. [Both tracks have just been signed by CR2]. In short, Yousef has moved on. "I like the funk but I'm not really into the boompty boomp any more. A whole set of it sends me to sleep now!" Of course, Yousef already has a whole heap of production plaudits to his name. Yousef's key remixes include Fatboy Slim "The Joker" (Skint), Jamiroquai "Electric Mistress" (Sony), Kid Massive "Jet Set" (Slip N Slide), Boris D'Lugosh "Keep Pushing" (Peppermint Jam) and Moloko's "Cannot Contain This" (Echo) and there are plenty more beats where those came from.
What of Circus, Yousef's infamous Liverpool party? "The line-ups are ridiculous!" he laughs. A feverish acid house party, Circus is, literally, Yousef's baby and that baby has just turned four. "I couldn't be any more hands-on if I tried", he winks. With stellar guest line-ups that have included Carl Cox and Josh Wink as well as newer names like Switch and Alex Wolfenden, the night also reflects Yousef's dedication to the cause. "Besides having fun on the dance floor, there is no where else I can think of that can offer that kind of party for that price", he adds. "Maybe that puts people in a good frame of mind before they even go through the door." and now? "I feel I've definitely done my apprenticeship now", he says. I'm looking forward to the future, which is in my hands.
What does the future bring for Yousef? Together with Drum Bums partner Steve Mac, Yousef has just completed his first full vocal records (lyrics penned by Yousef) called "The Idea". Signed to phonetic, this track made big waves at WMC 2006, a huge tune for David Morales and Deep Dish's number 1 Miami track. In fact, Yousef has just joined the team at Unmanageable Artists, the power team behind Roger Sanchez, Tom Stephan and Tom de Neef. That Unmanageable have taken on his management speaks volumes about the potential they see - and hear - in his sound. In 2007 be on the lookout for the new Circus Sessions for Ministry of Sound mixed by Yousef.
Yousef's all time top 5
In no particular order:
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Prince - Sign O' The Times
Damien Rice - Remember
Dust Brother's - 14th Century Sky
Rufus and Chaka Khan - Aint Nobody .
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