Benjamin at D-Edge (click for more recent pictures)

Sao Paulo disco house DJ Benjamin Ferreira is in the running for ‘best breakthrough DJ on 2009, in DJ Magazine Brazil’s latest annual poll of talent.

DJ Magazine’s Brazilian staff have selected nominees for the 16 categories based on their clubbing experiences of the last year, selecting Skrufff DJ Benjamin alongside the likes of Gorky, Lishy and Leiloca Pantoja (Djs including Magal, Atum and Gui Boratto are included in their ‘best DJ’ category). Clubbers are being invited to vote for their favourites in all 16 categories (including ‘best festival’, ‘best blog’ and  several groups for ‘best club’) with voting running throughout February.

Benjamin told Skrufff he’s delighted, if surprised, to be included in the poll.

“Nobody told me about it – I just saw a link for the nominees on Twitter and started scrolling down the page to see who was there, and suddenly I saw my name. I didn’t expect to see my name there at all- really,” he laughed. “I shouted loud enough to terrify my friend who was sitting next to me at home.”

The disco fanatic has also just started a new residency at Sao Paulo’s Vegas, a former strip club on Rua Augusta that’s been one of the hippest underground clubs in Brazil ever since opening four years ago.

“’I’ve been invited to join (fellow ‘Breakthrough DJ nominee’) Felício Marmitex, a DJ from São Paulo, as a resident of a new night called Xiliquê,” said Benjamin.

“The music is supposed to be house, disco, nu disco and fidget house, with Marmitex covering fidget. Lika Marques, one of my best friends and an excellent freestyle DJ, was our guest for the first edition: the next party is on February 19,” he said.

“We’re also receiving donations of food which will be given to NGOs in
São Paulo. The first party will help an organization called “Crescer
Com A Gente” (Growing Up With Us), which has been helping poor children for eight years,” he added.

Benjamin spins at Vegas again tonight (Tuesday February 9) at Mexicano (‘it’s a monthly night of funk, disco, soul, boogie and hip hop and the promoter is Mexicano, one of the guys from the duo Roots Rock Revolution’ he explains) and returns for his second Xiliquê date on February 19.

http://djmag.com.br/bestbrasil2010 (Vote for Benjamin [and our tips Magal, Rraurl.com, Gui Boratto, D-Edge, A Loca] here)

Jonty Skrufff (http://skrufff.com)  Follow Jonty on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jontyskrufff

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