Ariel’s DJ Travel Tips; 48 hour Fasts (interview)
Ariel “D’ese” is out on Beatport: click on the picture for more
“I usually fast when I’m flying which often means I won’t eat for the duration of the trip and longer, only drinking water throughout. It’s easy for me to do that; I can go up to 48 hours without eating and not being hungry in the slightest.”
Starting his career DJing to thousands in his hometown of Buenos Aires, Ariel Belloso first moved to Europe in 1991, arriving in Ibiza where he debuted at Pacha.
Moving to London soon after (following numerous gigs at all of the island’s superclubs, he settled down quickly and 20 years on continues to call the UK capital his home.
Renowned for playing marathon sets at long running big room residencies at the likes of Fabric and 90s house institution Bagleys he continues performing every weekend, either in London or overseas. (Djariel.com)
DJ Travel Tales: Kris Menace Keeps It Clean (interview)
“I really don’t like to travel fancy. I don’t care if I get an economy flight or business class flight; as long as everything is clean I’m down with it.”
As well as running his acclaimed electronic labels Work It Baby and Compuphonic, German electro-tech star Kris Menace remains prolific as a producer, collaborating with the likes of Rex The Dog (Pow!) and Tracid (buchla 200e) and working via his own multiple personas.
Currently finalising two new albums (as Kris Menace and Big Black Van) he’s also set to release a new single Starchild (with Adam Shawn) in between DJ gigs all over the world.
“As far as flying is concerned, I do prefer to fly with Lufthansa though,” he qualifies, “but that’s more because i don’t trust other airlines and I appreciate the German precision. My ex girlfriend is a Lufthansa pilot and therefore I know how stringent their security standards are.”
DJ Travel Tales: Jody Wisternoff (Way Out West) (interview)
“I try to avoid drinking too much vodka during DJ trips, but I rarely succeed.”
Teaming up with fellow Bristollian Nick Warren to form progressive house pioneers Way Out West in 1994, then teenage prodigy Jody Wisternoff rapidly established himself as one of the first crossover stars of dance music, both via Way Out West’s commercial success and his own thriving DJing career. 17 years later, he’s happily married and a Dad of two, though as he’s the first to admit, he’s not quite settled down.
“Recently in Poland, I arrived at the airport the morning after the show and realised I was wearing the promoter’s trousers. I still have no idea how this happened.”
Laurent Garnier’s DJ Travel Tales (interview)
For unknown reasons, Facebook have been censoring Skrufff.com for over 2 months now (blocking the ‘share’ button) BUT if you click the ‘Like’ button all the way at the bottom of the article, it still works)
Bad Company (click for more)
“I have played at a gig in Detroit where a guy got shot dead outside the party. After that we all had to lie on the floor for 10 minutes waiting for the police to come while a gang was outside shooting bullets thru the windows.”
“Once I drove from Paris to Plymouth for a gig. It took me 13 or 14 hours to get there by car. And when I finally arrived at the gig, the promoter said to me ‘you are 10 minutes late . . . fuck off!’ Then he had the security guy throw me out. That was 18 years ago. I’ve never ever been back to fucking Plymouth since . . .”
Flashback (recorded immediately after a particularly gruelling overseas trip)
This week, Skrufff are launching a new series of DJ travel stories focusing on the highs and lows every international DJ experiences. Notoriously French definitive dance legend Laurent Garnier kicks off proceedings . . . .
(For more on Laurent; click here: http://www.laurentgarnier.com/ )
Life, Death & Danceteria Mash-Ups
Ludlow street, Lower East Side
20 odd years ago, Jonty lived and almost died in New York City, suffering a horrific lift accident at seminal 80s club Danceteria (where he worked at the time). Crushed and literally dragged between the base of the lift and the wall of its shaft, he suffered six normally mortal injuries, receiving the Last Rites some 40 minutes later as he waited outside a hospital operating theatre for the anaesthetic to kick in . . .
