|
 DJ Hell chatted to Skrufff this week about his label’s latest compilation Gigolo 9 and offered up some practical tips for clubbers wanting to learn the art of being a gigolo.
“Be yourself and don’t try to be a super hipster,” the legendary lothario proclaimed, “Just dance and move your body and jack your body or bounce your body to the beat; that always helps,” he suggested.
Somewhat surprisingly, Hell brushed off any linkage with womanising or an ability to spot groupies.
“I am more like an old school DJ, which means for me DJing is about hard work; I read the crowd, rock the equalizers, change styles and pushing the limits so when I’m playing there’s no time for communication or even looking for somebody or to find out if they’re a so-called groupie or not,” he insisted.
“I am more the type of man who likes to go his own way- alone.”
Sex talk aside, he was more forthcoming talking about music and his other main passion in life, football and the upcoming World Cup, which takes place in Germany this June.
“I will be trying to watch as many games as possible and of course I will stop DJing during the World Cup apart from maybe some small parties when there’s no games. Everybody is really excited about it here in Germany,” said Hell, “though I will not be wearing any football shirts, no, I don’t like the design of the German shirts.”
Skrufff (Jonty Skrufff): Starting with the new label compilation Gigolo 9: as ever there’s a very mixed selection of styles: what’s the approach you’ve taken on which tracks to include?
DJ Hell: “With all the label compilations I’ve always been trying to show where Gigolo goes in the future and what Gigolo means in the upcoming year. The new one also features lots of new artists for the first time as well as some songs from albums we’ve got coming out this year. And also, of course, lots of avant-garde surreal abstract tracks. For the first time, we’re also showcasing electronic artists from Brazil and Mexico.
Skrufff: What's your view of the music scene right now?
DJ Hell: “Every days we get loads of great productions flying into the Gigolo office and clubland is also prospering. Here in Berlin, there are 50 different clubs doing dance music every weekend with artists from all over the world and it seems to be that we are living in a very magic moment, one hat people will say in 10 years time this was a golden era of subculture and innovation in terms of fashion -music-film and art. All we need here right now is a Gigolo factory like back in the days in New York City. Gigolo is doing fine commercially after the distribution crash and losing all the money we invested in artists and production and publishing. Next year we become another label that’s already been running for 10 years.
Skrufff: How about Berlin: it's been having loads of hype over the last few years: how's the vibe there: do you consider it as the centre of the music universe right now?
DJ Hell: “Berlin is one of the centres right now on planet earth lot of people moved there the last couple of years. It seems like everybody’s welcome and is part of the game there and I would say Berlin never sleeps. There are parties -exhibitions -clubs-fashion shows and shops -lots of great video artist -film maker or graphic designers, DJs and producers –record labels -every months we have a new lifestyle magazine and the level of creativity is incredible
Skrufff: Germany and Britain came just 21st in a world league of happiness recently, what to you are the key requirements for being happy?
DJ Hell: “I think these days most young people try to life in their own universe, finding the own kind of religion and their own living -how to see the world and how to see the future as a example. Germany was never famous for being a so called happy country.”
Skrufff: Where's techno at in Germany- and the world?
DJ Hell: “50 % of all I am doing as a DJ and a label owner is still moved by the world of techno. I think here in Europe there’s still a big misinterpretation about this music not in the inner circles but in the regular world where people don’t go to clubs or listen to DJ orientated music.”
Skrufff: You’re spending two months in Brazil, what is it about Brazil that persuades you to spend such a long time there?
DJ Hell: “To me its one of the greatest countries in the world. I have lots of friends there and I’m doing a big tour all over Brazil. There’s also Sao Paulo fashion week and the Sonar Festival will also be opening their doors there in 2006. The carnival in Bahia is also very exciting and lots of people say this is still the real thing, very traditional and original. I’ve also found some brand new artists for Gigolo Records and I will be doing some shows with them.”
Skrufff: How does the South American sensibility compare to Europe, are people genuinely warmer there from your experience or is it a myth?
DJ Hell: “It’s not a myth, people are really open to everybody and very interested in European culture.”
http://www.gigolo-records.de
Article by Jonty Skrufff (JontySkrufff.com)
Subscribe to skrufff music newsletter at www.skrufff.com |
