If there’s one thing you can say about DJ Reflex, it’s that he’s a man who knows who he is. ‘My full name is Reflex Le Roque,’ he states at the start of our meeting. ‘Why? Because I rock, baby [laughs]! I’m just rocking venues all over the place.’

The ‘rocking’ status is important, as it helps to distinguish Le Roque from other challengers to the name of DJ Reflex. ‘There are a couple of DJs in the market using the name “Reflex”,’ the big man reveals in his New York drawl. ‘There’s one in London and a couple in New York, but there’s only one that really rocks, you know what I mean?’

We are pretty sure we do – by this point, at least – but it seems that some people making the bookings don’t quite catch on, particularly in the celebrity fraternity, which is used to the advantage of up and coming rival Reflexes. ‘There is the one DJ Reflex, and we’ve been in the same space for, like, 15 or 20 years,’ our particular Reflex reveals. ‘And the guy just started paying attention to what he was doing in the digital world. Anyway, I usually go down and do Michael Jordan’s party for All-Star Weekend. I didn’t go this year, but he did a party with Snoop Dogg and everyone thought it was me [laughs]. But usually, when people say “Reflex”, they think of me – at least in the lead nightlife scene.’

And now it looks like Doha will be thinking of him when they hear that name too, with Le Roque playing at the Crystal Lounge until the end of May. ‘I love Doha,’ he says of his first impressions. ‘Just the vibe of the people that I’ve met. Amazing people here, you know. It’s just so diverse. And I guess the flight attendants help add to that diversity and the expats, but you meet people from all over the place, which is great.’
Meeting them and making them dance is also the name of the game.

‘I play feel good house music, which I add a little flair of hip hop to,’ Le Roque says of his style. ‘I do a little scratching and stuff over the house music and I make it a little more interesting than the typical set. I always say to people, if you’re not really a house lover, you’ll come into the room and listen to house music for three or four hours without even realising that you’re listening to house music sometimes, because I’ll mix in a Jay-Z acapella, or a Lil’ Wayne acapella over a house beat, and then play a Stevie Wonder in between.’

No doubt there are many fans of Le Roque’s style, as it has taken him all over the world – and he casually reels off a list of cities, parties and celebrities he has encountered over the years. One celebrity and fellow DJ in particular has a name that grabs our attention. ‘I do the global marketing for Tiësto,’ he reveals. ‘And he is probably the No 1 DJ in the world right now. That’s a massive responsibility, so I spend a lot of time on the phone. I’m actually keeping both times right now: New York time and Doha time. But it’s so big, I have to talk with them on a daily basis.’

With that, performing and remixing, it’s a wonder how Le Roque finds any time for himself. But if your work allows you to travel, meet and even DJ with well known celebs, maybe it’s no so bad. ‘Sometimes they don’t realise who’s in the DJ booth, and they will come in and try to be a guest DJ,’ he laughs, talking about some of the rich and famous who have crossed his path. And the worst offender for this? ‘Lindsay Lohan, definitely,’ he says. ‘On some occasions I’ve had her come up and I don’t even recognise her because she changes her hairstyle all the time. But I tell her to beat it [laughs].’ And a favourite celebrity to perform for? ‘Jamie Foxx, without a doubt. Jamie is by far the funniest, most party-friendly celebrity I’ve every worked with. And the next guy would be Wilmer Valderrama. He’s hilarious.’

Thankfully, the odd interruption from a celebrity isn’t the type of thing you have to worry about in Doha, and this will give Le Roque the chance to concentrate on other projects, such as seeking out new musicians to work with. ‘I would like to collaborate with local artists and create something that will last along with my experience here,’ he says. ‘Something that I can take with me, and something that I can leave behind for people to remember, and hopefully perform live. You know, I perform with live music also. I have a guy who plays wireless electric guitar while I’m spinning. I think in April we’re going to bring him out and do a show here. That’s definitely something people can look forward to, because I know no one has seen that yet. But I’ll definitely be doing remixes while I’m here with the local sound.’

DJ Reflex performs at the Crystal Lounge, W Doha (453 5135) from Wed-Fri 10.30pm-2.45am, until the end of May. More info at www.reflexnyc.com