With a career spanning from London to Seoul and back again, Mark Bambach has preformed with such musical powerhouses as Danny Tenagalia, Sonique, Danny Rampling, Joey Negro, the Sharp Boys, Alan Thompson, Joe T Vannelli and Wayne G. With his mix of funky house music and a distinct ‘eau du disco’, he’s played to intimate crowds and rooms of thousands (including the launch of the W Hotel in Seoul, South Korea, and Kuala Lumpur’s Westin hotel in Malaysia). He made his Middle Eastern debut with a two-month residency recently at Crystal Lounge in the W Doha, followed by a month at Wahm, and now he’s back and ready to rock. So what makes this DJ tick?

How did you get started doing what you do?
I started back in 1994 in London. I’d moved to the UK from Australia in 1989, and I’ve always been passionate about music and collecting records. I was working in a restaurant in Soho, which a lot of club promoters and DJs frequented, so I started to hang out with them. I loved clubbing, I liked the guys behind the decks and I will always love music, so it just seemed completely natural that DJ’ing was what I was going to do. When I set my mind to it, there was no stopping me and I practised mixing from vinyl solidly until I felt that I was ready. I was confident about my skills and it showed in my work. And when you can rock a dancefloor, the bookings start flying in.

What do you love about it?
What’s not to like about doing what you love? Everyone wants to have a job that they are passionate about, so I’m extremely lucky to have done what I love for the last 15 years-plus. I like being the one responsible for making people smile, laugh, scream, dance without inhibitions and have a memorable night. I love my job!

But it can’t be all fun and games: what’s hard about it?
It’s a job where you need to be on the ball, and be able to perform, on every occasion, regardless of your mood or how tired you may be. And the hours can be tiring. I work most weekends, and I’m always working New Year’s Eve.

So why do it? What is it that keeps you going?
The love of music

You’re coming back to Doha and we’re very excited, but for those who haven’t seen one of your gigs, what’s it like?
It’s really difficult to answer that question because every venue is different and no two nights are the same. Broadly, I like a slow progression on a night – I like the beginning to be laid back, so when people are arriving the music’s not so in your face. The music should most definitely flow along with the build-up of people on the night.

As you’ve been here before, what’s it like DJ’ing in Doha?
I really enjoyed DJ’ing at Crystal and Wahm at the W Hotel. Doha is great for me because of the huge mix of people – all countries and nationalities – which allows me to play a wide selection of music. Rocca at the Grand Hyatt will have three completely different nights musically, Wednesday through Friday, so people can choose which night suits their musical taste best. There will be something for everyone at Rocca.

What’s your favourite song?
I don’t have one favourite song – I have many favourites, way too many to mention in fact.

DJ Mark Bambach plays every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at Rocca at the Grand Hyatt Doha (4448 1234) starting September 8, from 9pm till closing. Wednesdays, starting from September 14, will be Body & Soul Night, with ’80s soul and funk along with the latest pop hits;. Thursdays, from September 15, will be Mirrorball Classics Night, with funky house music spanning two decades plus current house; Fridays, starting September 16, will be Cocktail Sounds, a smoky mix of house and Ibiza style.