Describe your DJ style in five words.
You’ve got it or you haven’t (sorry that’s six).
Give us the most random fact about yourself…
Oddly enough, I am an avid badminton player.
How did you get into DJing as a profession?
It was all down to a lucky break while being a mobile DJ in 1985. I was asked by the landlord of a public house where I used to drink whether I would play my records one night when the resident DJ didn’t turn up. Fate works in mysterious ways.
Who were your inspirations as an aspiring disc jockey?
I have a few mentors who inspired me and who I aspired towards. One is a life-long friend called Jon Jules, who is the most amazing DJ. Norman Jay is another, purely because he is a Tottenham Hotspur fan like me and a great music connoisseur. Dave Dorrell of Marrs, Ricky Morrison, Froggy, Robbie Vincent and Greg Edwards have also inspired me in my career. So quite a few people I suppose!
Has your style of DJing changed over the years?
My DJing style hasn’t changed that much over the years, but the music has changed. It goes in cycles. Now deep house and disco are back with a vengeance, like it was 30 years ago. I simply adapt my DJ sets to suit current trends. Technology has changed everything. It has become much easier to make music but harder to carve a niche or name for yourself because so many people are able to make music. Nowadays you become a DJ by becoming a producer first and producing a hit record. Then follows the DJing.
Which place or venue you have played is your all time favourite?
There are two: Space Ibiza in the early 90s and also Es Paradis, both in Ibiza.
What’s the most unusual thing you’ve been asked in the DJ booth?
To sign their passport.
Who has been your favourite collaboration?
My favourite collaboration was with Ricky Morrison and Fran Sidoli (M&S) as Blockster. Our remix You Should Be..’ was a remix of You Should Be Dancing by the Bee Gees, and reached number three in the UK Singles Chart in January 1999. Our follow-up track Grooveline was in the UK top 20 in July 1999.
What can we expect from your set in Doha?
I tend to see what the crowd is looking for and try to make my set as enjoyable as possible for them. Coco Latté is known in the UK and Qatar for its vocal uplifting house music parties, so I’ll be laying down some funky numbers, together with classic house tunes and cool remixes in Doha at Rocca, Grand Hyatt.
Finally, if your DJing style was a food, what would it be?
Mixed kebab with extra chilli sauce.
DJ Brandon Block will be headlining Coco Latté presents IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC at 9pm on Thursday October 23 at Rocca, Grand Hyatt, Doha For more information about the event, email: headoffice@cocolatte.net
