UK House DJ/producer Yousef has been an influential part of the Liverpool house scene for many years now. His new release, with breaks DJ Krafty Kutz, is a testament to his monthly night "Circus" in Liverpool. On tour right now, he found a few spare minutes to tell what's happening in his busy life running the number one club night, as a house DJ who loves Genesis...
Zak Davis: Where do you currently reside?
Yousef: Liverpool, in the UK. My home town.
Zak Davis: What is the best way to describe the music that you play and produce?
Yousef: Soulful, jackin', pumpin', dirty, and positive underground party music.
Zak Davis: Who or what shaped your sound when you began DJing?
Yousef: Definitely the early days at Cream and the afterparties I used to throw just to play to a crowd. I'd listen to Carl Cox and Roger Sanchez and then come home and try and play like them. It was great to be 18/19 in Liverpool.
Zak Davis: What is your biggest influence today?
Yousef: It's wide. I love house music (Derrick Carter, Onionz, Ian Pooley, Carl Cox) but I love song-based soul too. I love everything from hip-hop to Genesis, Prince, the Beatles, Dr. Dre, Ian Brown, Lauryn Hill; music with heart and soul.
Zak Davis: I first heard of you from your mix show on Radio One. How did that come about?
Yousef: Radio One spotted me DJing at Creamfields. I was booked to play the main stage live on Radio One in front of 20,000. I did well. They then invited me to come along for a chat, which turned into a residency offer. It went from there. I have a great time doing that - it's really fun.
Zak Davis: You were a resident at Cream for a few years, was that as amazing as it sounds?
Yousef: Yes. I used to go as a kid. I went every week for 7 years before getting offered a residency. It was where I grew up and where I got to see al my early influences DJ. As a DJ I matured there and made part of that club my own. It meant and still means a great deal to me.
Zak Davis: Do you think winning the MUZIK Bedroom Bedlam competition was a giant stepping stone for you?
Yousef: Yeah, it seriously helped me, especially having a column in the magazine. It helped my records get noticed and gave me exposure at the right time. It opened a door and I kicked the rest open!
Zak Davis: What is it like to be one of the only Egyptian DJs in circulation right now?
Yousef: I'm British with Egyptian roots. I find it odd when people claim to be from somewhere else (i.e. myself telling people I'm from Egypt...) when they have been born and brought up in a different country and culture. I'm happy to be Egyptian but proud to be British. From a DJing point of view it makes no difference.
Zak Davis: Do you play in the US often?
Yousef: As well as WMC, I come to the US 3 or 4 times a year.
