Zak Davis: What has been your favorite city to play in to date?
Yousef: Overall, Liverpool.
Zak Davis: The ever-popular Circus in Liverpool seems to be bigger and badder every time, what is the biggest key to its success?
Yousef: We work so hard at it. We love it and we really care about the paying clubber. They are by far the most important people in the club and they are made to feel that way. Musically I like to do things I like. Fortunately, I like house and techno so the music can be quite varied. We've had most every world class DJ play for us now. Also the Circus chat room (www.circusclub.co.uk/forum) is like a family get together. New members join everyday and the regulars make them feel welcome without a nudge from me.
Zak Davis: I noticed a Slater Hogan track on your new CD, Circus & Chibuku presents. Do you play a lot of US House?
Yousef: US house is where my love for house music began. These days good house music is from all over the world but without the early nineties American house movement (DJ Sneak, Derrick Carter, Todd Terry, Masters at Work) I may have been into something else. I'm still a fan of the said DJs and their music.
Zak Davis: Did you and Krafty Kuts communicate with working on this project?
Yousef: Not really. We had the odd chat to catch up as we are friends but nothing musically.
Zak Davis: What is the hardest part about compiling a new album?
Yousef: Choosing what not to put on. so many ideas!!!
Zak Davis: What's next for Yousef?
Yousef: My club night Circus has just won BBC Radio One club of the year so I'd like to do it again in 2005! DJ wise, I'm still touring all over the world. Musically I've got remixes done for Fatboy Slim and Ian Brown; single-wise I've got tracks about to drop as Yousef, Yougene (with Gene Farris), and Skip and Harry (with Paul Woolford). I'm also doing another compilation before the summer.
Zak Davis: What direction do you believe dance music headed next?
Yousef: I think the production levels of the music will become a lot better and more DJs will be live acts. To be honest, as long as there is a decent dance floor I'm happy.
