‘Ibiza’s hardest working DJ’™, Mr Doris is bringing a new venture to Space’s Sunset Terrace for We Love this year. We asked him a few questions about what it’s all about and what he’s been up to through the winter months. Download and listen to his latest mix below while you read…
Mr Doris – We Love… Music by welove
How are you doing Mr Doris, and what did you get up to over the winter months?
I’m great thank you and looking forward to the summer ahead. At the end of last season I finally did the honourable thing and moved full time to Ibiza – something I’ve been aiming to do since I first set foot on the island 15 years ago. Saying that, I still seemed to sp[end most of my time away or in some sort of transport, be it plane, train or automobile. The stationary moments were spent in the studio working on new material, compiling mix albums for the likes of Defected and El Chiringuito, prepping for ‘After Dark’ at We Love… (more about that later) and general tomfoolery.
Was this production work solo, or have you been working alongside somebody else we might have heard of?
Yes! I finally dived head first back into production this winter (after a hiatus of 4 years) on solo material and with other artists. I’m currently working with studio partners Donewrong on projects taking in several genres from chilled grooves to drum n’ bass and everything in-between. Back on the island, Andy Baxter (fellow We Love… resident DJ) and Grayson Shipley of Deepgroove have persuaded me to stray away from my usual path to a housier tip (under the mysterious guise of Señor Doris).
Have you had interest from any labels for these exploits or is it all up for grabs?
‘Born In The Ghetto’ & ‘Elam’ (under Señor Doris) have been signed to Dandy Kid Records for an early June release. A downtempo number entitled ‘Fourteen Hundred Hours’ will be released on Marley Records at the end of May. My more bassy material is hopefully set for a summer release with Skanky Panky. You can catch one of the releases ‘Seeing Red’ on the 2011 Red Bull Formula 1 promotional video, here.
You have been a regular feature at We Love… for a good few years now and you have a new concept starting on the Sunset Terrace this summer, can you explain how this came about and a little bit about what you have in store for us?”
Ideas for the ‘After Dark’ project were sprung from the success of last season’s impromptu sets on the Sunset Terrace after midnight. It was intended to be of a laid back nature but we ended up having it right off to sounds that most people wouldn’t associate with Ibiza: world music – be it reggae, latin, drum n’ bass or anything else that took the mood… with a bit of old fashioned turntablism thrown in for good measure. This year we’re taking it up a level and hopefully opening up Ibiza as a destination to people like myself who aren’t just into the music that is already associated with the island, while introducing new sounds to the regular We Love… crowd. It’s pretty much another dream come true for me – having a platform to both play the music I love to a wide audience and to invite artists who have been a staple ingredient of my record box to do it alongside me – most of whom will be having their exclusive Ibiza debuts including the likes of Quantic, Dr Rubberfunk, Mark Rae & DJ Cheeba.
This is a sound you have been championing for some time now, do you think it works well in a bigger arena like the Sunset Terrace?
This year as I’ve mentioned we’re raising it up a couple of gears, sounds and visions that might not necessarily be associated with a larger arena but one that will be sure to have it rocking. Last year’s unplanned success is testament to that.
Your shows start at midnight when the sound level traditionally drops a little in that particular arena, did you find this to be a problem last summer?
It’s always nice having a lot of volume to play with (although with the ‘After Dark’ music policy it’s not essential), originally I thought it may effect things but as anyone who was with us last year would have witnessed, the party went on regardless. This year we’re also going to be taking the crowd on a visual journey, bringing audio-visual showcases to the club from the likes of Ninja Tune, Solid Steel and Soundcrash. Total sensory overload. :)
The Sunset Terrace is essentially an open air part of the club, are you not worried with the new anti-smoking laws that it will be filled with smokers rather than people who have come to listen to some different sounds?
I think most people would find it very difficult not to enjoy themselves and become involved in the sights, sounds and festival atmosphere that ‘After Dark’ brings. As there’s no strict music policy there often seems to be something for everyone – a lot of people honestly stumble across what we’re doing on the Sunset Terrace and end up staying with us until close. If the smoking ban can bring us a bigger crowd then god bless the E.U.
As far as Space goes, you’re exclusive to We Love now, but what else are you doing on the isle this summer? Will we be able to catch your legendary beach bar sets at El Chiringuito again this summer?
You’ll be sure to catch me playing records during the day at El Chiringuito in Es Cavalet three or four times a week. The restaurant has become a home away from home and a place where I can push my sounds while people relax on perhaps one of the best beaches Ibiza has to offer. As mentioned, I’ve recently compiled and mixed the new El Chiringuito 2011 album that showcases my more downtempo grooves. Other 2011 residencies include Pacha, Rock Bar, KM5 and Lo Cura as well as a few guest spots at places like Bambuddha Grove, Aura and Atzaro.
Any hot tips for the summer months ahead?
Don’t restrict yourselves to the same nights and clubs. Venture out a bit and go explore the island as much as you can…
When you’re not working what do you like to do to relax on Ibiza?
Sleep when and where possible, sup wine and eat vast amounts of tapas with friends at La Bodega and on very rare occasions go to Aguas Blancas beach on the north of the island.
Photos by Phrank.
