Name Mauro Picotto
Who? DJ icon and one of the biggest stars on the harder end of the dance music scale. Mauro has been storming parties and charts around the world and remixing everybody from Josh Wink to U2 for nearly 15 years. Stereotypes ‘I am not a trance DJ. I am not a techno DJ. I am just a DJ. I play the music I like and try to make a positive atrnOSphere. Categories of style do not matter. What matters is that people enjoy themselves.‘ Superstardom ‘I've played arenas of 45,000 people in Amsterdam and to 18,000 people in the middle of the Amazon jungle with parrots flying overhead. It's amazing. But I've also played smaller clubs and love the connection to people there. As long as there is a great atmosphere. that’s what’s important. then I'm happy'
DJing ‘I was one of the first to mix with CDs. people thought I was playing a pre- recorded set. I still use them and I also use Final Scratch but there's just something about how a record feels and sounds. I'll always love playing vinyl.'
Music ‘I saw the Black Eyed Peas recently. they were crazy. very, very good. Their music was excellent and they had such energy. I like anyone doing different stuff. with passion, in a creative way. It's what I try to do.‘
The Future ‘I am always positive. My Meganite project [www.meganite. co.uk]. supporting new music, artists and events. is very exciting creatively. I have a new double album coming out. reflecting not just what I play in the club but also after the party. more downbeat and chilled out. I think people will be surprised.‘ (Mike Donald)
I Mauro Picotto guests at Inside Out, the Arches, Glasgow, Sat 25 Jun.
34 THE LIST '23 Jllll / Jul 9005)
ECLECTIC OCEAN PRIDE Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh, 25 Jun
Dust off your rainbow flags. practice those chants and get yourself somewhere to stay in the capital because Pride Scot/a is upon us and it's shaping up to be a big one. To compliment the Pride march itself. there is a big after-march bash to be held at One of the capital's biggest spaces. Ocean Terminal. With DJs from gay pubs and clubs around the city already signed up to play a huge variety of music to a cross—section of folk. Ocean Pride organiser Alan Joy is keen to point out that it is a party fer everyone
to enjOy. ‘Prrde brings together a lot of people who
aren't necessarily clubgoing people. With the Ocean Terminal burldrng being so big and spacious. it's easier for people to move around. so it's not quite that night club environment that may well put off a lot of people.‘
Willi room for 1800 people. it's possible to socialise and chat in one space and dance into the wee small hours to sets from people like Disko Bloodbath. Blaze and CC Blooms in another. Alan is hoping that Edinburgh's promoters will all come on board. ‘I've approached all the clubs and bars and asked each place to nornrnate a DJ that best represents them. and make it into a big massive party where everybody feels involved.‘
(Sandra Marron)
HOOK DEATHKILL4000 Barfly, Glasgow, 25 Jun
Deadthkill4000 celebrates its second birthday party this month with a live slot from one of the hottest bands around at present, renegade punksters Motormark. With club audiences fickle and always on the look out for something new, Deathkill has more than paid its dues and hit the two-year mark and the ground running. A night that was, according to promoter and resident DJ Marc Lawson (AKA Dirty Marc) ‘born out of frustration’, has amassed a dedicated following and a reputation for taking risks and putting on some of the more interesting live acts from around the globe.
Started at a time when the city’s hungry rock posse were being served by pretty much one venue, the Cathouse, Dirty Marc and pals were deflated and ready for something new. ‘There wasn't really anything
Alan Joy
happening club-wise that myself or my friends were really into or could get behind,‘ he explains. ‘So we decided to try and start something where it was a rock night but with a lot of other music going on, a place for new music and new bands. Basically the type of night that we would like to go to.’
They have stuck to their guns religiously and with two floors and DJ sets from co-pilots Fifi Chops and Clitoris Party, Deathkill’s play list takes in everything from rock, hip hop, techno, house, braindance, metal, and even some drum & bass on occasion. ‘I play a lot more house and techno but because it‘s Deathkill, it’s generally more on the darker side,’ says Lawson. ‘Less funky and more nasty but it’s all on a rock foundation.’ The secret of their success? ‘We have fun doing it. We never tried to do anything that was targeted at a particular group of people. We have always stuck to doing something we like and it works for us.’ Here here. Happy Birthday folks. (Sandra Marron)