And so, another race has ended, another after party to fire up. Punta del Este has hands down been the most exciting race so far!

From the people, to the atmosphere, the setting, the weather, the view ... I could go on! Everyone at the FE team was high on good vibes and not a lot was needed to get everyone in a party mood.

The after party was a real treat. Set in a beautiful house on the rocks of La Barra, an area just north of Punta's city centre.

The dance floor was almost on the water, set upon the villa's terrace, waves crashing up against the walls of the DJ booth.

After spinning all day at the Emotion Club that was trackside (and with a glorious but teasing view of the beach), I had just enough time to change, polish my set list and burn a few CDs with backup tracks that I may feel like busting out in that spontaneous moment of gotta-play-that-song NOW!

No matter how small or big the gig is - I always get nervous. I don't mind, in fact I thrive on it as it keeps me on my feet, alert and in touch with the crowd and music. Nerves were set even higher this time as I was warming up for Erick Morillo. I'd played with Erick before a few years ago at a few after parties for Future Festival in Sydney and that infamous spot in Ibiza some are lucky to know of, The Kave. Excitement, nerves, stress - someone get me a drink!

There were a few guidelines that I had given myself for this set - beachy tribal tunes, Morillo-esque towards the end and a few classic vocals. Oh and absolutely no Subliminal records - standard when warming up to any producer/dj. Don't play their tracks.

I didn't get to see much of Kuala Lumpur thanks to the fever but the view from up the top was certainly a tour guide in one. Champagne flowed, tequila was shot and a domino of exhausted yet excited Formula E workers fell into the pool.
Unfortunately, the indecisive rain meant I couldn't DJ in the E-booth that was brought out. But nevertheless we carried on with the festivities.

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Last night was the first installment of Music in the Library - a weekly event held in The Library of Club Cafe Royal.

Situated right in the heart of boisterous Piccadilly, yet nestled in the quite cove of the Hotel, Wednesday nights will bring together the clubs members and their guests for a chance to network, mingle and groove to the latest house music.


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Playing in a smaller more intimate space means limiting tracks that are heavy on bass and are more melodic so that you get the crowd tapping or swaying away. I had gone on another downloading rampage last week and found a whole stack of tracks that fit just this criteria ...

Track list:
"Magic"  - Teenage Mutants & Lars Moston
"Oooh" - Super Flu
"Fading Nights" - Parra for Cuva, Anna Naklab
"Recognize" - SoKool feat. Mr Schug
"Lost" - Simion feat. Roland Clark
"Long Days, Hot Nights ( Claptone Remix )" - Sirens of Lesbos

On the weekend I traveled to Frankfurt for Sven Vath's 50th birthday.

I first met Sven properly about four years ago when he was playing at the Future Festival in Sydney, Australia. I had briefly met the Cocoon family during the Kave parties in Ibiza before that, but here I was Sven's back-up dancer.
Literally.

I had been in the crowd with one of my best friends, dancing like we were back in high school. Electronic music still didn't demand a large stage at Australian music festivals back then, so Sam and I had almost a whole dance floor to craze around on. We were both plucked up and put on stage where we continued to dance for the remainder of the set.


As the world continued to prove smaller, when I moved to London the following year I was sharing the same apartment with Sarah Qaiser - head dancer at Cocoon, who is now sister and partner in crime. Later on, living in Ibiza Mondays were spent in Amnesia for Sven's Cocoon residency, then I would go on to work for Cocoon and thus a relationship with not just Sven but the whole Cocoon group would make them family.

So there was no question that the trip to Mannehim would not happen. It was also an opportunity to write a feature for Pulse Radio, detailing the night. Check it out below >>

http://pulseradio.net/articles/2014/10/time-warp-papa-sven-turns-50-in-review

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In conjunction with Frieze Art Week in London, Baroness Ariane de Rothschild hosted the opening reception of "So British" by Thierry Bruet at the beautiful Alice Temperley store in Mayfair, London. The exhibition was a collection of paintings amongst the elegant glamour of the Temperley couture collection.

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I was glitzed up with a tight fitting silk dress from the Winter 14 collection. It had flower motifs that were strikingly similar to folk art from the Lowicki region known as wycinanki (paper cuttings). I wore this with a gold vintage Egyptian necklace and pointed black heels.


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The beauty of the store, clothes and people deserved a refined set list. A whisper told me that Alice loved all things Hotel Costes. Having played there during my months in Paris, I was pretty well introduced to the style. Stephane Pompougnac is a master at finding and producing lounge tunes that don't sound like you're stuck in a stuff elevator.

Track list:
"Don't turn it off" - 40 Thieves feat. Qzen
"Tears dry on their own (Al Usher Remix)" - Amy Winehouse
"Yes baby yes" - Mo'Horizons
"Don't let go" - Pacha Massive
"My darling" - Ralph Myerz

Special thanks to the talented Sabrina of Sabrina Priano Make-up for making me look all dazzling.

Yesterday marked the beginning of the intimate sessions down at Blakes Hotel, London.

The luxuriously cosy bar is perfect to escape the forthcoming winter blues. An intimate abode where one can escape, sip on skillful crafted cocktails and listen to my deep tunes.



A visit from my girlfriend Melanie Ribbe (@MelanieRibbe) , who is also learning to become a DJ herself gave the night a nice surprise. And the ever energetic Alex Escat (@alexandraescat) who always adds a burst of colour to a crowd.

Thanks to all who came down and I look forward to warming your nights up for the few months ahead. Next time I promise to take pictures without the lazy eye ...

Tracklist :

"Never Too Much (Bondye & Lee Jo edit)" - Luther Vandross
"They Don't Know" - Disciples
"Ultravision (feat. Jaw)" - Seuil
"Memories" - Gauthier DM
"It's you (Ron Basejame remix)" - The White Lamp

It's the day before the big race. After checking some CDs and finalising playlists, I set out for a quick tourist trip to Tiananmen Square and Summer Palace. Big bummer I can't make it to The Great Wall of China ... but hey,  #firstworldproblem
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Observation #1 ... Unlike in Japan where every man, woman and child are wide-eyed giggling behind shy hands and asking for photos of you - the Chinese quite simply couldn't give a toss.
I am quite clearly the tallest, blondest, most alien looking on the subway and no one even bats an eyelid. Talk about feeling invisible.
Yet this quickly changes as I get to The Temple of Heaven. Tourists all pointing iPhones and gadgets this way and that, suddenly start asking for photos. Before I know it there is a queue - yes a queue, of little children and eager adults wanting a photo with moi at the steps of the Tian Tian - the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest. 

I'm feeling famous! ...that is, before I get back onto the subway. Ba-humbug.

Observation #2 ... Maps of any kind are completely useless and only there to confuse tourists.
After asking concierge what the best way to the subway was from the hotel, after standing for fifteen minutes trying to decipher his broken English and after walking away two steps feeling pretty victorious the Chinese man stops me, points to the map and says "map no good. All map no good" shrugs, then leaves me to my own devices.

Luckily my sense of direction is pretty good. I manage to figure my way around town despite the ridiculous amount of barricades that try to throw me off my path.

Last night I was invited to a special presentation and dinner hosted by Traktor and Car Craig. Held in a secret location in Ibiza, the event was an intimate affair streamed live by BE-AT and featured Luciano, David Squillace and the host himself, Carl Craig, on the decks showcasing Traktor technology.

Before the sunset alfresco dinner set out magically on the lawn of the finca overlooking the rolling hills of San Antonio, Carl sat down and answered a few questions on his professional relationship with Traktor and how his DJing has been shaped by technology from his vinyl days.

The Traktor debate is still ever present and even more so relevant as some of the biggest DJ's either switch entirely or partly - depending on their gig specs - to the revolutionary technology.

I myself am still a CD die hard, but having fiddled with Traktor a few times I can definitely see the advantages from many points. Especially if one's organisation skills aren't the best.

The night was truly special. Apart from (bascially) private sessions from some of the most respected music makers and mingling with the influencers in the world of electronic music, the vibe was chilled yet fun.

Luciano also revealed all the tracks he had played that night were unreleased and new. It was his chance to road test them before a live audience, working them at different speeds and effects.

With bottles of smoky Mezcal Amores floating around - thanks to Maria and Anthony ( one half of Audiofly), who partly sponsored the event - shots could have instantly turned the gathering into a party.

Special thanks to Hagi Craig for the invitation.

One of the things I love about Ibiza is the the down right crazy places you will most definitely end up once stepping out of your home.
Today after a fairly chilled day of leisurely sailing around Cala Comte, I end up at the house of Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte. A magnificent villa perched on the cliffs of northern Ibiza, separate small fincas sprawled across the grassy property. Tall palm trees swayed to the breeze. Activities, food stalls and sculptures scattered in between - all of the circus kind.

I probably tried every single flavour of artisan ice-cream handed out by sequin clad women in top hats.


Why such a lavish set you ask? Well, it was the scene for the famed Boiler Room Villa Takeovers.

Walking into the villa grounds, people were spread everywhere. The party had just started so it was difficult to guess numbers. But by the time Paradise creator Jamie Jones stepped up to the decks, I'm guessing around 500 partyers were scattered around the Paradise Circus.

First UP, Kate Simko performed with the London Electronic Orchestra. A live performance of "Benediction" with Ali Love on the mike finished her set and an energetic WAFF set the pace for the rest of the night.

As the sun set on another glorious day, the circus went into night mode. Tripadelic lights, large-scale projections, performances and of course, the dancing. Martinez Brothers pumped up the atmosphere with their RnB laden beats. Then Jamie Jones took the reigns to finish his party right.

This was definitely a party remember. Long after Boiler Room had taken down their production lights the party kept going. No one wanted to leave such a magical setting, but alas ... all good things must come to end.

Great thanks to Guy, the ring leader, who's hospitality was of epic scale.

When you think London, you think edgy punk fashion, Doc Martens and moody colours ... the spectrum of greyscale to be more precise . A pioneer of the London look is definitely the iconic brand AllSaints.

Last night I had the pleasure of DJing for the private party celebrating the new Autumn Winter collection, hosting guests for an exclusive preview of what threads are hot for those cold days ahead.

The VIP party was in the beautiful Notting Hill store. Set upon two levels, the wooden floorboards and steel frames give it that rough yet stylish atmosphere.

Like any fashion event bubbly and kind-to-the-hip canapes floated around. Guests could also have some fun with the photo booth. Everyone loves a good photo session ... including me! I managed to sneak in a cheeky photo with my fav girl about London town, Shannon - aka. hostess with the mostess

AllSaints music direction is more Indie Rock, so I got a chance to catch up on the latest in the indie world,play some old favourites and mix it up a bit with vocal deep house.

AllSaints tracklist :
"Swinging Party" - The Kindness
"Blue Monday" - New Order
"Get Myself Into It" - The Rapture
"Feel the Love" - Cut Copy
"Blind" -  Hercules & Love Affair
"Pow Pow" - LCD Soundsystem