Lil’Mike has been on the scene for a number of years having paid his dues in many clubs around Johannesburg. He feels the music in his veins and truly understands what it means to entertain. He’s had a love affair with various genres from electro to progressive and all in between finally settling for one, trance. Besides simply being a cool dude and one of Mr Spencer’s long standing members he’s one dance floor thriller  and he’s got lots to say so take a read...

Well it certainly is a combination of multiple factors... but one fact which has proven itself over the years is seeing and feeling the incredible amount of enjoyment music brings to people of all ages, race and creed. Being able to share my journey of music with each of them creating a memorable experience they never forget...  really gives me all the “I CAN DO IT” attitude I need.

You have experimented with various music styles. Which genre have you settled on and where are you planning on taking it? Also do you play just one genre of music in a set or do you mix and match?
Yes, I have worked with many styles but this is just because I love such a variety of House Music. So much of it appeals to me and each different style has its own little journey to take you on. In the years I have been playing in clubs and parties I have found that it’s safer to be more versatile and to play more variety. Too many a times have I walked into a party expecting to play Electro and land up playing House with touches of commercial just because that’s what worked and what that specific crowd wanted to hear. Recently and at the moment I’ve been working with various sorts of Trance in preparation for Tranceport 2011 but don’t think I will ever settle on one genre but rather experiment with ways on incorporating different styles into each other making them work for each other and my listeners.

The dance industry in South Africa is always transforming and changing to meet the market and demand of the South African people so it will always have its ups and downs. All in all I think it’s looking great and on the up. If you just measure the amount of International DJ’s which have recently visited our shores and are still on their way, you can see there is a great amount of work and investment going into the industry here... maybe a little more focus on show casing the newer home talent would do some good. It certainly wouldn’t do any harm.

It would either be one of these 2 things...Nationally, the exploitation of Dance Music on the FM airwaves throughout SA. Recently we were blessed with “Sunset Dance”, Mix FM’s Trance show on Saturday nights which I’m certainly grateful for, just wish this could be so throughout South Africa. Internationally, exploring and experimenting with more country to country DJ/Artist exchange programmes and getting our (South African) talent shared across the globe.

Well...it was featured on Mix FM and the response from the fans has been great!  “Universal Bliss” is my first Trance mix I complied and also the first edition to my “Bliss” series which I will be releasing in the up and coming months as a build up to Tranceport where I will be hosting the pre-boarding show “Tranceportal Bliss”. Every episode of “Bliss” has a story to it... A behind the scenes meaning which everyone will be able to relate to. It’s just a matter of laying back and enjoying every beat and ever melody and reading the story in your own little way, relating it to your everyday life experiences.

Yeah we all know Vinyl’s will always rock, debate closed...lol! At the moment my ideal since the turntable death is still 2 great CDJ’s and a solid mixer. I haven’t really had the chance to explore into these new consoles such as the ones been released by Pioneer, Traktor, Vestax etc. but do see myself experimenting on some of these technologies such as the Pioneer DDJ-S1in the near future as I think the Serato technology, combined with Pioneer is a match made in heaven and the way to go.

I have always wanted to and would love to get into the producing side of things... Tried to get something going a few months ago but due to my day job and weird long hours I never managed to find the time and follow through with this but recently something positive was presented on my horizon so keep an eye out, you never know...

Beardyman is brilliant. He pulls off some mad crazy stuff! Personally I don’t see myself going that wild but I do applaud him for his creativity and niche. Personally I’m working and exploring with live vocalists and instruments been incorporated into my sets such as the show I’m currently putting together for Tranceport later this year. The different technologies coming out will definitely branch out different creative ideas for various DJ’s all over the globe to push the boundaries and find their certain uniqueness about themselves. In the far future live producing such as what Deadmau5 does or what can be done on Ableton for example, will take the market by storm but for the moment I think the listeners are still uneducated with these technologies and for them still seeing a DJ rocks 2 decks and a mixer is still the ultimate factor.

I don’t have a normal day job which I’m very grateful for so I don’t have that Monday to Friday office hour’s infection. I’m currently a Duty Manager for a top mobile network provider, working long hours of shifts a few nights or days a week. It works for me as I get many more days off which I try catch up on sleep but also get a lot more time to spend focusing on the music side of things.

It’s very hard to name one producer which is at the top of my list as each producer has his/her own qualities and abilities, also I work with many different genres so it’s not so easy nailing it down to one person but from South Africa, Paul Bingham and Shane Halcon have really impacted the international scene with their great productions and won’t begin naming the internationals as there are just way too many... I’ll be here forever.

Practise, persevere, persist... never lose sight of your end goal, keep ambitious, don’t get involved in the politics and never let the politics get to you.

mmmmm... hard choice!  That’s all I’m saying... can I reserve my right to remain silent?

What do you think of the whole music piracy issue? Record companies hate it but individual artists love it because it gives them more freedom. What is your take on it?

This is a very huge debate I have been pondering on for a few years now... I am not a producer or artist myself so I am unable to elaborate to much but speaking for myself ... I support the producers and artists by purchasing the required material but there’s always 2 sides to a coin. Unfortunately us as DJ’s, we have to keep our material as fresh as possible and you are going to sometimes bend the rules a bit to make sure you are on top of your game and your listeners are hearing the latest, hottest tracks. I don’t purchase too many albums as I purchase single tracks but if I do really want a certain album or CD I sure do pay for it...cause if it was my work, I would like the same appreciation for it. Just depends on which side of the coin you looking from...

This will still have to be the one on one set played with Nigel H back in 2008 when Submission was still open, was one of those experiences you wish you could do again but know it can never be replicated.  An experience of a lifetime...The whole club just had so much fun, was great seeing people let loose like that.

Glamorous DJ lifestyle? What’s this? Can you eat it? I’m not really fazed with groupies, it’s all about the journey and if you enjoy been part of my journey... Well hop on and enjoy the ride!

Keep supporting your favourite DJ’s and local artists, without you they would not be where they are today. It’s you, which keep us doing what we do.