DJ Fuel on burning up the dance floors

What was your recent performance with Armin Van Buuren like and what were the differences between the CPT and JHB one?

Both shows were incredible, huge turnout both were sold out it was amazing to see that sort of excitement for an event let alone a dance event in this country let alone in the middle of winter. It's really positive to see that. And the energy at both gigs was really phenomenal from the moment people arrived they were there to kick down and have the night of their lives. I don't think anyone who went was disappointed at all.

What are your favourite venues to play in SA?

It depends you can have a good or a bad night wherever you are. One of my best gigs was in Durban at the Wave house it was fantastic, it was myself Goldfish and Roger Goode unbelievable energy and a few months later I went back there for an event and it was a dismal dismal show. So you know it always varies. In Cape Town I'm playing at the Bang Bang Club on Friday nights and Chevelle on Saturday nights and both are really fun for different reasons.

What would you say is you best performance been in your musical career?

This weekend (Armin Van Buuren concert) def counts in the top 5. Early this year I got to tour with an international DJ, Sasha and that was also fantastic. I got to open for Jamiroquai a few years back and that was really cool a completely different kind of set laid back funky stuff.

How did you get into DJ'ing?

It's just something that I have always loved it. I'm from a very musical family, my dad did tours and managed artist so I have always been around music. I played various instruments when growing up, played the piano and the guitar and had a little band with some friends in high school. And when I moved to Cape Town I got into the club scene and bought myself some turntables and in about a year I was doing my own parties.It was a hobby and a passion which grew like wildfire to put it mildly I was still studying at the time and was doing it on the side but just stuck with it.

What were you studying?

Business science and marketing at UCT

So what would you be doing if you weren't a DJ - business science?

No I think I would always be involved in music somehow .Even though my dad was in the music business he always said don't get involved in the music industry.

Do your parents approve now?

Yes I think they have come to accept it as they see I take it seriously and treat it like a career. And it is something I love. And I think at least studying the business degree I can apply it to what I do. I can promote myself handle my own bookings, things like that. It helps me keep my headspace as a DJ to not get too caught up in the late nights and clubs.

Is it a tough business?

Yes to get in, to stay in and to grow in it is very tough. There is a lot of competition. And currently there are not a lot of clubs out there for a lot of DJ's. You got to make sure you are at the front make sure you are the best so that's very tough. Also it is quite cut throat the music business in general it's a lot of work and to really stay in it you have to love what you do otherwise you can get quite jaded. But I must admit I have been very lucky in CT to work with a great network of friends. But it is also a lot of fun; it's got its ups and downs.

What makes a successful DJ?

I think for me the first and foremost thing is music selection. Beyond that how you actually mix and your technical ability. And the third thing is to have a presence in the DJ box to be an entertainer. And of course the ability to go without sleep for long periods of time.

How do you find inspiration for creating tracks?

Pretty much from most of the music I'm exposed to it's not limited to dance music but any type of music. But what I usually do is look at what type of music at that time is moving me. I take what I hear in that music and put my own take on it. The other thing I like to do is take different styles and genres of music and mesh them together. I like to make music that people can't quite place to wear it belongs but it will still work on a dance floor.

How do you think the SA music scene (especially the dance scene) could be improved and what do you think we are doing right?

I think the music scene in SA is brilliant at the moment across the board from pop to dance to rock. Like Prime Circle, I really like their sound and they sound like a great international rock band but they also have their unique SA flavour. I think there are a lot of areas where it could grow and improve from and it is struggling with a lot of the same problems that the overseas markets are dealing with, record sales digital music things like that. But the more our country gears itself up to sell music online the better it will be. Most of the music I use as a DJ I get off the internet but I pay for it. For me I never begrudge the amount I have to pay it's like 1 or 2 dollars for a song. And if I like the song why shouldn't I pay for that. You know I will pay R6 for a coke why not a pay R20 for a song. It's an interesting time in the music world but it will eventually adapt and find a way to work successfully.

What are your future plans?

Short term I will be going to the Durban July which is always fun, great time of year to be there. And then up to JHB for a few gigs and the back to CT at which point I will hopefully be finishing my studio. I have recently moved so I'm basically building my studio up from scratch again. Then write a few more tracks before the year is out and the I plan to release a single, can't give too much away as I still have to get the deal signed with the record company. But hopefully I release that before summer time.

And any plans for international tours?

I have a few offers from places like Jordan and Paris. There is a German agency that is interested in using me to do a tour around the East, Singapore and Japan. But with 2010 it's all going to be happening here anyway.

Artists that you would like to work with?

Actually there are a lot of artist here in CT that I would like to do things with. Musician wise I know a few very talented guys with unique sounds a friend of mine Maurice, he's the bassist for the Dirty Skirts and we jam quite a bit. Another guy who is quite cool on the sax is Rus Nerwich he's also very mad and very cool.

Which Superhero would you be and why?

Hmm, wolverine is a very cool bad ass superhero but I would like it to be someone who could fly. It's a good question I think I would go with batman for this one I love the car and all the gadgets and being a DJ we're always into toys and gadgets.

What is the best part of being a DJ?

The best part is being in that DJ box knowing that you are getting it right getting the little rush from doing that and then looking out into the crowd and seeing that the crowd is hearing and feeling the same thing you are. Especially when it's on a large scale. It's what motivates you and reminds you why you do this in the first place.

And the worst things?

Airports, baggage check -ins things like that. A lot of the admin around it. Taking a lot of heavy bags and airports aren't very friendly when you have a huge record bag and everything looks like its some bomb device; headphones and wires and cables. The late nights. But on the whole when I do what I do, I think I would rather be doing this then being in an office in a suit and tie crunching numbers.

What do you do for fun?

Beside DJ'ing I like going to the beach I like to keep it balanced. I do a lot of yoga. It something that most people wouldn't know about but I really enjoy it. It keeps me sane.

Message to your fans

Basically I get a lot of people asking about my music like where they can find it. I have just got a new website that has gone out its www.deanfuel.com so if people are looking for info that is the best place to go. And then in a month or two look out for a few new tracks... And thanks for the support.