DJ Yass

What is your earliest musical memory?

The first thing i have in my mind is my dad playing some instruments when I was 3 years old.The earliest memory I don't remember...

Tell us about your first ever DJ gig/live performance...

I was young, about 14yr old, a friend of mine organized a party for his birthday, I proposed to play some music for this event...it was a big mess, in the beginning I was fully stressed but we had a lot of fun...

And my first gig in club was in France's provincal, when I was 16 years old, my cousin and I decided to go out in the club ( It was quite complicated because i was under the permit age). Once in the club, I was standing in front the dj booth a few moment...and no dj around... Later I saw the boss of the club playing one record, i decided to ask him where was the dj? He said he had a problem cause his dj had a crash car on the way to the club, and can' t perform tonight. Just for fun i proposed to replace the dj, he was so happy, and supplied me to play immediatly...I didn t play the same way as his dj, but I saved the party, and everybody was dancing, I had fun and it was the first time i get paid as a dj...This event made me happy during a month!

Who or what inspired you to start a career in music?

My oncle had a Jazz,disco and salsa club, I used to go there when i was young, and everytime i've been there to see my uncle I had a blast. The dj and the bands performing live inspired me a lot. Then when I was 13 I started progressively to play with my parent's records and started to buy my owns, my own equipement...

What do you consider to be your greatest professional achievement?

I was glad to make many steps during the years (prices at dj competitions, number 1 in many top 10, nominated at french dj awards, jumping in the Defected pool, etc...), I think it was a real consecration for me as a dj to be booked for my first time in the 'power house' room at peak time set at Southport weekender...As a producer, I think my most famous track ever is 'He reigns', played and charted by the biggest dj's in the world...But what is keep me up every morning is to believe that my greatest professional achievement is not in what I did but still in what is coming...

Any advice for budding young stars..?

To believe in yourself, not follow others, searching music in the past to increase and make your own strong culture, that's one of the key...Also, to learn to be patient, working hard, and to understand that the feeling is more important than technical stuffs... Don't forget, the star in the club is not the dj...the star are the Women...treat them well & make them
dance...;-)