Having already played all over the world, from Siberia to West Africa and all the more obvious stops in between, DJ RolandLONDON, 34, is entering the most exciting time of his life. With his own radio show on PassionFM, running a DJ school and having residencies all over London, fame and fortune seemed to be just around the corner for Roland. Now one of only eight finalists in the whole of the UK, about to perform a set at the Ministry of Sound, with hopes of representing Britain in Lisbon next month and a crack at the world title in the biggest DJ competition in the world, it all seems just a little bit closer.

“Corona is obviously a huge brand- it’s international and even just being mentioned (as a contestant) has already had a huge effect on the numbers of hits on my website and radio show and it’s great just to be involved. For me, I really just want to get through tonight and get into the UK Finals. It’s great to be involved in something that Corona runs and hey- it’s a great beer!” said Roland with a hint of trepidation, just moments before his set at the London finals last month at Turnmills.

Job done there then- he‘s through to the next round- but it’s not just the feel-good factor at stake here. At the UK final, the winner will have to conquer the hottest new talent from all over Britain only to battle it out again with the best DJs from over 70 countries around the world before laying claim to the ultimate prize- world champion status and international fame- along with a new Jeep and more Corona merchandise than you could shake a stick at.

So how does one prepare for something so potentially life changing? Roland admits: “I started to get a little nervous about two days before. I decided to go to the chapel bar where I run the DJskool and have a little practice but I could not for the life of me get into it. I started questioning my abilities, my records, life itself seem to be slipping away. I was worried because I had read some info about the competition on DSI (clubbers’ web-bible dontstayin.com), so I knew a lot of my peers & contemporaries were going to be there and I just started to feel wrong about the whole thing. My head was spinning.”

But after six formative years steeped in the MTV culture of Detroit in the ‘80s, Roland has an ingrained commercial understanding- he knows exactly what sells. Many more years spent locked in his bedroom back here in the UK with just his decks for company have given Roland the skills to push those boundaries- as exemplified in his London finals set. After deliberating for days over whether or not to play ‘Put Your Hands Up For Detroit’ (any DJ of the moment’s get out of jail free card), Roland decided, perhaps riskily, to pull the track at the last minute. Instead of using any sure-fire floor fillers of the current season, he opted for older classics and past favourites and relied instead on pure decktometry to move the crowd, who responded in kind with chants of ‘Roland, Roland, Roland‘.

“This gave me a massive confidence boost and I was away“ confides Roland. “Suddenly everything pulled together, track after track, bang, bang, bang. It wasn't me, it was the music, which is the most important part of DJing, I think.”

So how tough was it to beat out the other 125 competitors from London alone to get to this stage? Though there wasn’t too much information to be had on many of the other finalists, one name did stand out. The gorgeous DJ Lora, the only female contestant and justifiably Roland’s biggest worry in the competition, seemed to make most of the guys nervous- and not just because of her amazing diamante-studded red catsuit. “She looks great. You know that’s a big selling point in any DJ competition. She’ll be a great role model.” Sighed Roland.

So women are still a bit of a novelty then. But with so many DJs wanting to break onto the already overcrowded scene, you’ve got to embrace any advantage. Roland agrees: “Oh yeah absolutely- you know when she’s looking that hot- and prepared to get dressed up in a catsuit you know that’s a big, big selling thing. To be honest with you, the whole DJ thing- it doesn’t even matter how good of a mixer you are...apart from tonight -you know the whole competition is about mixing- but when you get down to it, when you’re in a club… if a girl’s looking as sexy as that and she’s playing the right records, the mixing side of it just falls away. As long as she’s playing the right music she’ll get booked.”

And get booked, she does. Spotted by a promoter at the exclusive Mayfair Club, Laura was soon whisked off to St Tropez to start her career playing to the elite set at clubs and private yacht parties along the Mediterranean. Now back in London, DJ Lora is certainly keeping up appearances with residencies at Home House, Morton’s, the Wellington Club and even a monthly gig at Kristall nightclub in Vienna. Roland met Laura just before the competition and was immediately disarmed. “(She’s)… a really cool person and we joked a little about being nervous. Had I known then how good she is, I would have been a lot more nervous!”

And rightly so as she did pip him to the number one slot- but now DJ Lora and runner up DJRolandLONDON are on even footing once again as they each prepare for the next round in the biggest DJ competition in the world.

And the strategy for Tuesday? Roland replies thoughtfully: “Picking some amazing pieces of music, learning as much as I can about the other DJ's… and promoting the event as much as I can to try and get as many people as I can to go. Having the crowd will win it for sure. Obviously you have to be great as well.”

Well yes, obviously.

GOOD LUCK DJ LORA & DLRolandLONDON