We caught up with producer supremo D.O.N.S ahead of the Club Azuli Global Guide launch party this Saturday at Pacha London.

D.O.N.S. (Kingdom Kome Cuts // Germany)

You’ve had some big successes over the past few years, what’s been the biggest surprise?
The success of "Pump Up The Jam". I didn’t really expect it when I did it.

Is the name D.O.N.S. an abbreviation for something? We’ve been trying to work it out all week.
Design On Sound from back in the days (O stood for Ollie and the N for Niels with whom I worked together until 1998).
Later on I turned it into Designer On Sound.

Your native Germany is often associated with deeper techno, how is the house scene there and the cities clubs?
The house scene used to be very big but somehow minimal, techno and progressive took over. We still have great house clubs though like King Kamehameha in Frankfurt or Pussycat Club.

Which is your favourite country to play?
Well that is maybe not an objective answer but as I love Australia I aswell love playing there.
But after all I must say there are so many great clubs around the globe that it is really hard to say.
I love Russia, had great gigs in UK, Germany.

You seem to be influenced by early house sounds, is this a sound which you are exploring for the first time or something which you experienced the first time round?
I lived in NYC 1988 and all I did was buying house record and going to the Tunnel and The World listening to all house legends like Frankie Knuckles, Adeva, Tony Humphries and more. That had an impact on my musical taste and development which is still influencing my sound of today and explains a bit why I love to do cover version of records I loved back in the days..

You have just remixed the Azuli classic Indo ‘R U Sleeping?’ which is out in the next few weeks. Are you ever cautious of remixing great records?
I wouldn’t touch a classic or a great record when I would be insecure of being able to deliver a great remix. Great in terms of that I like it and hope that other will like it too. I recently did a lot of remixes and I am happy with all of them beside one which still annoys me a little bit. Not telling which one it is though.

Are you looking forward to appearing at Pacha in London of Feb 14th, also Valentines day?
Of course a legendary label in a legendary club. That´s fantastic and I am absolutely looking forward to it. On top there is a good side effect playing abroad at the 14th of February. I don’t need to buy flowers as I have a good excuse being away ;o)

Did you make any new years resolutions for 2009 and have you kept them?
Actually I did one, which is rare because usually I don’t need a special day for a resolution. My resolution was spending and having more time for my friends and family but so far all I can say is that I suck and pathetically failed but I am working on it and it can only get better. But it proves to me one more time NYE resolutions are not my thing.

Club Azuli 'Global Guide Launch Party' - Saturday 14th February

10pm - 5am

:Main Room:
Martijn Ten Velden
D.O.N.S
James Talk
Eightbitrate

£15 advance tickets available from www.ticketweb.co.uk
info@azuli.com / www.azuli.com
Terminus Place, Victoria, London, SW1
Tube - Victoria