London's fiercest, funkiest, dirtiest house music night turns 2 this Saturday at Turnmills with an all-star cast including Stonebridge, Herd & Fitz and Knee Deep. We spoke to resident Ben Dela-pena to look back on 2 years of London's most unprejudiced house music event.

So Ben, how was the summer for you? What were the highlights?
Summer has been quite relaxed compared to the usual! The highlights have been the ZIPCODE summer parties which have been a huge success putting Brixton back on the clubbing map - don’t mess! Securing my HOUSE FM (www.housefm.net) show every Saturday 10PM-12PM which is always fun and I have been in the studio a lot and working with various producers to build a few tracks and my sound up before they get release, hopefully before the end of this year! Also, fatherhood is a highlight (of course) with my daughter Maya who is nearly 8 months and being so active now, she keeps daddy’s feet on the ground despite the hectic scene & music I love being involved in! She makes me laugh 24/7! Ha ha! Fatherhood is making me chill out more-I love it!

So when I think about it, it kinda dosen’t sound like a quiet relaxed summer but that just shows how quick this year has gone…..an amazing year and summer so far!

Do you feel the season has shown that there any big changes occurring in club land?

I think this summer all I have been hearing is Ibiza, Ibiza,Ibiza! And the variation of different parties and music that have influenced not just your average clubber but even DJs/producers! It seems to be rocking at its best out there which obviously is rubbing off on our scene here! Too many good parties (a lot smaller and more intimate) and exciting new music from the future heroes to make you love our scene!

UP^^’s 2nd Birthday is just around the corner on Saturday 23d September at Turnmills. You have been resident for the club for most of its life. You must be quite proud of how far it’s come eh?

Proud like a father! Hee hee! Seriously, great to be part of the UP^^ family! From Ministry to White House to Turnmills - not bad for a 2 year project! A promotions team both professional and dedicated to programming a quality house night,….I have nothing but respect for them!

What are your fondest memories from UP^^ events over the last 2 years?

From Ministry to Turnmills! That is self is something not to forget! But mostly it has to be my main room debut ay Turnmills earlier this year with a set that took you from the yellow brick road, down to brick lane via Ibiza and finished on the floors of Turnmills till 7AM! About a 3 hour extended set of pure unadulturated, explicit, raw house muzik! Goose bumps still when I think how wicked the night was as a whole!

Do you find that people expect a certain sound from you or not really?

Yes and No I think!?!....Yes, cause peeps know I like to mix up my vibe of the tracks (thus reading the crowd) whilst giving them that edgy ‘dela-pena’ sound…and No, cause I do tend to go with the flow and tease the crowd with loops and acapellas…owe, goose bumps again! Ha ha!

How is things going with your night Zipcode?
ZIPCODE nights are going from strength to strength! I am absolutely loving the vibe and crowd at PLAN-B in Brixton, such a good house crowd has re-developed again in Brixton! ZIPCODE has definitely found a home there!

We have our 3rd Birthday on Saturday 14th October with another top promotions south of the river called FUNK ME I’M FAMOUS to add the funk to our birthday! So it looks to be another BIG party with plenty of mischief and mayhem! Sounds like my house-ha ha! For more goss, info & pictures visit: www.zipcodemusic.co.uk

Do you feel that Brixton is definitely big with the house crowd now?

Defo! It always has been big with the house crowd but has just got BIGGER!
When you have hotspots like JAMM, Babalou & PLAN-B to name a few then you know you are guaranteed to have a good house crowd and night out!

Aside from the obvious areas like Shoreditch/Hoxton etc, which other parts of London do you think are good for clubbing in?

As stated Brixton (South London) and West London’s NEIGHBOURHOOD club sticks out in mind! Played there a few times and it has such a fresh look to a club, being underground but not (if you know what I mean!). They host quality soulful house nights, live PAs to down right dirty house nights for the masses! Again, it’s an area/club you know you are guaranteed a good house crowd! I saw Felix da Housecat there - his set blew me away!

What was the last tune you heard that made you want to “hop on the good foot and do the bad thing”?
Mmmmmmmm…..there’s quite a few to be honest! Paul Woolford remix of ‘Towards the Sun’ and Kurd Maverick Dub remix of ‘Soul Power’, both different styles but cutting edge with their unique sound-producers for the future for years to come!...and I have to say my good friends the Cheshire Catz & Timo Garcia who keep bringing out slammin’ tracks on their labels FAKT and Berwick Street Records! “The future of erotic disco” as once quoted - I agree!