J: Jef, P: Paul Jay

J: Alright Paul, long time no speak, eh?

P: You need to come back to Mango soon Jef... been too long!

J: I agree there, it's one cracking little club and the atmosphere you get in there is immense...

P: That's what I love about Mango, it's a perfect size. Not too small to not give you an atmosphere, and not too big so that people don't feel a part of the atmosphere!

J: You won't get me disagreeing with that! Any fans of Erotique would know that you have been synonymous with Mango, but other than that, who really knows about the history of the brand. So, I guess the obvious question follows... for those who are not really in the know, how did Erotique start?

P: Well I've been one of the resies at Mango for a few years now, and I was bringing in piles of people for every set because I was known for being a little different from everyone else... it was only a matter of time at Mango that I had a whole night for myself!

A few years ago during one of my sets at Mango, Shaun S and Mitch came to the club to see me play. Apparently as soon as they saw me there they wanted to do more of what I was doing: playing to a fantastic crowd and rocking them hard! It was good timing, as that's when I realised that I wasn't going to be able to run a new night on my own.

As is turned out, it was the perfect team to run a new and successful night.

J: ... and Erotique was born I guess then, hehe. How did the name come about, dare I even ask?

P: We were sitting in a bar in Sunny Basingstoke trying to come up with some ideas, and one of us said that we should exploit the idea of reflecting the music we play with the image of the night. We wanted an underground Dirty House night, and thought it would be suitable to theme it all on the 'Red Light District'.

P: One of us mentioned 'Erotic', but together we wanted something a little classier, with a more glam-french sounding quality... EROTIQUE! As artists, we became ‘Filthy Funk Funk’/‘FFF’

J: So it wasn't that rude after all then hehe...

P: Haha.. not as rude as it ended up being. In a good way!

J: You mentioned the buzz-word 'underground'... it gets used a lot these days, and some brands are just trying that idea for the sake of it... what makes Erotique a true underground night in your opinion?

P: Good question. It's all about creating something different to the norm, be it through image, decor, DJ's used or the way a night is promoted. We've created and built something that there now seems to be a cult following for, where people come from as far as Sheffield, Wales or Brighton for. When that happens, I think you've created something 'underground' that people want to be a part of!

J: I'll most certainly vouch for that, some of the decor and themes you have just add to the nights... I myself come from Wycombe which is a 30 minute drive and it is nothing short of on my doorstep as far as I am concerned.

As it is something so great within such a close range, I do really think that people from London must pop along to one at some point. you certainly have attracted great clientel to the nights, but not only that, you have had quite a list of DJs play at your nights haven't you?

P: Yes of course. We didn't want our night to go 'stale' after a year or so because we're doing the same thing and using the same DJ's. We have done that to a degree, but only with what's worked perfectly since running the night, like making Oliver Lang a resident.

We've hand-picked the DJ's from 3 different categories for pretty much every event and put them all together. 'Headliners', 'Major Promotions/Clubs Residents' and 'local heroes'. Without one of them we'd not have the night we have.

With the DJ's we use from other clubs and Promotions around Europe, they're a result of us actually seeing them in action and booking them instantly for one of our events.

The headliners we're using range from some of the major players in the production scene and DJs that we know would work well at our nights from seeing them at Festivals or at some of the biggest clubs around the World...

J: Not making you choose of course... but who would you say is your favourite?

P: I'll give you our fave from the 3 categories:

Headliners: Martijn Ten Velden completely rocked the place to the rafters. His style just worked so well with our effects and Dancers for that night. Electro Chuggy yet melodic House. Absolutely perfect, and the way he built up the crowds reactions was mesmerising!

Club/Promotions Residents: Anthony M from *Lust*, and a recent recruit for joining some of the Dusted nights is absolutely one of the most genius DJs I've been lucky enough to play alongside. He's one of the best technical DJs around, and somehow manages to remix tracks live through a mix. He won a 'Bacardi DJ' competition amongst a few thousand competitors a few years ago... it's easy to see why! And, he's so much fun, pushing his enthusiasm into the crowd.

'Local Heroes': Danny Brommell is one of our little gems. Whenever we book him we put him on to warm up... not because he doesn't deserve to be on when it's rammed, but because he's the best warm up DJ we know. It's not an easy set to play, but he's perfect, and builds and builds a room before it's packed to create the most intense atmosphere! We'll continue to use him long in to the future of 'E'.

J: It most certainly sounds like you have the great promotion head on... so it is no wonder Erotique has landed a second residency... what's next, world domination?

P: Well after filling Mango and several other one off events around the South, it was only a matter of time before another venue wanted to get in on the action. We've had some opportunities elsewhere for an additional Erotique residency, but Vanilla is the perfect choice. It has such a fantastic image, and they're consistently booking the best promotions in the scene: Hed Kandi, Pukka Up, Subliminal…

With our events getting more exposure, the number and standard of quality of our gigs is getting unmanageable! Haha

It's funny you mention World Domination, because it seems as though that's what we're aiming for, with plenty of gigs filling our schedule for the Summer: Ibiza, Romania, Prague..... they just keep coming. Let's hope it doesn't stop now!

J: Definitely hope not!

P: I mean, this weekend just gone we played at our home Mango for our Erotique residency, then went off to Sheffield to play alongside Justice, Boys Noise and Rene Amesz in the main room for one of the biggest Clubbing venues in the UK - Plug. What a weekend, but it's getting more and more frequent that we're getting these types of gigs!

J: So then, what would you have to say to someone tempted to give an Erotique a try but haven’t yet?

P: I would say that for every event we hold, you know you're going to have a fantastic time. We only have a hand in part of what happens at an Erotique event. Most of it is down to the regulars who will be on the dance floor from the start until the finish having the time of their lives and letting go.

The girls that dress up and dedicate themselves to our theme are the best! They really know how to party and create the edge we have at Erotique.

So basically, come to Erotique if you're looking to let go and have fun, meet amazing people and listen to the best music around!

J: ... and there would be nothing better than seeing you guys make a new second home at Vanilla, eh?

P: Of course. After recently meeting up with the Promotions team at Vanilla, we know what's in store for everyone! The setting is just right and both sides are going to create something incredibly fun and memorable!

J: Damn tooting... can't wait for it myself! So, are there any further 'domination' plans in the pipeline, branching Erotique any further?

P: Yes. At the moment we're putting our last touches on the Erotique label. With us playing so many gigs at the moment and booking some of the best Producers out there, we wanted to bring everything together and expand the Erotique brand.

Filthy Funk Funk are obviously going to be releasing the first track with some of the major Erotique guests releasing some tracks later in the year. The FFF track is sounding great, and we're nearly finished with it. We've already got some big names asking for it!

For the events, we're looking for another residency further North. That will come in time though! We've just received several bookings for one off events, the first being at Crobar in Swansea on Friday 7th March, who've been doing a similar thing to Mango in Wales.

Filthy Funk Funk have actually recently become a twosome, but as a threesome, we've had some of the best times of our lives. Because we're booking so many DJs for our events, we're never short of return bookings to get that 'Erotique' feel at their parties.

J: Threesomes and Erotiqueness, eh? Haha

P: It sounds sordid... and it most probably is! Lol

J: Sounds like an appropriate place to end it, before the content needs to get censored...

P: That's probably appropriate now! Haha

J: One final question though… what word would best describe how you're feeling about everything at the moment?

P: INSPIRATIONAL!

J: Sounds like you say that a lot, lol! Thank you very much for your time and I most certainly cannot wait for Vanilla

P: I can't wait for Vanilla too!

If you wish to see what Paul’s got his fingers in, check out some of the following:

22/02/08 - EROTIQUE @ Vanilla, Windsor
23/02/08 - FFF @ Loft, Preston
29/02/08 - FFF @ Ministry of Sound (Main Room)

07/03/08 - EROTIQUE @ Crobar, Swansea
21/03/08 - FFF @ Honey Club, Brighton (Main Room)
21/03/08 - EROTIQUE @ Vanilla, Windsor
22/03/08 - 'W.A.T.A' @ Funky Buddha Lounge, Brighton
28/03/08 - 'We Present...' @ Sailors, Newquay
28/03/08 - FFF @ 7Nebe, Brno (CZ)
29/03/08 - FFF @ Duplex, Prague (CZ)

11/04/08 - EROTIQUE @ Mango, Reading
04/04/08 - Crobar, Swansea
18/04/08 - EROTIQUE @ Vanilla, Windsor
25/04/08 - 'We Present...' @ Sailors, Newquay

03/05/08 - FFF @ 'Classique' @ Mbargo, Coventry