El Mariachi

I have been a music enthusiast all my life. At a young age, I was already enchanted by the hypnotising sounds by Jean Michel Jarre and later on British new wave and Kraftwerk. I started buying my first house records back in 1986, taught myself to mix – inspired by Ben Liebrand and the notorious “Bond van Doorstarters” – and took my passion to the clubs three years later, at the age of 18. Living in Almelo at the time, I started with some sets at club Checkpoint, but quickly gained a residence spot at club Remember three days a week: on Thursdays with a weekly changing guest DJ (mainly Mazzo DJs such as Pavo, Karlijn, Dano, Jeroen Flamman, Jaydee , Klaus Bachor, Dark Raver, Buzz Fuzz and Gizmo). The Fridays were renowned as the so-called Almellow sessions. A groovier, more melodic sound, that was very specific and could stand the comparison with the sound of infamous Club iT and Café d’Anvers, back in the days. On Saturdays the decks were shared with fellow residents Raymond Heg, Sander Kleinenberg and in 1993 we were joined by Ricky da Dragon (Soup, HEX, Deborah Wilson). Other notable collaboration sets were played together with Michel de Heij and Ton The Butcher (Greece 2000).

Not much later I found myself at bigger parties (including with 100% Isis in Leeuwarden and Mysteryland). Being in the final year of my study and doing an internship, I felt like dropping the Thursday and Friday residencies, and not much later decided to pursue a career in business. The record collection started collecting dust, interests shifted. A family was started, even a successful career in triathlon developed. But the love for music – especially electronic music – never faded. And since four years, I am occasionally picking up my old hobby again. With smiling and happy faces as the ultimate reward.