David Tort talks Ministry of Sound, summer plans, and The Playboy Mansion

Fresh from a support slot for Laidback Luke at The Ministry of Sound last month, Spanish DJ and producer David Tort talks to Skiddle about summer plans, underage clubbing and playing to 800 girls at The Playboy Mansion.

Hi David! How is 2011 working out for you so far?

Things this year are happening really fast. I did more in three months than in the whole of last year. Everything is looking good!

You've just played at The Ministry of Sound with Laidback Luke. How did that go?

I'm feeling very lucky for being invited to Laidback Luke's night and it was an amazing experience. It was my first time playing in London and the party was off the hook! The crowd was insane and the club promoters treated me excellent. It’s one of those nights to remember.

What's the biggest rush - DJing to a packed club or creating a brilliant track in the studio?

That's two totally different things, and I love both. DJing is real time creativity and everything happens in two or three hours. In the studio almost everything is calculated and it takes days, weeks or months to have a track finished and ready for releasing. It's 50% of each one that makes me who I am so I need both things in my life.

Do you prefer remixing others' tracks or creating your own from scratch?

I like both. Remixing is usually funny because the original artist gives us half of the job already done, as the vocals recorded or a synth sound that I previously liked from the track, and then I have to use it from my point of view. At the end ofthe day both works will be released with my name on them, so to me the remixes I do are like my own songs too, and I put into them the same amount of love as if it was my own original track.

Do you ever feel nervous debuting new productions on the dancefloor?

Yes of course, but at the point when I test the track with the crowd, it's because I'm almost 100% sure that they will respond good. What I do after testing it is adjusting some levels or cutting/repeating a section to make the track more effective.

How did your Spanish upbringing shape your love of and interest in dance music?

When I was a kid in the 80's the Spanish Radio DJs started playing Disco Music and I've discovered a new world of sounds that captivated me. My best friend had a stereo double cassette and we were recording tracks from the radio and editing it later. Also my big brother taught me about all the vintage and contemporary pop stuff. I was involved in music since I was young, but from there to being a DJ/Producer, that's another history.

How did you first get into DJing?

This guy called "Sputnik" was a famous local radio DJ and I heard that he started doing nights at the town’s most cool club. I went on a Sunday afternoon with my friends, I was 14 years old and I had to enter the club smoking, trying to looks older. I saw the DJ doing his thing and Bam Bam's 'Give It To Me' sounding on the speakers, and everybody dancing Acid House-Style. At that moment I understood, DJing is the only thing that I want to do every second of my life.

You're the only Spanish DJ to have played at Yhe Playboy Mansion. Tell us a bit about that! Must've been quite a chore…

At the beginning it was kind of scary. I had to change my flight and call my wife to tell her that I had a last minute booking for the Playboy Mansion - that was the real Titanic thing! Another international DJ was supposed to do the event but he cancelled days before. I was in L.A. making a track with my friend DJ Ruff and the promoter called us with the most surreal offer ever heard, playing in the Mansion pool for 800 girls and some famous crowd, so we just said "of course, yes, thank you" – and it was an amazing night.

Like many DJs, you have a weekly radio show. How important is your radio show in terms of communicating with your audience and promoting new artists?

'Rock Da House' now is broadcasted in many countries. We have more followers every month and we are looking to put the podcast out for downloading very soon. I receive a lot of promos and I play the ones I most like on the show. I can play more music than in a live set, different styles or warm up tracks.

What do you have planned for the rest of 2011?

Right now I'm in the studio finishing as much music as I can because I know in summer I'm not usually making too much - I'm more focussed on DJing because the weekend is extended to the whole week and then between travels the time is shorter. And I also like to enjoy myself at the beach, so ‘til September I'm totally focussed on the tour. Ibiza as usual, and visiting new countries is the plan for the summer – as well as going back to United States and Brazil for some shows.

See all Ministry of Sound events

Tickets are no longer available for this event