Mike Monday Throws Beach Party in London

After a successful first month, 54 Mile End is back, bigger and better than ever. With guests such as Clinton Oliver, Truman Industries, Tom Budden, DIGS, Living City and Da Sunlounge, you are guaranteed a mouthwatering month down at the Urban Beach surroundings of this east London venue.

54 teams up with one of London's hottest DJ's, Mike Monday this weekend, bringing you 54 BBQ Beach Club. Music, games and tom foolery is on the menu and this is one beach party not to miss this summer.

As an Oxford graduate, Mike Monday is a rare breed of producer. He's not just good at it, but highly qualified to do it too. Starting life as a double act with Andy Cocup (now of Groove Armada) and forming the Beat Foundation, he eventually decided to spread his wings and blaze his own trail, taking on the turn of the millenium with single releases on his own MM label, as well as Whoop! and Kinky Vinyl before releasing his first full-length instant-classic, Smorgasbord, on Playtime Records.

Now, after a 2 year hiatus, Mike returns with a fresh new album and fresh new approach, on the ridiculously cool Om Records. We took some time out with him to get the lowdown...

1. What has been keeping you busy in 2008?

Until about a month ago completing my second album 'Songs Without Words - pt 1'. I was supposed to finish it in November, but it took another 6 months. Now it's done I've been working on a live show, as well as catching up with the remixes that have built up while I've been completing the album.

1. Being a budding producer I always ask this question. What equipment you have in your studio?

I work mainly in Logic on a Mac, although I've recently been moving away from soft synths and plug ins, and have been going back to using real instruments, electronic and otherwise. On the album I even play the saxophone and bassoon.

1. Who would you say your biggest musical influences are?.

Prince, Parliament/Pfunk/Funkadelic, Stevie Wonder, Jeff Buckley, Johnny Cash, Radiohead, Sonny Rollins, Jack Kerouac, Stravinsky, Messaien, Philip Glass, John Cage, Erik Satie, Herbie Hancock, Weather Report, Realworld, Vangelis, Jean Michel Jarre, Kraftwerk, Carl Craig, Jamie Liddell, James Murphy, Wighnomy Bros, Dr Dre, Burial, Tiefschwarz, Villalobos.

Moving onto the quick fire round....

1. Top 5 tracks at the moment?

In no particular order - and forgive the self promotion, but it really is one of my secret weapons right now...

Tobias - Can't Fight The Feeling/Beat Study One (Wagon Repair)

Cassy - Idle Blues (Cassy)

Mike Monday - I Am Plankton - The Glug Glug Club Dub (Om)

Jen Zimmerman - C30 (International Freakshow)

DJ Koze - I Want To Sleep (IRR)

1. Top 5 of all time?

You're evil! That's an impossible question, so I'm going to give you the 5 tracks I want played at my funeral.

Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah

The Upsetters - Bird In Hand

Radiohead - Paranoid Android

Prince - Controversy

Sabres Of Paradise - Smokebelch II (Beatless Mix)

1. Favorite animal?

Giraffe

Quick fire over...

1. What does Playtime have in store for us for the rest of the year?

A relaunch! Kicking off with a killer track from the wonderful Hannah Holland called "Banshee". I'm doing a remix as well. Even though I'm no longer A&Ring or fully involved in Playtime there's some really exciting stuff that Big Daddy's been working on, so watch this space...

1. What can we expect from your much-anticipated 2nd Album?

The unexpected. This album took so much longer than the last as I really pushed myself to the limit, and the music on it is the most honest reflection so far of what I'm all about. It spans all sorts of styles and genres and goes from being very serious and emotional to utterly ridiculous. But then anyone who knows me at all will tell you that's what I'm like.

1. What was the strangest place you've ever performed?

In an underground supermarket car park for a Halloween party in Kazakhstan. No really.

And last but not least...

1. Who came up with the idea of your Mike Monday logo?

A guy called Seb Godfrey who's company is called Drunk Park. He's an amazing artist and illustrator, and I really wanted him to do the art for he album as soon as I saw his portfolio. When we met up he took one look at me and came up with the little blue dude. We have a real connection, as he has an uncanny ability to express my music in pictures.

CATCH MIKE MONDAY AT 54::MILE END BEACH CLUB IN LONDON THIS SUNDAY