Mark Jenykns is up for a night in Paradise

He is one of the hottest properties in today's Electronic Music scene and is a long-time Paradise resident. His Sirens was among the most talked about tracks last year. He's currently touring Ecuador and ramping up everything on both the music and gigging side of things. Meet Mark Jenykns who is playing in Dubai this weekend. Ahead of his show, Mark tells us about his music and what dance music lovers in town can expect at Paradise that's taking place at Blue Marlin UAE. Besides Mark, the event also features Jamie Jones, Tiga, Richy Ahmed, Matador, Stacey Pullen, DOP, Rodriguez Jr and others.

Tell us a bit about Paradise.
Paradise is like a massive family really; pretty much just a bunch of mates playing together which makes it one of those events that everyone involved looks forward to. It grows every year and the line-ups just get bigger and better - it's built around a good solid musical foundation and bringing people from all corners of the world together. I've been resident for a few years now with Paradise and it's taken me to some incredible venues.  No matter where in the world the Paradise shows are, they still have that same party vibe which is why it's got such a good reputation.

What inspired you to make  music a career. How did it all begin for you?
In short, my inspiration for music really was going to Ibiza for the summer and falling in love with House music. There's no better place to experience it in all its glory and in so many different clubs on any given night. I'll never forget the first night I had at DC10 as a punter (I don't think anyone does, really) and once you've had that experience it stays with you; it made me realise that music was the right career for me and to be able to be on the other side of the decks every summer with Paradise is amazing.

Who are your five best all-time artistes?
That's always an impossible question, but five names which, for different reasons, are always up there for me are: Michael Jackson, Prince, Massive Attack, Mathew Jonson and Martin Buttrich.

Which is the best venue you've played so far?
It's got to be the Lost Beach Club in Ecuador, every time. That place is just mint in every way - the sound system, the crowd, Kami and the guys who run the venue. Every time you go it's a bit of a lost weekend and you basically just play until you can't play anymore; the crowd always has the stamina to keep going as long as you do, so the days into nights (and days again) kinda roll into one big blur and are definitely some of my favourite gigs.

What's a typical day for you?
A normal day would be waking up anywhere between 1-6am with my son, exercise a little and then I try to plan out my day with a mini to-do list, catch-up on calls with my management, booking agent(s) and creative team before heading to my studio. In reality, it usually ends up a lot more chaotic than that, but that's what I try and stick to. The studio is always the one place I can switch off my phone and lock myself away to concentrate on the music, it's good to have those places that you can escape to and put yourself in complete 'studio mode'.

What are you busy with right now?
Right now, I'm just tweaking a couple of brand new tracks that I road-tested out at my gigs over the weekend... The TV is on in the background and my baby son is jumping up and down shouting loudly at it in excitement. Funnily enough, my new tracks got the same kind of reaction when I dropped them to 5,000 screaming kids at SpringFest (UK) on Sunday night too!

Do you have any particular routine ahead of a gig?
I don't really have a set-in-stone ritual before shows. I just try to stay calm, focused and try to chill before I play. That's the idea at least, but when you're playing somewhere like Paradise with your mates it can sometimes get a bit hectic!

What can music lovers expect at your Dubai show?
Well it really depends on what time I play! But in general, people can expect grooves from me - it's what I look for first in any track I play.  I mainly try to produce and play music that has plenty of soul and feeling, and grabs the crowd in front of me - sometimes that's in a peak time set and other times, I'll be warming up, so it's a case of reading the vibe and what the crowd are after, and making sure you've picked them up and taken them on a journey. I recently played for 7+ hours in Lost Beach, Montanita, Ecuador and that was a proper journey from day into night.
Show details
. What: Paradise
. When: Friday, April 6
. Where: Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE
. Price: Free entry before 3pm and Dhs150 afterwards
. Tickets: www.dubai.platinumlist.net, Virgin and on the door
michael@khaleejtimes.com