DJing in over 65 countries plus producing under half a dozen monikers, Mark also runs the hugely successful club brands Kidology and Ibiza Republik. Releasing a re-rub of the classic ‘Shine On’, we catch up with Mark Wilkinson!
Hi Mark! How are you and what are you currently doing with your day?
Hello I House U! Its very lovely to speak to you, I am currently sat at my computer listening through the Kidology March podcast making sure myself and Steve Westover haven't made complete bell ends of ourselves before I let everyone else in the world hear it, DJ Lora is on there too, but she's much too professional to have to worry about her saying anything untoward, I trust her.
Your club brand ‘Kidology’ has really taken off! What is its main ethos?
I've always DJ'd to keep the dance floor jumping, I just don’t know what the point of being a DJ is if you don’t want people to be really happy, smiling, cheering and loving their night out. I also seem to have always had a taste in music that appeals to women, so I've always managed to keep the girls dancing, and the boys? Well we aint that smart, we'll be where the girls are no matter what!
Both Kidology and Ibiza Republik will be taking over the terrace in Space, Ibiza this summer, what kind of atmosphere will you add to Space?
Well, you've got some good upfront info there cos I aint said that! Ha ha. And you're almost completely correct, but not quite. Kidology will be @ Eden in San Antonio every Thursday night this Summer, we'll be sharing with Twice as Nice which I'm really looking forward to, two very successful brands sharing a great summer, plus of course I'll be living there and playing every week so that'll be top. Ibiza Republik will be at Space as part of Cafe Ole which will be massive this year, more info to follow on that shortly, as for atmosphere we'll be adding our very own Ibiza Republik dancers and decor to the terrace and the music as always will be top quality, we have some great residents with Jon Ulysses, Paul Darey, Alex Miles plus myself and so many more featuring that it'll be a season to remember. I'll also be working on Mondays Calling @ Space too, so it'll be another enjoyable & very busy summer working with some of the finest clubs in the world, travelling all over Europe & beyond to DJ, keeping marathon fit, and who knows, this year I may even get to go to the beach a couple of times! We'll see.....
You’ve DJ’d in over 65 countries, when and where has been your best gig to date?
Probably the next one? Seriously, I love my job and rarely look back, or too far forward, its all about being in the moment, I have been fortunate that I have travelled the world (& the seven seas!) and lived a life that some can only dream of to this point, and long may that continue of course, the places I love are London as it will always be home, Ibiza, Thailand & Miami. Eastern Europe is smashing it at the moment too, but I'm happy to DJ anywhere, just give me a dance floor full of house music lovers and I'll get the party started :)
You have remixed classic house tune ‘Shine On’ that will be released on Cayenne at the end of this month. What does the original mean to you?
Well... I loved the original back in the day but I was obviously a very different man back then, I was just a boy even, who liked the beats and the melodies, but this time its the meaning of the song that got me, we had a Kidology gig in Leicester recently and one of my excellent residents Phil West played 'Shine On', I ran over and asked if it was a new mix as it sounded so good, he laughed and said it was the original! It sounded so fresh, and for the first time I think I really heard the point of the song. I know a lot of people have been through a tough time recently, me included, we've had the worst recession the world has ever seen etc etc etc, plus I've had the toughest personal challenges I've ever faced in my life in the last 5-6 years, so I think coming out the other side of all that, loving life and feeling creative again, loving music and wanting to move forward, there is really only one thing to do, and that is to 'Shine On'
Guessing you have managed to road test your remix whilst playing out – what has the reactions been like?
Its been awesome, people love the original song and I feel we've done a very 'now' sounding version, the reaction on dance floors has been amazing and I've had DJs from all over the world asking me for a copy. I think the song and the general timing has struck a chord with everyone and people are now looking forward to Miami & the summer in London & Ibiza with a renewed enthusiasm for life and music.
Do you find it easier or more challenging to do a remix than start an original from scratch?
I can do either just as easily to be honest, I don’t find making music a challenge when I'm in a good creative place in my mind and in my life, it can be a struggle to make anything work when you find yourself in a difficult place as I've found, this is the first time in almost 2 years I've been anywhere near a studio. I know now that if I ever find making music a challenge in the future I'll advise myself to stop doing it and go and find something I do enjoy doing instead!
Congratulations for raising loads of money for charity through running various marathons! How’s it all been going?
Thank you very much for that, I could speak for a long time on this subject, but basically training for and then running a marathon is the greatest experience I have ever known, there are many factors for this, the most important of which I feel is the focus of your mind, setting your goal, knowing you can do it, believing you can do it, training yourself to do it, then doing it! Its very much a process that you can apply to everything you do in life. So if you like, the marathon is a metaphor for life, and lets be honest, this life is a marathon not a sprint, so lets get in training OK! On the money raising tip I'm running the London marathon this year with 4 other guys, Rocky from X-press 2, Paul Bryenton, Matty Claridge & Christian Stepto are all joining me for the 26.2 miles at the end of April, and on Friday May 14 we are holding a fund raising party for all our marathon charities @ The Masons Arms in Kensal Green, DJs on the night, Rocky & Diesel (X-press-2), Terry Farley, myself, Steve Lee, Lofty, Ejay & DJ Lora plus more tbc, it'll be a top night so come and join us down there for a party that will be really making a difference, thank you.
What tips and advice can you give to someone who hasn’t run a marathon before but is thinking about going for it?
Decide you want to do it, get a place, there are usually quite a lot of the charities with spaces so you will get one, then ask around for some help and information from people who've done it before. Most important know you can do it, say you can do it, and then you can.
What else do you have planned for 2010?
You mean apart from international DJ gigs, brand building Kidology and Ibiza Republik, producing loads more music and training for marathons?! Well actually I'm writing a book with a friend and taking some public speaking classes which I am hugely enjoying, so watch this space....
Thank you for taking the time to do this interview ☺
Lovely, thank you for asking!
Mark Wilkinson vs. Degrees Of Motion ‘Shine On’ is available on Beatport: Check out this release on Beatport
