Q&A + FREE CD: DJ MARK PICCHIOTTI Talks 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Tour, KYLIE MINOGUE, Boys, Beats and more



If you've been on a dance floor in the last 20 years, chances are you've shook your stuff to DJ Mark Picchiotti at some point. Mark was recently voted one of the 40 most influential remixers of all time. With over 200 remixes to his credit, his remix discography reads like a who’s who of international pop superstardom, including MADONNA, MARIAH CAREY, PET SHOP BOYS, ENRIQUE IGLESIAS and MARY J. BLIGE, to name a few...all of which went to #1 on the Billboard® Dance Chart.

Mark recently produced and co-wrote the song "Give It to Me" for KYLIE MINOGUE from her 8x platinum album, 'FEVER,' as well as produced the song "Butterfly" from the 'LIGHT YEARS' album.

Now, Mark has embarked upon a new journey and is currently on tour with the RuPaul's Drag Race ABSOLUT Real Fruit Tour, accompanying 'Drag Race' winner Bebe Zahara Benet. You can catch them up next this weekend, Fri. June 5, in Asbury Park, NJ, at Club Paradise. (L.A.: He'll be in WeHo next month.)

Plus, Mark was kind enough to offer up his latest CD for free! Set features Kylie, Beyonce, NKOTB, Solange, the ABSOLUTE ft. Suzanne Palmer, the Killers and much more:

CLICK HERE FOR FREE CD DOWNLOAD
CLICK HERE FOR FREE CD DOWNLOAD

Tons of hits, international accolades and much more - but I wanna know...what's the hottie spinmaster like in a man - does he have one? lol ('Of course,' you say.) Now, Mark takes the time to talk up his current projects including the ABSOLUT tour with Bebe, dishes on Kylie Minogue, talks up future plans and much more. (A big thank you to my boy Mikey for making this happen and taking the time to talk with Mark!)

*****

Mark Picchiotti
Michael: When did you know that spinning records would be such a huge part of your life?

Mark: In 1985, I had just started my residency at the infamous underground Chicago club Smart Bar. The owner entered me into a DJ contest held at Chicago's Limelight, and I was up against 20 other DJs with a lot more notoriety and fame at the time. When I unanimously won that contest I realized I had a talent that could turn into a lifelong career.

*****
 
Michael: You're originally from Chicago. What do you love about that town?

Mark: I don't think there's enough space in this interview to cover it all! I love the parks, the lakefront that runs the length of the city, the diverse architecture, the multi-cultural friendly people, the museums, shopping, restaurants, diverse neighborhoods and of course the deep-rooted house music scene that is still the foundation of our club life here in the city.

*****

Michael: Who would you say are your musical inspirations?

Mark: First off, the crowd is my inspiration. I have lofty aspirations as a DJ: I try to move them with my programming, and when they respond I'm inspired to take them on a musical journey that allows them to connect to the music, to others and of course to themselves.

When I'm making music, I am inspired by just about every record I've ever played in a club. It's from those other talented producers, singers and songwriters that I have the opportunity to see what moves a crowd. When I'm in the studio, I conjure up in my mind my dance floor reacting to all the different elements, and I try to capture that in my music.

*****
 
Mark Picchiotti
Michael: "Turn It Up" (Mark Picchiotti presents Basstoy featuring Dana Divine) was the Billboard's #3 dance track for 2008! (Congratulations!). How did it feel to have such an influence over the dancefloor that year?

Mark: It was quite an honor. With that record, I intended to do something a little different, so I included a banjo and harmonicas as the driving hooks in the song. To see the risk pay off was quite a fulfilling result.

*****
Michael: So, tell us, Mark: Single or Taken?

Mark: Taken. Taken by the best.

*****

Michael: Favorite part of your body?

Mark: Whatever part my partner is focusing in on at the given moment.

*****
 
Michael: Favorite personal vice?

Mark: Sleep.

*****

Mark Picchiotti
Michael: You & 'RuPaul's Drag Race' winner BeBe Zahara Benet working together is certainly a "joining of the forces." Tell me about how that came about.

Mark: I think it was a natural progression for us. We really connected on the tour and with a mutual respect for each other's talents. We talked about exploiting those talents by collaborating in the studio. We're very excited to see the results as they are soon to unfold.

*****
 
Michael: Least favorite personal vice?

Mark: My insatiable ambition!

*****
 
Michael: You've also done some work with the one and only Kylie Minogue! Tell me about working with one of our favorite divas!

Mark: She was awesome. She is exactly as I thought she would be, very sweet and amazingly professional. We connected so well on her first album, which we recorded in L.A., that I flew to London to spend time with her writing for her monstrous follow up CD 'LIGHT YEARS.' 

We wrote 3 songs but only one got finished and made it to the album. We celebrated the success of her album by going to dinner in London with her manager and my manager at the time. I also had the chance to hang out with her before she kicked off her world tour at Fabric night club in London. But let me tell you, she is one "in demand" pop star, as it seemed every moment of her life was full, so I felt very fortunate to have spent the time with her that I did.

*****

Mark Picchiotti
Michael: Who is an artist that you would love to work with?

Mark: Though I've remixed her several times, I'd actually love to work with Madonna. She has evolved so much as an artist, and I'd love to push the boundaries and collaborate with her. I'd also love to work with Lady Gaga as she does push the boundaries and is the Madonna of the new millennium.

*****

Michael: Advice to new guys who want to become DJs?

Mark: Practice, practice, practice.  Nurture a style and stick with it, because you'll need it to stand out from the rest of the pack. Everyone wants to be a DJ these days, so to rise above the rest you need to make a statement with your style.

*****
 
Michael: What's next for Mark Picchiotti?

Mark: Well, I will be returning from Asbury Park to Chicago with Bebe in tow as we go into the studio to record her debut release.  Additionally, I've got several other new releases coming out this year with featured vocalists including Suzanne Palmer, Katherine Ellis, Inaya Day, Alec Sun Drae, Peyton, and a few new divas in the making. 

I've also just finished recording a third Basstoy single called "your love is magic."  My label Blueplate Global Records will be releasing records from Deep Influence feat. Zelma Davis (click here to get up close and personal with the former C&C Music Factory lead singer in the MUZOPHILE BLOG), Ralphi Rosario feat. Shawn Christopher, Eric Kupper feat. Peyton and some exciting new Chicago talent.

I will be doing a little West Coast DJ tour in July which includes gigs at Jeffrey Sanker's FRESH at Club Eleven in LA and then down to San Diego Gay Pride to play their big Sunday afternoon party in Balboa Park. I am also setting up a UK/European DJ tour for the fall and early winter. Busy Busy...

Click here for the DJ MARK PICCHIOTTI Interview in the MUZOPHILE BLOG
Visit Mark's Official Site or Check out his MySpace.

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Posted by MUZOPHILE at 6/2/2009 10:38 PM
Categories: 0ALL LISTINGS,Hot!,Q and As,0News,DJ Mark Picchiotti,FREE!,0Q and As
Tags: Beyonce Kylie Minogue Jeffrey Sanker RuPaul PET SHOP BOYS MARY J. BLIGE MARIAH CAREY Bebe Zahara Benet Crobar Shawn Christopher Zelma Davis Peyton ENRIQUE IGLESIAS NKOTB Limelight Chicago Inaya Day Dana Divine Katherine Ellis ABSOLUTE ft. Suzanne Palmer The Killers Billboard DJ Mark Picchiotti Basstoy Madonna Eric Kupper Alec Sun Drae Solange Lady Gaga Ralphi Rosario
 

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