40 Questions: Yousef

British club music veteran Yousef draws on decades of experience as a DJ, producer, and label boss for our latest edition of 40 Questions.

The Liverpool-based artist has released music from names like Green Velvet and Maxinne on his Circus Recordings imprint, and continues to expand the label’s catalogue with his latest album ‘I Operate In Purple’.

1. Where are you right now and what are you doing?

I’m at home in my kitchen on a laptop, doing this!

2. What year were you born?

19FFS.

3. Do you have a nickname?

Yos.

4. What’s the coolest thing in your house?

My children.

5. How would you describe yourself?

Life lover, optimist, very creative, very silly, very hard worker, mentally rock hard, great dad, and even better DJ.

6. Worst experience as a DJ?

When my mates got beaten up at my first college gig in Liverpool when I was 17.

7. Best experience as a DJ?

The First Dance – the Covid restart gig we (Circus) put on, it was pure emotion and made a huge difference to the music and events industry.

8. Favourite record label?

Historically speaking, Strictly Rhythm.

9. What’s your biggest weakness?

Sugar.

10. First record you ever paid for?

Adam & The Ants – Prince Charming.

11. What’s your morning routine?

Up before the children, prepare their uniforms and packed lunch, school run, head to the gym, home and showered, tidy up, work on Circus events, music stuff, Circus Recordings, or home / life stuff until very late, add in my girlfriend too. I’m ALWAYS doing something.

12. Your dream collaboration?

Kwabs or Bjork, or both!

13. Tell us something we shouldn’t know about you?

I was living on my own when I was 14.

14. Who’s your biggest inspiration outside of music?

My children.

15. And in the industry?

Carl Cox, he’s been my hero since I was 15, he became a mentor, we had the same agent and manager, he made me resident at his Space club night and and he DJ’ed at my wedding (I’m divorced now, not his fault!). He’s still the master…

16. Ever smoked?

No, I can’t believe people smoke, I’d rather put shit into my teeth.

17. Ever done drugs?

Yes, not for years. Never cocaine, I used to take E’s (garries!) in my late teens and 20’s, but since I became a dad I stopped. I was never big into drugs, but I loved the after parties, that’s where the fun was.

18. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?

A friend recently got me John Barnes for my birthday. He came in, did the rap, then also did Rapper’s Delight and then ate Thai food and gave me a signed shirt. He was ace, a nice guy and one of my heroes.

19. And the best gift you’ve ever given?

I bought flights for my friend and his four person family to come from Australia to Liverpool for his 40th, I put them up for a week in my house, then took him to Ibiza to stay in Coxy’s villa, then took him to a posh hotel in Ibiza so we could party for three days.

20. What’s the coolest place you’ve ever been to?

Possibly Jose Ignacio in Uruguay, I love it there, it’s super chilled and there is such little light pollution the stars look enormous.

21. And one place you want to visit?

I’ve never been to Vietnam or Luxembourg.

22. If you weren’t in the music industry, what would you be doing?

No idea, but I’d be working for myself. I love business and doing deals, and I actually love home renovation, so maybe that. I’m constantly shaping and reshaping my home.

23. Worst job you’ve ever had?

I was a milkboy when I was nine! Up at 4:30am before school, I actually loved it, but the pay was terrible, but it was my money. I’ve always tried to earn my own money.

24. Favourite record right now?

I Operate In Purple!!!

25. And the best record ever made?

Aint Nobody by Rufus and Chaka Khan, the production is incredible.

26. One thing you couldn’t live without?

My children, the rest is just stuff.

27. Your favourite food?

Anything Asian.

28. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?

A sheep’s testicle. I was only ten. My dad cooked it and gave it to me for a laugh! Haha!

29. Who would you want to play you in a movie?

Me! I’d love to act.

30. What’s something you’re passionate about besides music?

Home renovation. I love the process and the design element. I love blending colours and old & new styles.

31. Favourite club you’ve played?

Space Ibiza. There was nothing like it. RIP.

32. Favourite festival you’ve played?

EXIT Festival Serbia. I once played the closing set of the entire festival, on Monday morning 6-8am. The police tried to shut us down at 7am, there were 10,000 people in front of me while I played, the sun rising…

I personally pleaded with the police to let us carry on, the police literally ripped open their shirts, threw their hats into the crowd and tied their ties around their heads and joined in, it was truly epic, and that was the spirit of EXIT.

33. Craziest story of being on the road?

A printable one… Once outside Space in Miami in 2001, we couldn’t get into the club as it was rammed, I was pretty high, when a total stranger spotted me and gave me piece of paper with a written address on it, so I asked my mate if he wanted to go there, he shit out and said no…

So I jumped in the nearest cab on my own and drove 45 minutes to a random suburb, it was a totally normal street, so I walked up to the gate, and pushed it open, and fortunately for me, there was a full scale pool party going on, girls in bikinis in hot tubs, some DJs I knew, drinks and supplies everywhere, I made some friends and got stuck in all day.

Later I ended up on Miami beach with two super fun and super attractive girls frolicking in the water with me, cuddling and well you know… Shortly after I came to and found myself in a bin on Collins Avenue behind a police car with $5 in my hand. A solid day overall!

34. Weirdest request as a DJ?

One record into my set, I was once asked to play b2b playing pop radio hits by the Russian mafia in Moscow. I didn’t have any, so I went the toilet and left the club before it got too much, it was scary!

35. If you had one super power what would it be?

To stay awake probably, I love getting things done!

36. Late sleeper or early riser?

As early as possible!

37. Strangest video you’ve watched on YouTube?

I don’t watch it to be honest. I don’t watch much TV, I only watch documentaries really, or serious films, ironically, I do love stupid videos on socials though, the sillier the better!

38. The top thing on your bucket list?

See my children grow into adults.

39. Most memorable moment of your life so far?

You guessed it, my children being born! I was literally in the birthing pool (which was a hot tub!) I’ve had a crazy life, not often easy, but being a dad, even a single dad is glorious.

40. Will you ever be done with music?

No, it’s my meditation.

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Find more 40 Questions HERE.

Yousef – I Operate In Purple LP is out now on Circus Recordings.

Follow Yousef on IG.