Be Somebody sat down with Kurd Maverick for a little chat before his headlining set at Pacha on Saturday 13th February. Get your half-price tickets here!

How would you describe your sounds?

My sound is really catchy and for the dancefloor. It’s a mix of every genre of house music.

Fat beats, big basslines and of course vocals!

What music did you grow up around in Germany and how did that get you into electronic music?

I grew up with oriental music because I was playing in a Turkish and Kurdish band.

After finishing the band project I looked into something new for me. The club scene.

I started to go to house and techno parties in the 90s and I discovered that house music was for me.

I started to play house first in Germany, and after my productions, it took me all over the world!

Who or what influences and inspires you?

Michael Jackson was and still is big for me.  Armand Van Helden was exactly what I was looking for in the 90s.

He is the King for me. He always came back with something different.

That is what I really love. Also Daft Punk was a big influence for me.

Today I am a big Coldplay fan.

Has your successful Pump Up The Jam remix been a blessing or a curse?

No the remix was the best thing that could've happened to me.

I stepped into the House Music scene as a producer.

People started to get to know me and I've played everywhere since then.

That was the beginning and very important for me!

You’ve also remixed Blue Monday – how do you decide who to remix?

Blue Monday was not a remix it was a remake – a single of mine with several remixes.

The original version was one of my favourites, as was 'Pump Up The Jam'.

For this reason I decided to make a new version.

Regarding remixes,  I have to feel the song (original version) to decide to remix it.

I take remixes very personally and for this reason it's a very important creation for me.

You sell you own creation and give it out to someone who wants to achieve success with it.

Anyone you would really like to remix that you haven’t yet?

Coldplay!

What makes a good DJ great do you think?

To look at the people and to know what kind of stuff they are into.

To find the right way to play what you love and the people do.

Also to play with the audience. Let them go crazy.

What are you working on in 2010?

I'm trying to get my album out for 2010.

I’m not sure if I have enough time but at least you will hear a couple of singles this year.

My next single is coming out soon and it's called 'Shine A Light'.

A friend of mine (Timsen) wrote the lyrics and it is re-vocaled by Brian Lucas from the US.

It is coming out on my own label which I started in 2010 called O Tune Records.

So it’s the first release and I am really excited to get this out!

What can people expect from you at Pacha?

Good music to shake their asses to.

If you have the ladies on your side then everything is easy and it will be a great night.

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