Yousef
Origin: None
Yousef is a complete force within electronic music, and has come to represent the ethos of the modern DJ. Absorbing a litany of roles, a seasoned authentic peerless dj, a label owner, a producer and remixer, an event organiser, a mentor, and a seemingly relentless flow of creativity.
His efforts are thoughtful and considered and all approached with meaning – Yousef is there to educate as well as entertain. There are few who balance musical maturity with such a creative edge, the experience informed from his illustrious past combining a forward thinking surge to the future. Ensuring a philosophy that will never lose its allure.
Yousef bring’s together the seductive groove and swing of archetypal house readily with the energy of techno. Whether going straight for the jugular or being more deft and subtle, Yousef remains technically and musically peerless, one of the globe’s finest masters of a four-four beat.
An endless global touring schedule, showing the world his authentic and live 3-deck Djing dexterity, a man at ease in front on 10000 people, as he is 100. Ibiza to Indonesia, Argentina to America, South Africa to South Korea, few corners have been untouched.
Yousef is a producer in demand from the world’s supreme labels. Following on from recent offerings on Crosstown Rebels, Get Physical, Defected, Cecile, Cocoon, new music has just been released on Loco Dice’s impressive Desolat imprint, and forthcoming on Dennis Ferrer’s renowned Objektivity Records,. Remixing Carl Cox, Sven Vath, Jamiroquai, Moby, Blakkat, producing music for this years FIFA World Cup album, and gravitating his own Circus Recordings to a entirely new level and releasing last summer’s leading underground cut, Green Velvets “Bigger Than Prince”, which resurfaces with a new Yousef remix in June.
Yousef’s record label “Circus Recordings” continues to spread its all-encompassing memorandum of the finest in underground house and techno. Signing heroes like Reboot, Carl Cox, Green Velvet, releasing music from Sven Vath, Four Tet, Nick Curly and Guti, and re surfacing the super talented Harry Romero, as well as developing fresh names like Acid Mondays, David Glass, Kydus & Ki Creighton, and building a strong platform for Yousef’s own music, with his recent release “Believe in Love” featuring the vocals of the legendary Roy Davis Jr and new release “By The Way You Dance out soon.
2012 saw a second Yousef artist album. ‘A Product of Your Environment’ received incredible reviews, including Ibiza Voice’s album of the year and Mixmag the “all genre” top 20 albums of the year. The organic development of the music was enough for Defected Records to invest in taking 3 singles from the album to release to a wider audience. Three Yousef singles for Defected appeared in the last year, “Think Twice”, “I See” (ADE week Buzz Chart #1) and of course “Beg” which sat at the top of the Beatport charts for 10 weeks.
Yousef’s collaboration with The Angel, the anthemic “Float Away” released on FFRR/Warners/Big Beat Records, was last summers Ibiza hidden treasure, and is still simmering with a new set of remixes coming soon.
You can’t discuss Yousef and not mention Circus, his world-renowned club events. Now proudly in its 12th year of activity in its home city of Liverpool, and now befittingly, one of the most important soirees of its kind, anywhere…
Patenting a formula that combines the established alongside the future stars of the underground, residing alongside the control of Yousef in residency. Inviting every icon of the industry worth seeing. Think – Carl Cox, Ricardo Villalobos, Sven Vath, Richie Hawtin, Sasha, Marco Carola, Adam Beyer, Laurent Garnier… Circus has been instrumental in the early and developing careers of Jamie Jones, Eats Everything, Loco Dice, Maya Jane Coles, Seth Troxler and Davide Squillace and endless more when they were unknown many years ago.
Circus has enhanced Liverpool’s reputation as an epicentre for electronic music culture. Its revered status is augmented by the quality of its bookings and the loyalty of its crowd. It’s a club whose founding ethos remains the same to this day: ‘serious music and fun times’ / “entertainment & enlightenment”.
The recognition of the efforts of Circus came quick and fast, winning UK Club Of The Year from the BBC. The dance music press continues to universally respect and admire the club’s achievements, praising each new chapter. When BBC Radio 1 wanted to celebrate their epochal 500th Essential Mix DJ, Circus was their only choice to host the historical occasion. The event saw Ritchie Hawtin pitted side by side with Sasha, with Pete Tong holding court as Aeroplane made history, with Yousef of course taking centre stage.
Whilst Circus’ home is resolutely Liverpool, the event took up residency in the nations capital at EggLondon. With fairly modest start, fast-forward 18 months to witness a development into an unprecedented and literal ‘road block’ events, and a weekend two night ‘club take over’, in March 2014. With Circus events in Barcelona, Serbia, New York all confirmed for 2014 a travelling Circus has been formed, which is testament to years of hard work and dedication from Yousef and the small but impressive Circus team.
This impact as a gateway for high-grade dancefloor driven electronica translates to his weekly radio show 21st Century House Music, currently syndicated to 20 different nations with more territories signing up weekly. The mantra is simple, supporting new, fresh good quality house, techno and electronica, across the full spectrum of the genres every week. It already boasting a legion of listeners, essential listening for any fan of modern electronic music.
A 21st century artist in scope, sound and stance, his lust for electronic music as a DJ, producer, record label owner, promoter and music enthusiast is stronger than ever. The man remains an unstoppable juggernaut of electronic music. and a huge contribution to the global electronic music scene.
