37. Pete Tha Zouk

Pete Tha Zouk

Pete Tha Zouk's going to give us a big head. Last year was the first that he scooped himself a place on the DJmag Top 100 chart, and he's been riding it ever since. “Last year was my fi...

Style: Chunky house music

Best known for: Being Portugal's premier DJ

Tune of 2011: Sebastian Ingrosso & Alesso 'Calling'

Breakthrough DJ/Producer of 2011: eSQUIRE

What's the future of DJing? DJs taking on stadium events, and holding their own on stage. A line-up of the best DJs in the world could take on U2 or Madonna.

Favourite app? “Facebook and Twitter. I consider myself addicted to both of them

Discovery of the year? My iPad 2. It has brought huge comfort when communicating with my Facebook fans. Now I can do it everywhere.

Rediscovery of the year? “'Fly Life' by Basement Jaxx. Those whistles that it has are so 'now'. Those guys were visionaries.

Awkward Moment? Leaving my bag with all my music in a restaurant in Brazil, ahead of a seven-day tour. I did the whole tour with only seven CDs. It was incredible!

Style or substance? Style with substance. You need substance to have great style.

Pet Hate? A really bad light-jockey. I go crazy when the lights don't go with the music

Pete Tha Zouk's going to give us a big head. Last year was the first that he scooped himself a place on the DJmag Top 100 chart, and he's been riding it ever since.
“Last year was my first time in the poll, and I couldn't believe it,” he says, clearly quite pleased about the whole thing. “When I heard, I dropped the phone. I don't quite have the words for what's happening.”

As DJmag speaks to him, he's in Ibiza on holiday, saying no to gigs and yes to relaxing on the beach. “I started the year with New Year's Eve in a magical place called Florianopolis in Brazil, at a place called Cafe de Musique, and it's thanks to the DJmag poll. I was already getting popular in Brazil, but the people there give a lot of respect to the Top 100. It's the reference for booking DJs in Brazil.
“It's the same in Portugal. People are starting to respect me even more in my own country! I got invitations from all over the world, [there were] more productions, new shows. I played to 6000 people at sunset for six hours in Vilamoura [in Portugal]. It was truly amazing.”
Well, bless him. While we're happy to help, he's really only got himself to thank.