DIARY
2007/08
PROMOTER / RESIDENT
Ben Dela-Peña (pronounced Dela-Penia) – the name sounds kind of cool, doesn’t it? A little sexy, a little mysterious perhaps. And you’d be right because it belongs to an up-and-coming DJ who you’re going to be hearing a lot more of. Why – because this fella’s got the enthusiasm, the looks and the goddamn talent to take him all the way. “I grew up with R&B and hip hop,” he explains, “and used to hang around while my sisters and their friends would play records. I even did a spot of breakdancing but they soon started pushing vinyl my way.” With music always playing in the house and a classic collection of tunes building up, it wasn’t long before Ben caught the music bug – in fact, he originally wanted to be a scratch DJ.
It wasn’t until ’92 that he got his first decks – “horrible belt-driven things,” he remembers – and by then he was already known locally as a music man because of his vast record collection. He was starting to acquire some classic early house tracks along the way too. Ben was always interested in vocals and a soulful sound but with a tough edge, so it was a natural progression for him to start getting into US house. A few trips to Uptown and Blackmarket Records in Soho soon sorted him out and there was no stopping our boy as he began checking out labels like Defected and Subliminal. In fact, Erick Morillo became a strong influence along with the likes of Sandy Rivera, Roger Sanchez, Lottie and Danny Rampling.
By ’98 Ben was well and truly hooked on house music and soon picked up a couple of local residencies. He set one up along with Carl Johnstone (ZIPCODE resident) creating 'A Bit of a Do!' and took over Bar Latino in Croydon for a series of parties. When he wasn’t there, of course, Ben was checking out house nights in London, as well as taking in a couple of trips to Ibiza along the way. By 23, he started playing out in London. Since joining up with the Movin’ House gang in 2002 he’s played for them at Inigo in Clapham, Trafik in Shoreditch, Fluid and Anexo in Farringdon, as well as picking up sets at venues like the Lusive (Lifthouse),Chapel bar, Lime bar, Scala (Frantic), Babushka in Kings Cross, The Mass, Plan-B in Brixton, Whitehouse in Clapham, Turnmills, Ministry, The EGG, Pacha in London and even oversea to Baracoa, Grenchen in Switzerland. Then there’s the infamous Cheshire Street and AT NIGHT warehouse parties-they don't come around very often! Ben was also resident for the formidable 'FilthyhouSessions' from July 2004 till August 2005 which ran nights alongside Papadiso, InSession, Fathers Of House and CIRCO LOCO (Voted Ibiza's Club 2005) at Pacha,Turnmills and EGG. Its a clubbing experience that is led by Shane Watcha (founder) and definitely taking the clubbing industry by storm.
In between all this,Ben has been signed to the seditiondjs agency and launched his own bi-monthly night at LOOP (Oct 2003) with partners in Crime Joe Cullen (House Proud) & John Stone (Kinky as Funk), at a new venue opened in Croydon. Entitled ZIPCODE, it’ll give Ben the chance to play longer sets and really show us what he can do. They exploit their underground soulful sound to the fullest yet pushing the boundaries with its chunky,jackin' electro influences which makes ZIPCODE such a unique night.Its popularity speaks for itself in South London and is growing by the numbers with great acts from the well established to the up-n-coming dj/producers playing at this new night.ZIPCODE since then has moved to one of the hottest venue south of the river,PLAN-B (www.plan-brixton.co.uk) in Brixton, the launch night in Feb 2006 was a party to remember and continues on the success of ZIPCODE.
For Ben's own personal ambition “I want to establish my name, my character and my style,” he says. “From deep, soulful and vocals to a tough underground minimal dirty jackin' twist – it’s got a chunky yet funky electro edgy feel to it. A good DJ has to have personality too; technical ability is important but you have to be able to read the crowd and play the right tune at the right time. It’s your job to put a smile on people’s faces and a good DJ – someone like Erick Morillo – makes you want to go back for more, more, more. And I do! That’s how I want to be.”
So far Ben's diary for 2005/06 has been busy,busy,busy! They have included Frantic, Plan-B, Inigo bar, Industry, Hidden Club, The Key,Whitehouse, Pacha, Turnmills, Ministry of Sound, EGG, Heaven, The End (RIOT!), Zipcode residency (of course),Neighbourhood and ATLANTIS club (Switzerland). It dosen’t stop there though, after securing a new residency for UP^^ @ Turnmills (Bi-monthly) and a brand new weekly Saturday show on well known London internet radio HOUSE FM 10pm-12pm (www.house.net),he has found the time to step into the studio and plans to have a joint E.P out by the summer of 2006...watch this space!!!
Ben Dela-Peña – remember that name. It’s unique rather like its owner. Cheeky for sure but bursting with talent and enthusiasm – and, boy, does he know how to work those filters.
SCROLL DOWN
