It's been another turbulent year for the party scene and the threat of further nightlife restrictions looms as we look to 2022. Greg Zizique delivers a mashup mix to soundtrack your house party, commute or even a dog walk! We all need a decent party and what better way than to enlist one of the South West's favourite DJs for an end of year podcast like no other?
Hi, please introduce yourself to those unfamiliar with your work.
I’m Greg Zizique, probably best known or remembered for being a resident at Dance Academy in Plymouth and then Tranzaction in Cornwall. Over the years I have ended up supporting a lot of the big names and artists of which most have danced to at home and on the dance floors.
Describe how covid has impacted your DJ life.
I’ve taken the best of both sides this interesting situation has brought us all. Reflecting on all life’s little things, people can forget how many years you’ve done this for. So, after 23 years of warmups, headliners and dj tour support, I have enjoyed the slower pace. All those round trips up and down both the A30 and A38 over the years have slowed down and I’ve done less gigs and chosen to work more closer with events, promoters and venues that respect djing and the value it brings. This has inevitably meant not returning to some venues.
The gigs I have done since the end of the last lockdown were mixed to say the least, nobody can truly say that things have returned to normal or even close to as before the pandemic hit us. I think it would be helpful for all events, promoters, and venues to be honest and stop the old classic dance music hype train. I have been quite disgusted at ticket process from some events, penalising clubbers and festival goers for the lockdowns isn’t the way to resurrect and maintain a healthy future scene. Clubbers and partygoers will respect the scene more for it. We all want going out and music to last and stay prominent in as many towns and cities, so let’s be fair, keep entry prices down and get people back into enjoying going out regularly.
Describe your DJ style.
I’ve first and foremost always been a house music dj, however I’m more than used to taking on the task of a warmup slot or closing set. I have always enjoyed the warmups as they allow you to adapt and flow with the mood of the crowd, rather than focusing in on one niche style or genre specific sound which can get boring, and no crowd wants to hear the same thing and same bpm all night.
In more recent years you can find me busting out the classics from house to trance and all the good time tunes in between from the better years of electronic dance music. As I said on my last Little South podcast, I’ve always maintained my dj adaptability for various set times and floors works best, after all, “anyone can mix the latest Beatport Tech House Top 10; but that doesn’t mean the crowd in front of you want to hear it!”. I stand firm with this view and new djs, especially ones that had only recently streamed at home need to learn it and look at what’s going in Infront of them.
Talk us through your podcast mix track selection.
As this mix was recorded to help us through the Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties, it’s a straight up party mashup mix. Right from the start its straight in with anthems and classics all mashed up and mixed quickly to get the energy levels going. Track wise there’s many from my days at Dance Academy, Tranzaction, Corn Exchange, Sound, and many other places in between. Some of the older anthems are cleverly mashed up on newer but recognisable tracks for some proper bootleg and remake action. If you listen to the mix from start to finish before going out expect to be suitably warmed up and ready for the party.
Style and genre wise there’s something for everyone with house, party dance, anthems, mashups, trance classics, some drum and bass and even harder dance for those that just need to stomp it out. If it had to fit more closer to one venue or town, I’d say it’s got Camborne all over it!
For those that like to spot the tracks, a full track list is below.
Kölsch x Jax Jones - You Don't Know Grey (Mashup)
Dennis Ferrer - Hey Hey, Breathe (Stickmen Bootleg)
DJ Zinc & Chris Lorenzo - Gammy Elbow (Show Me the 90's Edit)
Dannic vs Kernkraft 400 - Zombie Rocker (Mashup)
The Prodigy - No Good, Blow Up (Bootleg)
Florence & The Machine - You’ve Got the Atom (N&M Mashup)
ZHU x Tiësto - Adagio For Faded (Mashup)
Skytech vs Delerium - Wild Love vs Silence (Mashup)
Underworld vs Reflekt - Born to Feel Loved (Mashup)
Chase & Status - Blind Faith (MS Mix)
Bizarre Inc. - Playing With Knives (Utah Saints Rmx)
Planet Perfecto - Bullet In The Gun (Rob Searle Rmx)
Trevor & Simon - Hands Up (DJ Jean Rmx)
Southside Spinners - Luvstruck
Sound De-zign - Happiness (Coast 2 Coast mix)
Lucid - I Can't Help Myself (AB Rework)
Rudimental - Feel The Love (JD Bootleg)
Afrojack - Take Over Control (Mashup)
Organ Donors - Boot it up Again
Signum - What Ya Got 4 Me (Rebooted)
Digital Deviant - House of Purple Pain
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