DIMITRI FROM PARIS spinning as part of Milk with TELEPOPMUSIK and FELIX & GANI at the Guvernment’s Orange Room (132 Queen’s Quay East), tonight (Thursday, March 28). $25 advance. 416-202-8839. www.milkevents.com
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Although jet-setting superstar selector Dimitri from Paris is considered a key player in the rise of the French club sound, he’s probably better known here for his Playboy-sponsored mix discs.
The latest, After The Playboy Mansion (Astralwerks/Virgin), expands on his previous party platter by splitting up his jazzy house program into “laid-back” and “uptempo” sets on separate discs, rocking organically funky contemporary house joints from the likes of Llorca and Blaze alongside pounding re-edits of old-school disco gems from Gwen Guthrie and Grace Jones. So where does Playboy fit in exactly?
“The sound I’m pushing with this new compilation is a bit more mature and sophisticated,” explains Dimitri from a stop in New York, “which fits well with the whole Playboy vibe.
“They didn’t have a sound associated with Playboy, so it was a good opportunity for me to come in and present my interpretation of it.”
Releasing a mix disc called After The Playboy Mansion required entire weeks of hands-on field research at the storied Playboy Mansion West — just to ensure the music accurately reflects the ambience of the place. Dimitri’s fact-finding expeditions have led him to conclude that it’s not quite the decadent fantasy farm many believe it to be.
“The Playboy mansion is just a nice house with a friendly atmosphere where sophisticated people go to have a good time. It’s all very mature — not someplace filled with beautiful naked women where you go to fulfill your fantasies like a spring break orgy.”
Wow, sorry to hear that.
“No, no, that’s what I liked about it! Everybody respects each other there. It’s not a 100 per cent sex thing, but more about being free and comfortable with yourself.”
Turns out the downside of the bargain — Dimitri’s disc is covered with the Playboy rabbit-head logo, which tends to cheapen the music by making the After The Playboy Mansion disc look like just another piece of Playboy product — has its advantages.
“My initial reaction to the idea of having Playboy as a sponsor was “Great! Now we can use the rabbit on our flyers legitimately!’
“You see, people all over Europe use that famous Playboy rabbit on their flyers and posters without permission to help create interest in their events, but we get to use it with Playboy’s full endorsement. Amazing!”
