Not content with being the world’s most famous bear club and London’s biggest weekly gay Saturday night dance party, XXL has added two new resident DJs to its mighty roster. Step forward Andy Almighty to the main floor decks and Stuart Style to the Fluff Bar dancefloor…
Andy Almighty
new Main Floor resident
QX: How does it feel to be taking on a new challenge at London’s biggest gay dance party?
ANDY ALMIGHTY: It’s exciting. I’m looking forward to being able to play to the mixed demographic that the club attracts, in particular the bear crowd who have always been very supportive.
How did you hook-up with Team XXL?
I had played one of the early Fusion parties many years ago, at the old venue alongside Freemasons, and loved that. It had always been at the back of my mind that I’d like to be part of Mark’s team. With the club’s incredible popularity over the last couple of years, that desire grew stronger. I was thrilled when Mark suggested I play XXL’s New Year’s Eve event last December and then join the team as a weekly resident. I love his enthusiasm and the fact he puts his everything into making XXL so special. The numbers through the door are testament to that!
How do you feel about playing alongside the already very popular residents?
I have always had great respect for Christian and Alex, so it’s an honour to be working with them. My music style fits in perfectly with theirs – it’s big room sounding, commercial, vocal and euphoric.
What will you bring to the main floor?
Some great uplifting tunes and many new big XXL anthems to be, I hope. I’m good pals with several high profile remix teams so, along with my day job working for DJ-promo service CD Pool, I get sent lots of upfront promos and exclusive mixes. Plus, I will continue to play many of my own 7th Heaven remixes and productions.
TOP 3 MAIN FLOOR ANTHEMS
- Kylie Minogue – ‘Into The Blue’ (Country Club Martini Crew Mix)
By far her best single since ‘All The Lovers’. This is the full-on pop mix that all Kylie fans had been hoping for. - Britney Spears – ‘Work Bitch’(7th Heaven Club Mix)
Possibly the biggest name my 7th Heaven team have ever remixed. This is already a huge tune at the club. It lifts the roof every play. - Naughty Boy ft. Sam Smith – ‘La La La’(Cosmic Dawn Club Mix)
This huge chart hit from 2013 has been remixed to perfection by the XXL crowd favourite, Cosmic Dawn, for pending US release.
Stuart Style
new Fluff Bar resident
QX: How did you get your first start as a DJ?
STUART STYLE: I have been a DJ since I was sweet 16… a long time ago! The owner of our local record shop used to let us practice in the back room and he booked me to ‘play out’ for the first time at one of his parties. For many years I mostly played rave, techno and underground electronic stuff – and I still do – but I have always had a wide music taste, so basically anything goes. I have played all over London, the UK and a few places in Europe alongside a fair few radio shows and have had many residencies in bars and clubs and guest slots alongside my own nights. Places like Turnmills, Electrowerks, Jacks, Egg, Notting Hill Arts Club, Ginglik, Asylum, Macbeth, Moustache Bar and loads of others.
How would you describe a night in Fluff Bar?
The main room at XXL is proper pumping, and that’s awesome, but sometimes it’s nice to slow things down, get a bit more intimate, get a bit of a groove going, sing along and dance to old and new pop party classics. Also there are these podium cage things you can really strut your stuff in!
How does it feel to be playing alongside the legendary Joe Egg?
Joe Egg is basically the reason Stuart Style exists! We used to go and see him play religiously every Sunday back in the Dogstar days and myself and my now retired DJ partner Adam Wild ended up playing with him in various London bars and clubs. It’s an honour to be a part of his room at XXL and I will do my very best to keep the party going when I follow on from him from 4-8am every Saturday night/Sunday morning. Everyone in the crowd loves his sets and I have to admit, he’s a tough act to follow!
TOP 3 FLUFF BAR TUNES
- Diana Ross – ‘Upside Down’
If they don’t dance to this, it’s time to pack the bags and go home! - Michael Jackson – ‘PYT’
For everyone who still feels like a pretty young thing or has just copped hold of a pretty young thing. - Stevie Wonder – ‘Superstition’
A master! I heard it a thousand times, still love it. Always gets a reaction
• XXL is at Pulse (1 Invicta Plaza, South Bank, SE1 9UF) every Saturday, from 10pm to extra-super-late.