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Direct from the Playboy Mansion, Dimitri from Paris makes a welcome return to Bangkok this month. Creating a delicious party atmosphere for more than two decades, Dimitri's trademark blend of disco, soul and funk is beloved across the globe. With days to go before his yuletide appearance, we asked the suave legend for his thoughts on Dita Von Teese, bootleg CDs and Christmas stockings.  You've been playing now for nearly a quarter of a century. Would you say that your taste and sound changed over the years?
I've always been influenced by Soul and Disco, it's all the variations of it that I've been playing over the years, that is what make my sound distinctive
Your music is classy, sumptuous and glamorous. If your sound was a dame, who would she be?
Dita Von Teese would be a good contemporary contender
What do you make of the recent revival in the Burlesque scene in Europe and the US? Your sound would seem to complement it in some ways.
I think that scene brings back a long lost glamour to the show, I actually had the pleasure of playing alongside Dita Von Teese, and Rachel Silver who is another new talent of that scene
Pirate copies of your mix CDs are freely available on street corners and markets in Bangkok. How do you feel when you see bootlegs of your work for sale?
Well, if someone bootlegs your music, it means there's a demand for it, whichever way I'm glad it ends up in peoples ears. The thing is, that if that becomes the generic rule, I eventually won't be able to invest in continueing making it, as it involves, musicians, equipment, studios, things that have a cost.
You've been working on Sophie Ellis Bextor's forthcoming album. How did the two of you come to collaborate?
I'm affraid that is a wrong piece of info,
 We really enjoyed hearing you play at Polly's Bar last year. You must have enjoyed playing there nearly as much as you're returning on Christmas Eve next month. If our readers decide to bring you presents for your stocking, what's top of your Christmas wish-list?
haha, sweet question ! they can bring a happy face and a groovy attitude
What's the most memorable gift that a fan has given you?
well, I usually remember the kind heartfelt words from people saying they had a special time.
We heard of a false story that emerged on the internet during your last visit to Thailand. Somebody started a bizarre rumour that you were locked up in a Thai jail on drugs charges. Did you get any closer to finding out who started it?
Not really investigated it, I suspect it was an unhappy promoter
 Did you know there's another pretender to the Dimitri name out there. Looking on the net, we found "DJ Dimitri from Amsterdam" ( www.djdimitri.com). Time to call in the lawyers?
Not at all Dimitri is an historical Amsterdam DJ who started his career probably a little earlier than me, he's one of the reasons I decided 10 years ago to add From Paris to my name, as people were getting confused.
Where will you be on New Year's Eve and what are your plans for 2007?
I will stay in Asia and play in Shanghai, my first foray into mainland China
Lastly, do you have any advice for any would-be DJs?
find your sound and stick to it no matter what the trends are, they come and go, and you'll have to stay
Dimitri from Paris plays at Polly's Bar on Friday 22nd December.
Call: 085-917-3616 or email
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for tickets.
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