Paul Barkworth's Smokey Beats

"Smokey Beats is based on a character called Aimee, who loved life, in the sense that music drove her life. She had no prejudice, she always thought positively about every negative and she loved life for what it was and thought in terms of films, clothes, socialising and having fun. She carried no prejudice whether you where gay, transvestite, black or white, and always built her life around having fun. Her real name is Pauline and she was my Mum."

The man behind the name 'Smokey Beats' is Paul Barkworth. A Hull born London
club promoter and DJ, his vision and mission is to develop his club night
into a globally recognised entity. In a drive to move away from the standard
club branding of being deprived of spirit and money obsessive the essence of
Smokey Beats' is based on instinct, energy, a concept that's becoming
evermore absent from today's clubbing world.

That his recently deceased mother is Smokey Beats' muse, is just one indication of how unusual and serious his approach to club promotion is, but it's his attention to detail, whether through music, presentation and vibe that also sets him apart. Mixing disco, hip hop and house with old skool, projections and a willingness to mix (he even talks over the mike), he began Smokey Beats at Home's now shut down Leicester Square headquarters in London.

Relocating to Hoxton's 93 Feet East for the last 12 months, he's shortly relocating to Turnmills for a monthly night, as well as staging two parties at Sydney's hugely successful Home venue. Chatting to Skrufff's Jonty Adderley last week, he was cheerful as he prepared for his Australian dates.

Skrufff: What's the plan for the Sydney parties-

Smokey Beats: (Paul Barkworth) "I'm playing a 7 hour set at Home on Easter Saturday (March 30) on the terrace. We'll be playing a film we've made of animated moving imagery which projects the philosophy of Smokey Beats, with its vibe and sound. The images have been culled from 40 years from the 60s to the present, with raw street imagery. The music's going to vary from funky hip hop and jazz fused beats and breaks towards Latin tracks with Brazilian beats and US and French disco house. As the musical journey progresses the film also progresses into a full on movie. It's all on DVD and we'll be using glass and carousel projectors."

Skrufff: "What's your connection with the Home club-

Smokey Beats: "I was a resident DJ at Home London for 14 months with Smokey Beats, and was playing every Saturday at the High Rise parties. Then in January last year I became the club's promotions manager, just one month before it closed, unfortunately."

Skrufff: English ex-pat DJ Jason Bye will also be spinning at Home that night, how does that fit alongside your event-

Smokey Beats: "Jason plays progressive (US) west coast beats which are very progressive and funky and I'm more diverse than that. Jason will be downstairs at the club while I'm upstairs on the terrace. The terrace, though, is going to be strictly invite only and the guest list is being put together mainly by word of mouth, in Sydney right now. I will be DJing with Jason though, once or twice through the month on other night, he's a mate. I've also got two gigs at the home Bar planned at Cockle Bay."

Skrufff: how did your mother's death affect your approach to the club-

Smokey Beats: "When my Mum died over two years ago, I stopped and I was going through a down period then this weird thing happened, almost like a visit. I was at a loose end then after this experience I decided to make the club entirely about my life influences; from childhood up to now. And the person who inspired me to put music into my life was Mum. She brought colour into my life too. That's what Smokey Beats is all about, about being real. It represents life."

Skrufff: How does that translate to the night itself-

Smokey Beats: "You've got to operate from the heart, you've got to be spiritual about what you do, you can't just have a Tags

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