DJ and international playboy Photos courtesy of Brand New Made

Founding father of European house Dmitri From Paris drops into Liquid Room to launch the second volume in promoter Brand New Made' World DJ Series events. The tour will also take Dmitri to Kyoto, Sapporo, Nagoya and Osaka.

Born in Istanbul to hippie intellectual parents who eventually relocated to Paris, Dmitri From Paris has been shaking hips since his days as a radio DJ in France in the mid-'80s.

A fascination for disco and house saw Dmitri mixing his collection of US import 12-inches on a pair of decks in his living room. This led to work with various European radio stations, and in 1985 he presented Megamix for NRJ, Europe's first house music radio program.

Dmitri's growing reputation led to production and remixing work for artists including James Brown, Bjork, New Order, the Brand New Heavies and Japan's own United Future Organization, pioneering the then-nascent remix in France. Dmitri eventually signed a deal with underground imprint Yellow Productions, releasing his full-length debut, Sacrebleu in 1996. The album was voted Best Dance Album Of The Year by Mixmag.

DJ Shinkawa

Most recently, Dmitri's witty eclecticism and kitschy sound have found expression on the recent disc A Night at the Playboy Mansion (Astralworks). Released in honor of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner's 74th birthday, the album pays tribute to the sound of New York dance meccas like Sound Factory and the Paradise Garage, with tracks from the likes of Setsasonic and Atmosfear.

Joining Dmitri From Paris will be house DJ Shinkawa, a familiar face to Tokyo clubbers from parties such as Crossover, and from his pumping sets at Maniac Love's infamous Cycle After Hours Sunday morning sessions. Also on the bill is DJ Fukutomi, a veteran of clubs such as the legendary Gold, and resident at Loop's A New Dimension events.

DJ Fukutomi

Meanwhile, a new event kicks off at Womb in Shibuya, bringing together the dance music community with the world of fashion. Trans Beauty 01-Muse will see some of Japan's leading hair designers, stylists and makeup artists giving demonstrations of their creations while DJs spin their stuff. UK hard house party Cream's Japan resident DJ Dee-S heads up a bill that will also feature Mitsuru (bayaka), one of Tokyo's subtlest house DJs, in the lounge room.

World DJ Series, Vol. 2: Dmitri From Paris Japan Tour. Liquid Room, 6/15, 11pm, JY3000 (adv), JY3500 (door). Tel: 3200-6831.

Trans Beauty 01-Muse: Womb, 6/18, 8:30pm, JY2500 (adv), JY3500 (door) w/1d. Info: Trans Beauty Office 5721-8022.