Q&A profile of Dominique, salsa / Latin / meringue London club DJ, written by Grant Goddard in June 1992 for Jazz Express magazine.

1. DJ OF THE MONTH: DOMINIQUE
(SALSAMANIA & HQ)
by
GRANT GODDARD
www.grantgoddard.co.uk
June 1992

2. DJ OF THE MONTH: DOMINIQUE
Age?
29.
How did you get into DJ-ing?
About six years ago, I was working at The Bass Clef on a college secondment
for my BA Performing Arts. For some reason, the DJ that night couldn't make
it, so I stepped in using the venue's records. I had a good record collection, but
I hadn't thought about playing out until then.
What DJ work have you had since then?
I have my own 'Latin Rave' salsa system at the Notting Hill Carnival every year
with DJ Sylvester. I go over to Frankfurt each summer with Groove Attack for
their annual DJ Festival. Two years ago, I started 'Salsa Boogie' at Camden
Lock. And I programme the Latin/African music and DJ at Bass Clef.
What music do you play?
For several years at The Bass Clef on Friday, I played salsa, meringue and the
more authentic, rootsier side of Latin music. At HQ, I play the poppier side with
more meringue, techno-meringue, salsa rap and Latin house. The new Friday
night at Down Mexico Way starts 5th June.
Latin and jazz are often mentioned in the same breath …
A lot of people think of Latin music as Brazilian jazz and bossa nova, rather
than salsa. I don't delve too much into that, as there are loads of DJs playing
Latin jazz.
How does the London Latin scene differ?
A lot of the English DJs concentrate on the New York/ Puerto Rican sound,
which is quite jazzy, and they almost scorn the Colombian sound as being too
tropical and un-hip. The Colombian and Latino DJs tend to stick exclusively to
the Colombian sound because the bulk of Latinos living in London are
Colombian. Whereas, I try to give it a real international salsa sound.
What is your all-time failsafe record?
'Mambo' by La Manigua, a French salsa band.
London Latin bands to watch out for?
Roberto Pia's Latin Jazz Ensemble and Salsa Y Aché.
Records to watch out for?
A New York group called Proyecto 1 (on IVF) that play meringue house, and a
guy called Marcus Malory (on Rodven) who fuses meringue with ragga. On the
salsa side, Los Hermanos Moreno on the RMM label, which has taken over in
New York where Fania and Allegre left off.
Have you DJ-ed on radio?
DJ Of The Month: Dominique (Salsamania & HQ)
©1992 Grant Goddard
page 2

3. I worked on pirate station 'TKO' for a year in 1986/7. I presented a three-hour
Latin music special for 'KISS FM' in April, and Venezuela Airlines wrote in and
said they would advertise if there were a regular salsa show.
Do you get to visit Latin America?
I go to the Barranquilla carnival in Colombia every year and I always come
back armed with lots of interesting stuff.
What's the best food in Colombia?
'San cocho', a soup made from potatoes, beans and plantain, flavoured with
coriander and garlic. In London, you can eat Colombian at El Barco Latino on
Temple Pier, near Embankment.
What's your worst DJ-ing experience?
Last month at The Bass Clef, I had nipped out to dance and came back to find
a woman kneeling in the DJ booth, about to make off with five of my choicest
records. So I got the bouncer to remove her and her friends.
And your worst promoting experience?
In the early days of The Bass Clef, we organised our own float at the Notting
Hill Carnival. We brought over a group called Salsa Charanga from Holland
and I'm not sure what happened, but most of the band got arrested at Carnival.
Are there other women Latin DJs?
There are many more women DJ-ing in Latin than in dance music, such as
Sue Steward, Jo Shinner, Rita, Ruth Abrahms and DJ Xiomara.
Best supermarket?
Safeway in East Ham, near where I live. I've found a good flat where no-one
complains if you play loud salsa.
Now playing at:
Friday – 'Salsamania' at Down Mexico Way, 25 Swallow Street, London W1
Saturday – HQ, West Yard, Camden Lock, London NW1
[Submitted to 'Jazz Express' magazine, unpublished]
Grant Goddard is a media analyst / radio specialist / radio consultant with thirty years of
experience in the broadcasting industry, having held senior management and consultancy
roles within the commercial media sector in the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia. Details at
http://www.grantgoddard.co.uk
DJ Of The Month: Dominique (Salsamania & HQ)
©1992 Grant Goddard
page 3