Yousef
What more can be said about Yousef…
A leading figurehead in dance music. A man who has lived and breathed house music since he was a teenager, with over 20 years of dedication to the global electronic music scene, his contribution can’t be over exaggerated. Yousef, constantly pushing his own creative and artistic boundaries, while he is considered one of the best, most skilful and most respected UK DJs of all time.
Yousef has now completed his 5th artist album, the truly accomplished “I Operate in Purple”.
The project has invited a series of world class musicians and singers to help Yousef realise his ambition to release a 14-track legacy project that leans upon his two decades in at the forefront of house music and plans to stand up next to the great dance music albums of our time. IOP eloquently manoeuvrers through original vocals, radio ready crossover and the emotive underground. Each track comes with its own individual and original 3D video that reveals the narrative Yousef has created. This is easily Yousef most unforgettable work he has ever created.
Yousef’s powerhouse record label Circus Recordings has released music from many of the world’s most significant names, from Carl Cox to Kerri Chandler to Green Velvet to Jamie Jones, all while breaking completely new artists from all over the world directly to give them a much-needed platform. The record label runs parallel his equally globally respected Circus Events, where Yousef holds one of the longest and most important DJ residencies in the history of UK club culture.
Circus at Blackstone Warehouse is the UK’s most cutting-edge warehouse venue. In term of sound, lights and staging there is nothing like it in the UK. Circus has invited names from Peggy Gou to Pawsa, Bicep to Ewan Mcvicar, Chris Stussy to Micheal Bibi and literally every major name in electronic music to join Yousef at his two decades long party…
Yousef’s prolific music output consistently sees his music in the boxes of every major DJ from Joseph Capriati, Marco Carola, Carl Cox, Fisher, The Blessed Madonna, Seth Troxler, Honey Dijon and everyone in-between.
Yousef has released more music on the world’s best record labels than almost any other artist in his field. Seminal releases on Crosstown Rebels, Desolat, Cocoon, Moon Harbour, Knee Deep in Sound, Defected, Hard Times, Renaissance and of course his own legendary Circus Recordings.
Yousef’s trusted voice led him to be requested to represent electronic music community for a private meeting with ‘HRH Prince William’ the future King of England, and later with many leading MP’s, to relay the difficulties dance music is facing through before and since covid. These efforts helped pave the way for Yousef’s Circus event to be asked to take on the colossal task to organise ‘The First Dance’, the world’s first sanctioned music test event since covid struck… The monumental event captured the attention of the entire world and its major media, with 7 billion online and news engagements, and is now cited as ‘one of the most significant moments in electronic music history”’. Yousef & Circus were given the BBC “Impact Award” on Radio One for all the work done to help the music industry in 2021.
HISTORY.
It all began on the dance floor. A devoted raver first and foremost, Yousef began to spin records in the late nineties. In the years since, he has travelled far and wide delivering unforgettable sets everywhere he goes. A consummate professional, Yousef has universal appeal thanks to his innate ability to read the room and take the energy level up a few notches. As confident and exciting on four decks as he is on two, Yousef has been booked to play a dizzying array of clubs and festivals all over the world from North and South America, across Europe and Asia to Australia, side by side with the scene’s top tier: Carl Cox, Steve Lawler, Sasha, John Digweed, Seth Troxler, Jamie Jones, The Martinez Brothers… the list goes on.
In the studio, Yousef has been working tirelessly since 2001. His output has been prolific, with releases on his own Circus Recordings, alongside an all-star lineup of the scene’s most respected labels: Cocoon, Hot Creations, BPitch Control, Crosstown Rebels, Moon Harbour, Desolat, Saved, Defected and many more. His diverse discography covers the full spectrum of house and techno, from dance floor-ready tech house bubblers to groovy deep house, in-your-face techno and uplifting flavours. Yousef’s production prowess has been showcased on four artist albums: A Collection Of Scars And Situations (2009) A Product Of Your Environment (2012), In The Process Of Eight (2015) and 9 Moor Drive in 2019.
9 Moor Drive has an intimate narrative, reflecting on Yousef’s turbulent upbringing in what has been an extremely cathartic process. Realising he had a lot of emotional residues holding him back, he decided to write an album that explored his early life at the house on 9 Moor Drive in his native Liverpool. The result is a collection of music that is full of depth, each track telling a story about Yousef’s past – stories that he wrote out himself, giving each one a paragraph full of detail and raw emotion. There’s darkness, light, joy, sorrow, warmth and every kind of mental state you can imagine. The album represents an artist who has the experience and confidence to be vulnerable, using his creativity to move forward and achieve closure. 9 Moor Drive is not a story of hard times and anguish, rather a celebration of resilience, hard work and creativity.
Yousef’s desire to create enduring memories lies at the core of his aspirations. He gives 100% in every aspect of his career, inspired by his own dance floor memories – those moments that send shivers down your spine and provoke feelings of pure elation and joy. Though he’s revered as one of the world’s most versatile and dynamic selectors, Yousef keeps his feet firmly on the ground, maintaining a positive, friendly disposition and a consistently high work ethic. Always curious and always pushing himself to the next level his ambitions remain steadfast: dedicated to pushing electronic music forward and taking himself all the way to the top while inspiring the next generation of artists to follow his lead…
Yousef & Circus // BBC Impact Award // BBC Radio One (2021)
Circus // Best Club Night // BBC Radio One Awards
Circus // Best Club Night // Dj Magazine
10 * BBC Radio One Essential mixes // Hosting two live
EDC mix compilation – Live in Mexico Ciry (2020)
Yousef – 9 Moor Drive (full artist Album – 2019)
Circus 15 – Mix compilation (2017)
Yousef – In the Process of Eight (Full artist album 2015)
Yousef – A Product of Your Environment (full artist album 2012)
Circus 10 – Mix Compilation (2012)
Yousef – A Collection of Scars and Situations (full artist album 2009)
Renaissance presents Yousef – Mix Compilation (2007)
3 years on BBC Radio One // Friday and Saturday Host (2000 – 2004)
Best New DJ // Muzik Magazine Awards
DMC presents Yousef the Mix (mix compilation) (2001)
MixMag present Yousef – Winter Warmer (2001)
Creamfields present Yousef (mix compilation) 2000
The Sun After Dark – Mix Compilation 2000