LiLPhil

Mark Valsecchi a.k.a DJ LilPhil put his music career into a tail-spin when his move from Johannesburg to Cape Town, at the impressionable age of 19, gave his passion for house music and dedication to the craft of mixing, a distinctive edge in the Mountain City’s local scene.Having started out a bedroom dj in his hometown, Johannesburg, at 15, LilPhil took his sound waves to house parties, fashion shows and clubs at the age of 17, playing, as most do, just for the exposure and opportunity to indulge an audience. Two years on and just before his 19th birthday, LilPhi's craving for something extraordinary saw him pack his bags, grab his share of Gold City dust and hot foot it Cape side to ‘make it big’. He was in luck. Leaving the squabbles for deckspace in Jozi behind, LilPhil took his big city advantage and more than become another musician molded by his location, he quickly turned Cape Town’s nightlife on its head.Bringing his definitive style of house to the fore, he wooed and won over dancefloors of fussy Capetonian feet with his intrinsic mix of Deep, Electro, Tech and Minimal house music. Taking his sound to funky, vocal and commercial borders when called for; LilPhil quickly surfaced as an all rounder, a prodigy and was embraced by the industry, quickly climbing the ranks and associating his name with a damn good night out!Partnering with Ryan Loader, co-owner of the successful Foreal Records Label, LilPhil opened TheMixRoom, a seriously equipped recording studio where he began producing. The two formed CITYZEN, a live electronic band act in 2006. The dj’s and two vocalists made a fine team and rocked several established gigs over several months, including Tilt Nightclubs 8th Birthday and Society’s New Years bash, both in Durban, before going their separate ventures. The experience earnered gave LilPhil the necessary knowledge and know-how to embark a serious career in house music production- again elevating his career ambition and achievement to an all new height.TheMixRoom, running strong and gaining reputation, was recently contacted by USM Records in Johannesburg to create an artist collaboration for the Deep and Afro House guru, DJ Miggs, getting tracks remixed by top South African artists; Black Coffee, Mbuso, DJ Christos, Nastee Nev and international producers Abica Soul & Demarkus Lewis. Set to be released in 2007, the album suffices as another notch above the dj box for LilPhil, who’s found in this, affirmation of his being on the right track to ultimately breaking into a long term international career in electronic dance music.Well on his way to special status, Lil Phil’s proud to have worked with some of the best in the business, including Dean Fuel, Roger Goode, Dino Moran, DJ Shannon, Gren Forte, Troydon, Jake Childs (USA), Lady Lea, Gold Fish, Paul Sprecher, Nick Supply, , Nick Mathews and Tony Finger. His conquered club-list to date boasts an array of Cape Towns top nightlife venues including; Opium Town and Opium Beach Bar, FTV Café, Barazza, Raffikis, Miam Miam, Café Vespa, Forty Ate, BarBoia, and Black Sheep as well as a selection of exclusive private events in some sound seducing Cape Town Mansions.Weekly residencies in Cape Town are FTV Café’s Funked Friday as well as Opium Beach Bar Saturday night Happy Endings. His nationwide demand recently kicked off, and sees him making monthly stops in Durban and back home in Johannesburg. Lil Phil recently joined Lady Lea, Roger D’lux, Matt Suttner and Craig DeSousa in the line-up at Co.Funk, a House-Heads Only event at Co.Fi, Centurion’s renowned day and night club venue. He also played at Tiesto in Cape Town adding another notch to his belt & Lady Lea’s cd launch of her new album 3rd time lucky..As the year comes towards Cape Town beach season, Lil Phil’s check list is far from complete. He’s currently collaborating with Jake Childs on several track productions and he’s been requested to co-mix the first South African FTV Café album with Dean Fuel. Keep your ears open for lots more of LilPhil, he’s conquered the mountain in everyway and his sound is sure to reverberate down and all ‘round for a long time to come.Look out for him in December at the hottest new venue Tokyo Sky!