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What
a week!
Music,
music, music. Zillah Bugeja hears about a week in the life of DJ
and Island Sound Radio presenter Graham Charles
Monday
Up at the crack of nine, go right into preparing music for the day's
programme. My home is also a studio. I look through the papers because
I'm always on the look out for bizarre and wonderful stories for
the Wacky News. Off to the studio to arrive at 10.30, the programme
is on air from 11.30 to 3pm.
Straight off go to a meeting about the new bar, Insomnia where I'm
now playing. Always nice to play at a new place. Owners Gordon and
Sheryl are friends as well as associates, and they create a lovely
atmosphere, it's quite a funky place.
To the gym to train, four days a week at Geres, to try and stay
in shape. I love it and it does blow the tension and anger of the
day away.
I spent an hour with Jewel T, practising our mixing, going through
the latest tunes. Terence is my protégé although he's
extremely skilful, I'm teaching him more advanced way of actually
playing to crowds, how to handle an audience. He's definitely the
future Malta's number one DJ.
After that I met Michelle my girl and her daughter Chelsea. We spent
some time together – it's the time of day I look forward to
the most. Chelsea calls me Go, it's my nickname, she's probably
heard her mum say ‘go' so many times! I can't figure out where
she got that from.
Met up with group of DJs and talked about up-coming parties. Take
a roomful of DJs and it's just music talk, to the anger of everybody's
girlfriends.
Home to watch a video, then sleepy sleepy. I love intelligent action
thrillers or if I'm with Michelle a romantic film or comedy –
she's got the loveliest giggle in the world!
Tuesday
Off to Siggiewi to look for a second hand car. But the bank knocked
me back on the loan and I'm back to the yellow monster. I'm flat
broke. Kiss TV was a good investment in what I wanted to do artistically
but it sucked the money out of me like a waste disposal unit on
fault.
Travelling by bus makes me laugh. It's a comedy experience especially
when someone recognises me and thinks what's Graham Charles doing
on a bus? There I am bouncing along with everybody else! I spend
the journey SMSing Michelle. Other DJs and I SMS each other constantly,
we're like a brotherhood, one professional helps one amateur.
I love doing radio and am never nervous – I'm more nervous
in a crowd because I'm very claustrophobic. Behind the mike is where
I was born to be. I love the one-on-one feeling. But I also love
playing at parties, that's a completely different vibe. People often
come up and shake your hand. You get to see 2,000 people jumping
up and down because of what you have do. When you play live you
feel for that night you have something special to give and you feel
quite privileged.
I've got a new programme in connection with the Ministry of Sound
and ISR on the radio happening soon. I'm enjoying working here at
Island Sound, it's great to work with a good friend Ozi, deservedly
the boss of the DJs, Jason doesn't make me stop giggling, Jenny's
nice to work with and Charlie's cute and cool.
Wednesday
Popped into my favourite haunt in Floriana, Bon Appetit, for a sandwich
and coffee. It's got good food and clean service and Ray is always
friendly.
Meeting about presenting a new look Kiss TV which is in the pipeline,
in conjunction with my good friends Jackie and Martin. They are
two of the nicest people on the island.
When it comes to work, I'm constantly criticising myself, I'm looking
to be better at what I do and can be too hard. I'm a manic depressive
– thanks to Michelle and the gym I'm not at Mount Carmel…
I'm thankful that I chose this career path or I would have been
a recluse. It pushes me to socialise, to be sociable. (I've also
worked in 22 countries.) People have this misconception of me, they
see confidence, I've even been referred to as being cocky. In my
opinion I'm like a swan: peaceful on the surface and paddling like
mad under the water.
I left home at 15 to dance in the streets of London, literally.
I'm completely self taught. I'd love to do robotics again someday
somewhere.
I paid Take That their first ever wage, I've danced for the British
Royal family. Something I'm proud of is that over Christmas I played
at the BBC Eastender's cast party and have been asked to go back
next year. I used to play at the Ministry of Sound in London, and
they had remembered me from there. I was shaking so much I couldn't
put the needle on the records!
Thursday
Meeting with Keith Marshall and Franco Fenech from the New Dolmen
hotel, about the new club they'll be opening at the lido in June.
I am going to be entertainment manager and I'm looking forward to
it! We will have top artists appearing and we're planning a lot
of special things. Things are being done professionally, we're very
serious about doing it right. There'll be something for everyone,
all age groups and only the top DJs will play there.
You're always in a meeting, setting something that's happening in
six month's time.
Off to the gym. Richard Geres helps train me, he's very professional.
I do separate body parts on each day. In winter I concentrate on
putting on mass and cut in summer. Because I'm serious about training
I'm a nightmare to cook for. I don't know how Michelle puts up with
me. If I could shred the food and drink it it'd be better, I'd take
in three times more! I love cooking. My pasta sauces are always
a little bit different. I use ginger instead of sugar, soya sauce
instead of wine, just to see what'll develop. When I do go out to
eat, my favourite restaurants are Bouzouki, Sumatra and the Blue
Elephant.
Friday
Simply radio during the daytime, went home, ate dinner, got showered
and dressed and off to Insomnia in Paceville till 2am. Got a lift
home.
Saturday
Slept in after having a late night yesterday. Showered and prepared
the show and a party later that day, two completely different sets
of music. I play regularly at Tattingers for Bolts Promotions which
is a trance party, and at Pushka with DJ Ruby. I tried to spend
time with Michelle in the afternoon after the show.
Went hunting for records from Conrad Heal, a DJs only vinyl shop.
I love listening to music, it's like the blood that pumps through
my veins, and play something completely opposite to what I've been
playing at work.
I'm not materialistic, I can't remember the last time I bought clothes.
If it weren't for Michelle I'd be running around in shorts and a
vest. She's an angel – she bought these clothes for me, Versace
top and jeans. I wear Ben Sherman shoes too. I like the feel of
quality clothes. I like nice things but you can only afford them
at one time in your life.
All my money goes on music. I have 7,000 records and 3,000 CDs,
more in the UK. I can seriously say that I love all music. My favourite
classical stuff is Carmina Burana by Karl Orf. But I don't like
techno, I don't find heart and soul in it, it's industrial factory
rubbish.
Sunday
Sunday afternoon show from two till six. The music never stops,
only when I train. Music is my mistress. Michelle worships music
too, as does Chelsea. I often get an SMS saying that Chelsea was
dancing on the bed and whoops, has just fallen off!
As for hobbies, I don't go around doing satanic rituals, nothing
untoward. I have been known to read. I've just been reading Neitzche,
he's clever.
I'm half way through writing a book. I've got 50,000 words down.
It's called ‘So You Want To Be A DJ'. Each chapter deals with
a country, and it's semi-autobiographical aout my adventures with
friends. Could be happy, sad or dangerous, like the time we robbed
a supermarket because I made friends with some crazy Tunisians!
I make a load of rough notes, then more refined notes, and finally
put it down on computer.
I always wake up at 3am with an idea and I've gotta get it down
on paper. I get angry that I can't sleep well.
I do daydream but like to make my dreams a reality. Malta's a great
country for making opportunities happen, in England it's who you
know. My message to anyone is ‘dare to believe'. Why not?
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