Paris-based DJ spins his retro groove all night long

From the time Dimitri From Paris officially debuted at Club M2 in 2005, Korean fans were hooked. After two indifferent seasons of club music in Seoul, they have developed a yearning to taste his sophisticated French house music again.
Tomorrow night, the Turkish-born DJ based in Paris returns to Seoul for the fourth time. He couldn’t ask for a better venue than the Woobar of the W Seoul Hotel, eastern Seoul. In June 2006, Monsieur Dimitri’s visit to Korea marked the launch of his mega-hit “Playboy Mansion” album compilation, but this time he’s making a one-day stop-over, after a Jan. 16 gig at Club Yellow in Tokyo.
His rise to international fame began with a 1996 debut album, “Sacrebleu” by Yellow Productions. His subsequent 1997 album, “Monsieur Dimitri’s De-Luxe House of Funk,” only confirmed his celebrity status. Today he is a globe-trotting DJ and remixer, whose trademark cool retro grooves and contemporary house beats provide the perfect soundtrack for mega fashion shows and uber-cool parties around the world.
The live performance in Seoul, titled “A Night with Exclusive Long Set ― Dimitri From Paris” is part of the “Orbit” party series organized by Riskei, the city’s leading party planner. According to the organizer, instead of the usual two-hour set performed by global artists, the event offers full-on Dimitri for four straight hours until closing at 4 a.m. Monsieur Dimitri will be joined by two Korean DJs, Conan and Decode, aka Oriental Funk Stew, whose album is currently topping charts on Juno Records’ Web site (www.juno.co.uk).
The party will also offer a visual surprise. The spacious Woobar will be decorated with art by Choi Jeong-hwa, previously shown at the Seoul’s Ilmin Museum of Art last fall. Often dubbed the “pioneer of Korean kitsch,” Mr. Choi is best-known for blurring the definitions of high and low art, as well as converting products for the masses into artwork for the few. At Ilmin’s 2006 exhibition, “Believe It Or Not,” Mr. Choi showed a large-scale installation, with baskets piled like mountains and a plaster figure of Venus.

“A Night with Dimitri From Paris” is from 10:30 p.m to 4 a.m. the next day. Admission is 40,000 won ($37) with one free drink. Advanced tickets at www.interpark.com cost 30,000 won with one free drink. For inquiries, visit www.riskei.co.kr.

By Ines Cho Staff Writer inescho@joongang.co.kr