Interview with the Plastic Fantastic crew: Mark & Caterina

This week the MyCityBynight crew was able to catch up with the organisers of Chevelle’s Friday night Plastic Fantastic party- the utterly delectable Queen of Clubs Caterina Toffoli and the not so bad looking King of Techno Mark Valsecchi aka “LilPhil”

MCB: All of this talk about royalty has got us wondering… Any chance of us getting knighted in your kingdom? We’ve told ourselves that we’re quite funny, so we’d even consider a job as court jester if there’s one available.

C: Haha! Well we’re looking for a Ginger Knight & an Apache Jester, so I think you guys have got it sorted!

MCB: Plastic Fantastic started around 6 months ago at Chevelle and we’ve seen it grow to become somewhat of an institution for Friday night partying in Cape Town. Has it been a difficult road for you guys thus far?

C: Its been difficult at times because there is so much competition in the CT party scene, but mostly its been a lot of fun… It can be challenging thinking up new & awesome parties for you guys every week- but I think we’re doing ok

M: The party scene is always in a state of change, so you have to be quick to adapt to the latest trends or else you’ll miss the bar…

MCB: We’ve heard everything from dnb and electro to indie/nu rave at Plastic Fantastic… Do you guys ever sit back and think “crap, this dj/style of music might not work”?

C: Mmmm… You never know what the crowd is going to like, so we try to mix it up a bit. Some stuff has worked, other stuff has been an epic fail!

M: I think we’ve realised in time that it’s best to stick to what works – Banging techno downstairs & Commercial/indie electro upstairs.

MCB: At MCB we like to dress up- and not necessarily even in women’s clothing either… Your themed dress up parties rock- Anything exciting we can look forward to in the near future?

C: Oh my word, we’re so excited for the Summer Season! We have some awesome stuff lined up for you crazy costume kids – including 80s Sports Day, Dirty Cowboys & Naughty Indians, Freaky Sexy Friday the 13th, and lots more!

M: This Friday is Halloween, so you guys better get dressed up, cos its free entry if you’re in costume!

MCB: You guys are an item in relationship terms as well- What’s it like working with your significant other? Careful how you answer this Mark, we will not be held responsible for any time spent sleeping on the couch

C: We work very well together, we just try to not get in each other’s hair & respect each others space. Otherwise it’s actually been so much fun hey, its awesome doing something you love, with the person you love!

M: Caterina actually does all the work, I’m just the pretty face behind the DJ box! Haha

MCB: During your time as club promoters, or party enablers as we like to call them, what is the strangest thing you’ve seen?

C: Hahaha, the best was at our Vegas Wedding party, when I was wearing a veil & telling people it was my bachelorette party, this one girl kept trying to make me hook up with her boyfriend saying ‘its your last chance before you’re a married woman!’ It was soooo freaky!

M: We’ve seen a couple of naughty things happen in the hidden corners of Chevelle but that’s for us to know!

MCB: With all the talk and buzz around global warming, ever consider changing the night’s name to something else like Hemp Fantastic instead? I guess it doesn’t have quite the same ring to it as Plastic Fantastic and you might run the risk of attracting a band of travelling gypsies and hippies to your party

C: Hahaha!! Ya I realised as we named the party, that it probably wasn’t very PC in this age of sustainable energy… I think it would have to be ‘Hempastic Fantastic’, we could make it an outdoor trance party! hehe

MCB: We have seen Mark’s skill behind the decks, now the big question is Caterina, when are we going to see you throwing down some Tech styles for us!

C: I’ve actually always wanted to DJ, even before I met Mark – it just looks like so much fun! Mark doesn’t want me to DJ though, cos he knows I’ll be an amazing superstar DJ overnight & I’ll steal all his gigs hehe.

I’m also seriously looking at VJing, cos I’m really more interested in the visual side of DJing.

M: You wish! Haha…

MCB: That leads us to the next question, Mark, you are involved in a music production school, can you tell us more about this? Are we going to be expecting any releases from LilPhil in the near future?

M: The school is called AVTI, it’s situated above Chevelle, but the entrance is on 87 Commercial street. It’s a collaboration with Ryan Murgatroyd, and we teach music production & DJing. For more info, the website is www.avti.co.za.

In terms of new releases, I’ve just set up my new studio, and I’m working really hard, should have my next release out soon!

MCB: So you guys have had the legendary Anthea, El Gordo, Dean Fuel and Nesono (this Friday), any way you guys could give us the chance of hearing a group we really like to play at a Plastic Fantastic next year. I don’t know if you have heard about them… They’re called Daft Punk?

M: Wow, that would be amazing hey! We’ll have to see how far sponsorship budgets go…

MCB: Which amazing acts do you have lined up for us this season?

C: Wow, next Friday we have a StephG Fashion Show featuring pop/hip-hop sensation, Locnville & indie rock band Reburn. In the next two months you can be sure to see Grave Danger, Chris Jack, Gravity South, 20ft Stereo, Paul Sprecher, Craig Shacid & more!

MCB: Then finally Bovril or Marmite?

C: Marmite all the way! We’re trying not to support the meat industry as our little bit towards helping the environment…

M: I’ll have to agree, Marmite wins!

Get yourself down to Chevelle on a Friday, you wont be disappointed!

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