From the island of Puerto Rico to the hearts of thousands around the world through the turntables Carlos Sosa (DJ Sneak) is one of the most popular house music DJ’s at the moment. His blend of variation, tweaked house, excessive mind altering loops and a positive enthusiasm for the global scene has DJ Sneak at the forefront of house. In anticipation of his upcoming ‘Housekeepin’ album release RA went indepth with Chicago resident DJ Sneak.

Dj’s talk about variation in their sets, but fail to actually deliver the promised surprises and twist and turns. I’ve seen you live a few times, enjoyed some of your sets on the web and I still find myself asking where you get off making such a vast array of sounds work together. Care to enlighten me?
Sure, I’m a real creative person, from art to music, I love to tell a story with every set I do, it would be boring if you heard the DJ play and they always play the same set. I love to give people what they want and add on to it for a perfect sound + beats salad…

‘Fix My Sink’ wasn’t something that got me dancing half as much as some of your other material. Were you surprised by its success? And as it is no doubt your biggest selling record, do you think it is your best work?
I really believe that fix my sink is a great record, it was kind of rushed and the word and hype got out before we could really take it to another level, but overall I still love this record. People need to know that with my new LP I’m trying to reach out to the rest of the world not just the people that have bought my previous records. I’m still a DJ and as a DJ I always make records like I play records, I will always deliver good club records too for dj’s so don’t worry too much. The biggest selling record hasn’t come out yet!!!!

You have a regular ‘Sneak Beats’ party at the End in London that I have enjoyed on more than one occasion. What can those braving the upcoming English winter expect from your next London gig?
Well we’re going to do the album release Party is next SEP 17th @ Cargo for reasons I can’t go into at this time but SNEAK BEATS will be coming strong this year with more of FEEL GOOD parties with no gimmicks or fake glitter, just some real house beats to dance to. I still enjoy doing things at the end and we’re just negotiating next year’s events.

In your description for your upcoming release ‘Housekeepin’ you say “I wasn’t just making an album for DJ’s”. Do you normally focus on making an album that will be enjoyed and respected by your fellow turntabilists or house music punters around the world?
I believe there are a few singles for everyone in this Album, radio tunes, DJ tunes, girlie tunes, you name it! I don’t want to feel limited to what I can produce. I’m very happy with the outcome. I believe everyone will too…

Blackpool, where the album is recorded is a far cry from anything that my mind conjures up when I listen to your music. Was it an ideal place to make a record of this nature, or would you choose somewhere warmer and sandier next time?
Blackpool’s a very special place, cold, grimmey, shady, it has character!!! This is why it’s was so good working there… The real reason I decided to work in B-pool is cause of Mark “Blakkat” Bell, He’s an amazing studio person, all in one type of superman, he’s the reason these songs sound and feel so good. I learned so much from him and his mates, I feel lucky to have worked with such a professional but down to earth mo’ FO!

Your voice can be heard all over the upcoming album. Have you always enjoyed singing/rapping (or story telling as you put it)? Did you have to put it through many effects units, or is it Sneaks voice pure and raw?
I was very intimidated by the mic but it’s in me, I’m not a rapper nor singer but I can sure tell a story. People have been listening and now they are hearing me tell tales of this crazy life and industry. I wrote tons for this album, it really felt liberating and I became so excited to try anything with such a great canvas to express myself.

Some DJs concentrate on keeping the dancefloor, others prefer to take on the role of an educator. Then there are those who are more ‘the entertainer’. There are hundreds or thousands of good DJs out there but only a handful of truly great ones. What do you think makes a great DJ?
A great DJ is all of these in one, you can be an educator while keeping the dance floor and having a good time, looking and feeling good about what you’re doing and that’s entertaining to everyone.

There are too many “fakes and phonies” out there, that’s the way it is but the great ones always stand out. What people need to understand that we are all the same and we are very lucky to be doing what we’re doing, ultimately we are all playing records!

What do you think of the new DJ/Visual gear that combines the lights, lasers and VJ effects to suit the music as your playing?
I think is great when the person doing it really know what they’re doing, they enjoy it as much as we’re enjoying playing the tunes. The technology has become very real; these are great times we’re living in.

What was it like playing on the harbour at Mobile Home over New Years Eve and seeing the abundance of Fireworks just above your head?
It was incredible, I highly recommend going to Sydney for the fireworks and for the good party people too, it was a blast!

Tiesto recently played at the Olympic Opening Ceremony, is this the ‘pinnacle’ that someone in your chosen profession can reach?
This is showing the world that we are totally legit now, even rock and roll people want to be DJS… I’d rather seen Derrick Carter do it, but it’s still an amazing accomplishment for all DJS.