For those who don’t know you how would introduce yourself?
Sound as a pound, enthusiastic, clever and a very musically minded person who knows how to work a crowd!

Its pretty fair to say you’ve been a busy guy over the last year or so, How are you finding living the life of a DJ?
Yeh this years been another mad one and I’m Loving it to be honest, I’m kinda used to it now, been a full-time Dj for around 3 years now, and traveled all over with it. I believe I was born to do this so I just soak it all in and buzz of it. Getting recognized all over and people appreciating what you do is a nice thing too.

So how did it all begin for you? Right place right time, hard work or a sprinkle of luck?
Hard work and positive thinking, I don’t believe in luck, you make your own destiny. If you’ve ever read “The Secret” you’ll know what I mean. I started Djing at 12 and was tipped to be a professional boxer but ever since I was a kid I’ve envisaged being at the top of the DJ world and believed in it, then made it happen, It’s the “Laws of attraction”. I’ve done everything possible to make it work, sacrificed things, moved house, gave up jobs, you name it. I’m a good peoples person too which helps, as people help you. I’ve had a lot of faith from people who’ve believed in me from the beginning like Salvador at 4clubbers, Rob & Tolley at Kissdafunk, Nick Ferguson, and all the local Leeds crew so theres lots of influential people who you need to help you along your way but that’s life, it’s a journey, just be very thankful of these people, and believe in what your doing! I’m still a long way off my dream tho.

If you weren’t a DJ what do you think you’d be doing? Any chance of picking up the boxing gloves once again?
Probably locked-up by now haha, I wasn’t the most well behaved teenager but music took me away from that and gave me something to focus on, as far as the boxing goes I couldn’t handle 3 rounds these days I’m well unfit!

And how would you describe the style of music you play?
Within a 2 hour set my sound really crosses genres, from house right through to banging techno, if it’s a good tune I’l play it. I’m lucky that I get to play a variety of big nights where each one expects a slightly different sound from me. Its took me a long time to get promoters to know I’m versatile and I’l turn up and rock a venue to suit there needs, one week I could be doing a laidback warm-up set for Kissdafunk, the next headlining a main room with some more underground tunes, it’s 2009 and you got to be versatile to keep up with times and keep busy. Don’t pigeon hole your self.

You’ve graced the ones & two’s alongside some of the biggest names in the business at some of the world’s biggest and best clubs, but which one’s really stand out for you?
Wow… I have to pinch myself at some of the experiences I’ve had, getting flown somewhere to play is an amazing feeling you think “this is mad!” but my all time fave gigs are:

1. Tiesto Live @ Privilege, Ibiza (11/08/08)
2. Cream @ Amnesia, Ibiza (07/07/06)
3. Kissdafunk with Eric Morillo @ O2 Academy, Leeds (25/09/09)
4. Kissdafunk @ El Divino, Ibiza (17/07/07)
5. Gatecrasher with Roger Sanchez, Leeds (01/08/09)
6. Filth @ Mint Club, Leeds (12/09/09)

Both times I’ve played the Ibiza superclubs I’ve took about 50 mates with me, last year was mad! All my friends and family came out, 2 years before that I played the terrace at Amnesia and my family came out to surprise me. Watchin Paul Van Dyk pull up in a limo and shake his hand I’l never forget, I was only 19 then, quiet surreal! We ended up after partying at some Villa with the Shapeshifters who’d just charted with “back to basics” I felt like the luckiest kid on earth!

And what do you think of the current state of the UK club scene?:
Gradually picking up again thank fuck! The credit crunch hit the club scene hard, I lost my club-night Electro-Lick due to it. I was resident at Mission in Leeds during it and it was like a ghost town. I thought the best club in the North had had its day at one point but everywhere was the same. People opted for coffee table parties but there back out in force now. I think people sniffin Ket and turning into propa mongs killed it just as much as the credit crunch tho but that’s a different story!

Without being too biased, seeing as your a Leeds lad through and through, which cities in the UK do you think are really rocking at the moment?
Leeds is ace and has everything to offer but theres a lot of people stuck in there ways and very close minded that go to the same nights week in week out and listen to the same electro tunes from last year. Were seeing Massive names like Dubfire not filling venues what the fucks that all about? Maybe we’re a victim of our own success? House nights like Bitch, Filth and Kissdafunk are keeping things real and leading the way tho. Without a doubt the accolade goes to Manchester at the minute, wank football team but Sankeys and the Warehouse Project are smashing it with stella line-ups week in week out, consistency is the key down at Sankeys and it’s a formula that’s proven! Fridays at Club V look promising too! Oh yeh and Liverpool with the line-ups at Nation…. There just mental, awesome club too!

And that lead’s nicely on to my next question……who’s throwing the best parties at the moment?
Dya know what I’ve actually gotta be careful about what I say here with all the politics and some brands saying your promoting some nights more than others, when you play every week ya cant keep up with it, give a DJ a break its hard trying to keep everyone happy! We don’t wanna change our soddin profile pics to the flyer! haha But fuck it I’m an honest man so I’m gonna be honest here, Kissdafunk nights are amazing, its been the biggest brand to come out of Leeds and when you see the atmosphere at there events with Morillo and Guetta its obvious why! As far as events “going off” Filth are smashing it, The Mint Club is amazing and the crowd just go nuts, one of my favourite sets in Leeds this year by far!

I hear your spending more time in the studio producing your own tracks and re-mixing others. Hows that all going?
Yeh its going amazing, I went to uni to do music tech so its been a natural progression but im working with some amazing people right now, Mark Maitland is a genius and il be in with him again real soon. My remix of Oxia – Domino has been getting support from everyone from Dirty South to Paul Thomas and gets a massive reaction every-time. I’m in the studio again soon working on another big remix. It helps cos a DJ’s a more likely to play it so its instant exposure, I’ve also been pestering some big producers like Sultan & Ned Shepard if I can remix some stuff for them which is looking good so onwards and upwards.

What does your studio set up consist of?
Ha I’l have the burglars round if im not careful here! A Mac, Logic 8, Ableton, Sylenth, few other synths, Keyboard, Mackie Monitors, that’s all you need really!

Is it true that even though you play off CD’s you dont any CDJ’s??
Pioneer…..if your listening, sort this man out!!!
Yep partly because I’ve still got my vinyl set-up and get to use them in clubs every week! I can use the pioneer 800 mixer better than most and I know the Pioneer EFX inside out too. This comes with visualizing the flow of the mechanics and understanding the process it goes through… bit geeky really! I’m currently on the lookout for some neww CDJ 2000′s.

So when you play is your set pre-planned or do you just go with the vibe?
I’ve got a general idea of where its going before I play as each gig is different, so I try to get a flow going and get some tracks together to suit the night, ya know get stuff in key ect. I also edit a lot of my stuff to make it unique, this really does help me to stand out and smash the place to bits each and every time. I think my ability to read a crowd is something that’s never let me down and my use of technology too.

If the chips are down and the crowd’s not dancing, every DJ has a tune that is their ace up the sleeve to get things going. What’s yours?:
Sultan and Ned Shepard – Block Party (This tunes got everything, skippy drums, the bounce, the soul and the biggest sax in years!)

As 2009 is coming to an end, and NYE is fast approaching whats been the highlight so far?
Flying to Majorca and playing for Kissdafunk, Warming up for Morillo and playing after Roger Sanchez @ Crasher.

And what gigs have you got coming up that your looking forward to?
Bitch this Saturday @ Mission and the United Nights Charitybash at Kerbcrawler on the 18th

If you looked into the crystal ball, what’s in store for Luke Pompey in 2010?
Carry on where I’m at in 2009 I suppose, I’m currently in talks with one of the best PR’s in the business whos gonna be looking a pushing me to the next level which im buzzing about, apart from that generally just more gigs for Kissdafunk, Bitch, Knowhere, Habit and Housjunki and top of the list hit the studio hard!

Right then Luke, get yourself geared up for the quick fire round:

Best venue:
Space – Ibiza

Favourite crowd:
Kissdafunk (Some ryt fanny!)

CDJ’s or turntables:
CDj’s

Ableton or Cuebase:
Logic

Boxing or Dj’ing:
Djing

Favourite tune at the moment:
Inpetto – Catwalk (Original Mix)

Top five tunes of all time (any genre):
1.Bob Marley – Could you be loved?
2.Marc Romboy – Model 1610
3.John Tejada – End of it all
4.Ida Engberg- Disco Volante (Sebastien Leger mix)
5.Ratatat – Wildcat

Who’s harder, Mr T or Kimbo Slice:
Me mah would smash them both with her rollin pin!

A phrase you use too often:
Yep Sound! Cushty!

And finally, what advice would you give to any young and upcoming DJs/producers?
Go out and buy “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne, Then ask yourself the question is making it happen a reality, if the answers yes then be prepared to work your arse off, eat sleep and breath it! Go out get off you nut with all the right people, be right with everyone, and above all Be yourself and believe in what your doing, don’t follow the crowd, do your thing!

Luke, its been a pleasure. All the best for the future bro.
Cheers mate my pleasure, checkout my myspace/lukepompey and people get in touch for bookings, remix work or any questions you may have )

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