Who's the Connoisseur? - Junior.J vs Doc

If you've been down to Velvet Underground on a Friday night, you'll know all about their soon-to-be-legendary night "Connoisseur". We sat down with the two DJs responsible for this epic party, Junior.J and Doc to find out more...

The best thing about Dubai's club scene is…

Junior.J: "That it's growing daily! It never stops! There is somewhere to party every night of the week, it's a dream city for a DJ or Promoter and I happen to be both, talk about double the fun! I'm very flattered that my Connoisseur event is involved with one of the newest venues in Dubai, Velvet Underground. That venue and our event has us as the centre of attention for RnB and HipHop parties in the city at the moment. It's very humbling!"

Doc: "The love for music here is insane! Connoisseur at Velvet Underground showed me that HipHop and RnB is close to the hearts of the Dubai clubbers.”

My favourite night out in the week is...

Junior.J: "Connoisseur every Friday at Velvet Underground. I have to pick my own night as my favourite right? Or I'm doing something wrong somewhere. We play non-stop RnB and HipHop music all night, which I love, as HipHop is in my DNA! We book Dubai's best DJs and the world’s best acts to entertain the masses. For these reasons, Connoisseur is 100% my favourite night out in the week!"

Doc: "Hmmm… Let me think.... Fridays?????? An Event Called Connoisseur over at Velvet Underground has had me bobbin' my head and moving my feet... You Should try it... (if you haven't already)."

DJing in Dubai can be...

Junior.J: "Very tiring hahaha... As I said before, the nightlife in Dubai doesn't stop! Good DJs can find themselves working 7 nights a week here. It's nothing to complain about though, being paid to do what you love is a great position to be in!"

Doc: "Immense! The atmosphere, the amount of different dancing cultures and most of all the response to music. At the end of the night, when you see smiling faces, you know you've had a good night."

The best international DJ I've seen was...

Junior.J: "Jazzy Jeff. The guy is a musical oracle, technical genius and music production wizard. What else is there to say?”

Doc: "Even Though it's not my preferred style of music, David Guetta, wow."

The worst request I've been asked for was...

Junior.J: "Probably Celine Dion. Now that woman can sing... BUT... In a club? Full of RnB and HipHop fans? REALLY? Imagine the reaction to the Titanic theme song!? Hahaha…"

Doc: "Cher - Believe. I thought it was a joke, then the straight faced lady said.... "So... when are you going to play it?".... I had around 500 lads and lasses dancing to Old Skool RnB and HipHop, I really honestly didn't know what to say."

Who's the best selector and who's technically the best DJ?...

Junior.J: "On a selector level I have to say either Jazzy Jeff or Kenny Dope from Masters At Work, their HipHop/BrokenBeat/Soul/Funk/Disco sets are unreal! On a technical level I'll say my top guy is DMC legend Q-Bert."

Doc: "Well, we have similar tastes in music selection as we do for food. WE LOVE HUMMUS!"

If it came down to a head-to-head battle, which of you would win and why?...

Junior.J: "Well The Hott2Deff Squad is a UK DJ collective consisting of 10 DJs and MCs. We all have our own style, personality and we all shine in our own right. So far Dubai, Velvet Underground and our Connoisseur event is home to myself and Doc from the Hott2Deff camp. I can't see myself and Doc battling it out, unless it's over the last Haribo sweet in the bag! Then I would 100% win! No Question! Hahaha…"

Doc: "This is a collective and we're like butter and bread. They just work together perfectly right? Connoisseur at Velvet Underground, this Friday featuring Dubai's Ant and Dec! Hahaha… However, if it's a Head-to-Head for the last bite of Pitta and last dip of Hummus... I would win FACT."

Are there any areas where your music tastes differ?

Junior.J: "I'd say the biggest difference between myself and Doc in musical taste stems from our slight age gap more than anything. There is a big place in my heart for Neo-Soul, Backpack-Rap and in the UK I'm known for my love of Funk, Soul and Rare Groove because I include those genres in my sets."

Doc: "With myself and Junior.J, team work is mad and motivation hits peak for me when we work together and apart, we still have explosive mentalities, with slightly different musical backgrounds. My love for live remix-ing with acapellas and instrumentals has been concentrated on from when I first started DJing, sampling, mixing and what i'd call 'Beat Messin'."

Dubai's clubbers are...

Junior.J: "Professionals! Hahaha... I mean that! Dubai party people are PROFESSIONALS! If you come to Velvet Underground especially, expect your party stamina to be pushed to it's limits!"

Doc: "Connoisseur at Velvet Underground This Friday... and Every FRIDAY :D."

My favourite local DJs are...


Junior.J: "Of course my DJ partner Doc is my No.1, he's new to Dubai but the main resident DJ alongside myself for Connoisseur at Velvet Underground. Then I have to say Emtee Pockets, Rone Jaxx, Shero, Bliss and Shef Codes are all mad talented guys and I love listening to them play!"

Doc: "Well I have to salute the man himself Junior.J (Hott2Deff - Connoisseur at Velvet Underground this Friday) who's ability to adapt is unreal. Along with Rone Jaxx, Emtee, Shef Codes, Jose Ibora who also have had my feet moving and now owe me a few pairs of shoes!"

My tip to aspiring DJs is...

Junior.J: "It depends what kind of DJ the individual is aspiring to be but I personally feel the most important skills for an aspiring DJ to learn would be to have a knowledge of all types of music, to be able to understand people/crowds and to be ready to not be in bed before 5am for the rest of the career!"

Doc: "Don't follow a trend, set one. Be unique, understand the people."

Next weekend you can find me playing...

Doc and Junior.J: "Connoisseur at Velvet Underground, Royal Ascot Hotel, Bur Dubai. This Friday, the Friday after, the Friday after that - every Friday!”