Mousse T was born Mustafa Gündoğdu on October 2, 1966, in Hagen, Germany. The DJ and record producer is predominately known in Australia for his 1998 hit ‘Horny’. He has collaborated in the past with other big names such as Tom Jones on ‘Sex Bomb’, The Dandy Warhols with ‘Horny as a Dandy’, Emma Langford with two of my favourite tracks, ‘Right About Now’ and ‘Is It Cos I’m Cool’, and most recently with Tarkan on the hit ‘Start the Fire’.

One of the first producers of house music in Germany, alongside contemporary artists like Ian Pooley and DJ Tonka, Mousse T began his career in 1990 as the keyboard player for a band known as Fun Key B. During this period Mousse T also set up his own recording studio and began DJing in the city of Hannover. Besides working on his own productions, Mousse T also wrote and produced tracks for other artists.

In 1993 he founded Peppermint Jam Records, a label specialising in uplifting house music and melodic acid jazz. His 1998 production ‘Horny’ (featuring Hot ‘n’ Juicy, and the chorus sung by Inaya Day) reached the top 20 in the Australian charts, and also hit the charts in the UK and USA. In 2004 Mousse T once again entered the singles charts with his song ‘Is It ‘Cos I’m Cool?’, which was featured on his second album (released in 2004), ‘All Nite Madness’.

2006 saw Mousse T release the mash-up ‘Horny As A Dandy’, which fused the vocals of ‘Horny’ and the music of ‘Bohemian Like You’ by the Dandy Warhols. He has just finished a remake of the Boney M classic ‘Sunny’ and is currently working on remixes for international artists such as Bob Sinclar and Martin Solveig.

But, who is the person behind these productions that consistently finds their way into the music charts? Mousse T describes his success succinctly; “I am a music lover with humour, who gives more than 100% for his love.” I caught up with Mousse T to find out what he is looking forward to the most once he arrives in Australia this month.

ITM: The first question I have to ask, and the question that everyone wants to know the answer to I’m sure… What were you doing at the time when you were inspired to write the track ‘Horny’?

MT: I know what you want me to say, but the truth is that ‘Horny’ came about by accident. I was working on a remix of Michael Jackson’s ‘Ghost’ and decided to make one more dub mix of it. I put in a few horn steps and some other beats, but by that time it was 6am so I left it and went to bed. I listened to it the next day, and then a couple of weeks later, and I thought, ‘hey, this is pretty cool’. So I released the track, just as instrumental, and when that went ok I decided to add some lyrics, and that’s how it was born! So the track name isn’t really about anything sexual at all, ‘Horny’ was titled from the horn steps that I put into the song!

ITM: Everyone knows ‘Horny’, however a lot of Australians will be surprised that you worked on ‘Right About Now’ and ‘Is It Cos I’m Cool’, purely because the perception here is often to judge a DJ based on their first major piece of work. How do you change the public perception of your work?

MT: It’s a pretty heavy task, as most artists are always judged on their first major record. One thing I always keep mindful of is not to repeat myself. After the success of ‘Horny’, the record company said ‘ok, its time for you to make Horny Number 2’, but I told them that I just wasn’t going to do it. A year later I created ‘Sex Bomb’ with Tom Jones and discovered that I like other stuff as well, other than just house music. These days I try to jump back and forth between house and pop as much as possible.

ITM: You have a pretty busy tour schedule once you touch down in Australia, including NYE at Tank and NYD at Sounds in Sydney, Summadayze in Melbourne and Perth, and Summadieldayze on the Gold Coast. It’s your first time here since 2003, so have you scheduled any recreational time for sightseeing whilst here in Australia?

MT: Yes, it’s only my second time in Australia, and back in 2003 I was only there for 4 days and had a pretty hectic schedule. This time I have 4 free days after New Years Day to look around and take in the sights and sounds of the country. I’m really looking forward to it.

ITM: Whilst in Australia, what event are you looking forward to the most? The music festivals, NYE or NYD?

MT: Tough question, I guess that I am looking forward to everything, however the music festivals will be good as it will give me a chance to hang out with friends that I haven’t seen in a while, and just chill and relax and listen to some other artists.

ITM: What future releases do we have to look forward to in 2007, and will you be revealing any new surprises at any of the events your playing at whilst here?

MT: Definitely. I think I am going to surprise and shock some people with some of the secret weapons I’m bringing along with me. My focus will be to go back to the underground style, like I am at the moment with mixing Martin Solveig’s new album.

ITM: 2006 was a big year for you with the celebration of your 40th birthday. Where do you go from here? Are you slowing down, or is this just the beginning of a new and exciting chapter?

MT: I don’t want to slow down, and my body shows no sign of it yet. I was a little scared when I had my first child 2 years ago that it would make me different and that I would start writing children’s songs or something. But it’s to the contrary, and I have been mind-blowingly busy concentrating on more production.

ITM: On another matter, they say that Australian women are some of the most beautiful in the world. Where would you take an Australian woman in Germany, should you meet one whilst here in Australia?

MT: Well, Germany is a really lovely country. I guess the two obvious spots I would take them are Hamburg and Berlin. Hamburg is really beautiful with a big sea right in the middle of the city, and Berlin seems to be becoming one of the fastest rising ‘cool’ destinations in the world right now.

ITM: You have worked with some pretty big names over the years like Bob Sinclar, Martin Solveig and Tom Jones, just to name a few. Has there been anyone you met where you just became star struck?”

MT: I guess when I was younger in my career working with the likes of Inner Circle and Bootsy Collins, that I felt a little intimidated sometimes, but I just think ‘hey, maybe they are intimidated by me too!’ It was quite cool hanging with Tom Jones and going and having a few beers. He is a really cool guy and has some great stories that he tells from when he used to tour with artists like Elvis Presley.

Mousse T tours Australia over the NYE/NYD period:

Dec 31 – Sydney, Tank
Jan 1 – Sydney, Sounds on NYD
Jan 1 – Melbourne, Summadayze
Jan 6 – Gold Coast, Summafieldayze
Jan 7 – Perth, Summadayze