24.02.16
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Avoiding crisps, adjusting his sleeping pattern and timing his toilet breaks – DJ EZ limbers up

Starting this Saturday night, DJ EZ will be attempting to achieve a feat that would be impossible for most: a 24-hour DJ set. Throughout the live-streamed set, EZ will use his iconic quick-mixing skills to raise money for a very worthy cause: to help cancer charity Cancer Research UK.

We caught up with the garage legend as he prepares for his most hardcore set yet. With a little bit of luck he’ll make it through the night…

Firstly, how did this idea come about, and what inspired you to work with Cancer Research UK?
I wanted to achieve something out of the ordinary which is why I came up with the idea of a 24-hour, non-stop, live stream DJ set. While I know it’s going to be a big challenge, I hope the event will inspire others also to do something unique and raise large sums of money for important charities.

Cancer Research UK relies completely on the support and donations from the public, and millions of lives have already been saved thanks to their amazing work. We all know someone who’s been affected by cancer in some way or another, and I’m extremely passionate about playing my part in the fight to beat all 200 cancers sooner.

How will you mentally and physically prepare for the 24-hour set?
I’ve already started to prepare for my 24-hour set and will continue to do so right up until this Saturday 27 February. My sleeping patterns have had to change to prepare me mentally, and I’m coping well with a strict physical regime. I am also watching what I eat, which isn’t too difficult as I try to eat healthily anyway, so I’m just having to stop myself from eating the occasional bag of crisps.

Have you got a rough estimate of how many records you’ll need?
Not really. I’m trying not to plan too far ahead and prefer just to go with the flow on the big day to make it more exciting for both me and my audience. However, I can tell you that I will be using vinyl and CDJs, and I’m sure that I’ll have enough tracks in my huge collection to get me through the full 24-hours.

Will you be able to take any breaks during the set?
Yes, very quick ones! During my previous 8 and 10 hour sets, I have been able to play right through without ever needing to take a toilet break. However, my bladder is not going to hold out for the full 24-hours, and I am going to need to take the occasional trip to the men’s room. Although it may sound a little weird, I’ve timed how long it takes me to have a quick pee so I can judge if I have enough minutes left on a track before making a run for the toilet. Oh, and by the way, timing myself in the gent’s is also a new experience for me before you ask – ha-ha!

And finally, you’re already known for performing particularly long sets. Is there something about the energy of garage music that keeps you going?
Garage and bass music has a faster tempo which is a factor with the energy in my sets, but I mainly feed off the energy from the crowd. Of course, the music keeps me pumped too, but there is no better buzz than that of a room full of people who totally respect and embrace what you do. My team will be updating Twitter and Facebook on my behalf during the set, and I hope my supporters enjoy reading while watching me in action.

Make a donation to Cancer Research UK during DJ EZ’s set via Just Giving or by texting DJEZ77 £ with your amount to 70070