WHO Steve Smith seems to have the best of both worlds. Along with DJing, the former front man for electronic group Dirty Vegas now performs under his own name with an indie band in tow. Getting his start with bands playing in London clubs in the early ‘90s and reaching such heights as opening for Paul Weller in 1997, Smith later joined British DJ Paul Harris and Ben Harris (no relation) to form Dirty Vegas in 2001. The group’s first single “Days Go By” hit No. 1 on the US dance charts and won them a Grammy in 2003 for Best Dance Recording. They went on to release two albums and score a Mitsubishi television commercial. Along with spinning these days, Smith is promoting his debut solo album This Town on his own label GAS Records (named after his late father, George Albert Smith). Like his mash-up DJ sets, the album brings together rock and electronica through his songwriting craft. It would be a treat, then, to hear him get on the mic during this weekend’s set.

WHAT “When I spin at clubs I play house, electro and mash-ups,” says Smith. “When I play with my band I perform indie-rock… and [am inspired by] everything from a street busker to a kid with their first set of decks.”

WHERE Feb. 2 at CiRCA (126 John).

FAVOURITE RECORD OF ALL TIME “Comfortably Numb,” Pink Floyd.

FAVOURITE RECORD RIGHT NOW In Rainbows, Radiohead.

FAVOURITE WEBSITE RIGHT NOW www.beatport.com “It’s so quick for me to grab tunes!”

WHAT IS YOUR MOST SURREAL DJING EXPERIENCE? “I DJed in the London Eye, which is a huge Ferris wheel that overlooks the whole of London.”

WHAT IS VITAL TO YOUR DAILY ROUTINE? “Coffee! Sorry!!”

WHAT GLOBAL ISSUE CONCERNS YOU MOST RIGHT NOW? “We still have the same issues we had 20 years ago: war, AIDS and famine, and that is sad.”

WHAT IS YOUR RING TONE RIGHT NOW? “Standard phone ring. I’m not one of those ring-tones folk!”

WHAT IS THE LAST GREAT FILM YOU SAW? The Boys & Girls Guide to Getting Down (for which Dirty Vegas scored the music).

WHAT ACTOR WOULD PLAY YOU IN A BIOPIC? Keith Moon.

WHAT ARE YOU READING RIGHT NOW? The Mayflower, by Nathaniel Philbrick.

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