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'Save my Life' DJs Benny Mussa talk making music and Ibiza nostalgia




'Save my Life" was described by Pete Tong as a 'goosebump tune' and chosen as his Essential New Tune and made the compilation for Ministry of Sound 2024, so who are Benny Mussa?


Rew Smith and Daniel Kelly, are underground DJ’s and producers, who have been playing their unique blend of house music across the world for over 2 decades. Firm friends, with routes that go back to the very birthplace of the UK Acid House scene of the 80’s they originally met in the 90’s promoting and playing at some of the biggest parties in the UK at the time. That led to residencies in Ibiza in the early noughties, and a non-stop love affair with house music ever since. Benny Mussa’s sound is eclectic and soulful, ranging from rare disco to deep, underground house music. Connoisseurs of the backroom and terraces across the world, their 8 hour sets are something to behold.



Where did the name Benny Mussa come from? 

So, we were thinking of a name for ourselves, and weren't getting very far, Rew suggested it to Daniel because Daniel's family used to have a villa in Ibiza back in the day in the Bennimussa hills.  For a couple of years when we both lived on the island, we'd hang out at Daniel's villa during the days, generally lying on the sofa, watching the early days of Big Brother, talk crap recovering from the previous night, and those were the days our brotherhood was formed - a couple of amazing years, with lots of stories we can't tell!






Tell us about 'Save my life'  (who wrote it, when / where did the idea come from) 

We wrote it together, some nuggets from Daniel, some Rew.  It just happened - we never really have a clear idea of what we're going to end up making.  We just go in with samples, or inspiration of things we like, and with the help of an amazing engineer and friend call Mav - Save my Life popped out. We kept going back and tweaking it, and then Ministry of Sound heard it and the rest is history...


Do you remember the first time you heard your song in a club / bar, how did that feel?

So the first goosebumps moment was when we saw a video of Keinemusik play it in Pacha, then we got loads more videos of them playing it on their travels, as well as loads of other great DJs we're fans of - and then the Pete Tong Essential New Tune thing happened, and we were blown away - still are!


Who / what DJs producers / clubs nights inspire you

I mean there's loads, from loads of the genres, it's really hard to name them all.  I guess the ones we'd name are the ones we ended up seeing a lot.  During those happy days of the early noughties in Ibiza, our staple clubs were Pacha and the Space Terrace - So Lawler, Morrillo, Roger Sanchez, Frankie Knuckles, Sacha, Luciano...the list is long. There's brilliant DJs on the circuit today of course, but that earlier era is special to us.


Dance tune you wish you had written?

Oooph, there's too many.  But French Kiss Lil Louis, Man with the Red Face Laurent Garnier (Mark Knight's mix is amazing), Promised Land Joe Smooth definitely all feature for sure. They're timeless.


Ambitions for the future?

Have fun, make great records, hang out together, don't take it too seriously and get to travel to amazing places doing something that we truly love.


Ready for Goosebumps?





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