The Brothers Grim: The ‘Monday Is OK’ Mix

It’s Monday again. At least we think it is… The days and nights have been seemingly blurring into one over the last few months. Especially if you’ve spent your Sunday night parked up at some strangers house, who now happens to be your new best mate, blissfully talking about the meaning of life and the trick to making a perfect poached egg.

Finding himself in many a Sunday-cum-Monday escapade, Ibiza-based DJ Mark Broadbent is the perfect man to sountrack the start of the new week. As part of The Brothers Grim, alongside Andrew Livesey, you’ll likely find him holding down residencies at some of the island’s more progressive music spots like Hostel La Torre and Pikes, whilst by day he runs a guest house overlooking Ibiza Town harbour.

His mix for us meanders through an hour and a half of sounds perfect for that Sunday/Monday limbo, accompanied by an interview about life on the white isle…

Please introduce yourself… Who are you, where are you, what are you?

I’m Mark Edward Broadbent and I’m currently sitting on my roof terrace over looking the harbour of Ibiza Town which is at present my daytime office space, but is usually used as the breakfast terrace of the guest house I own with my wife Sarah. I am a 51 year old northern chancer and contrarian who gets lucky more often than not. I am also one half of the tag team DJ duo The Brothers Grim holding various residencies at some of the more forward thinking musical establishments on Ibiza.

Tell us about the Monday mixtape you’ve put together for us. 

Well it’s more a late night Sunday early Monday morning mix. That time and space when you realise that you have clearly been up for too long and you should really be leaving the strangers house you find yourself in and making a dash for the safety of home. But you can’t find the door, in fact, you no longer fully understand that a door is the starting place of the journey back to some semblance of reality.

It’s a soundtrack for the more adventurous Monday musical adventurer switching between sweet rushes of bliss and stabbing darkness of paranoia to either help or hinder the return to new normality. 

If it were to be drawn what would it look like? 

Like those shit children’s pictures of ‘daddy’ doing something unspeakable to the pet dog you see stuck on proud parent’s fridges.

If it were a food what would it be? 

Something spicy, due to the eclectic nature of the selection, it could be a South Indian thali maybe. Or a half empty tin of lager, still cold, it’s been forgotten. Nice. But whats this? There’s a fucking tab end in it!

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

On the roof terrace of Badger vs Baboon (the guest house I run with my wife Sarah) and you should be pleasantly stoned and either coming up or coming down.

What should we be wearing?

Something comfortable that doesn’t give you dysmorphophobia.

Where was it recorded?

On the roof terrace of Badger vs Baboon (the guest house I run with my wife Sarah) where I was pleasantly stoned and either coming up or coming down from something. I forget which sometimes.

Are you on the same wavelength as the boomtown rats or do you actually like Mondays?

I’m not really aware of the days of the week being much different at the moment as I don’t have much to base them on in my present real time existence. But I am enjoying myself most of the time at the moment and don’t really feel like “shooting the whole world down” or anything as reactionary as all that.

I think that although Bob Geldof seems like a nice enough fellow he’s a bit of a naive fool so I’d hate to think of myself as being on his wavelength tbh. Don’t really know anything about the rest of ‘The Rats’ do we so it’s hard to tell. I’m guessing I’m on a different wavelength to most 70 year old irish punkers… or maybe not. Who knows? very difficult question to answer. 

Who got you hooked on electronic music?

The Jam MC’s, Andrew Weatherall and Justin Robertson.

Who would you say are your biggest influences and what are you hoping to achieve with your music?

Bernie Connor, The Jam MC’s, Andrew Weatherall and Justin Robertson. To hold a candle to their influence.

What were your original aspirations as musicians and how do you think you’re shaping up?

Non as I don’t consider myself a musician. So I’m doing okay by that standard. 

What was the first electronic record you heard and how did it make you feel?

I reckon it would have had to be something like Tubeway Army – Are Friends Electric or some soundtrack music by Giorgio Mororder – possibly Midnight Express – both of which I loved on first hearing. The Tubeway Army track was the second 7inch that I bought myself with my own money and I still have it and listen to it from time to time and it stands the test of time very well.

What were the first and last records you bought?

The first records I owned where bought for me by grandparents as birthday and Christmas presents, and if I remember rightly were The London Symphony Orchestra plays Star Wars and The Great Rock N Roll Swindle by The Sex Pistols. But the first record I ever bought for myself with my own money was Hong Kong Garden by Siouxsie & The Banshees. It’s a re-pressing as it was maybe a year or two after it’s initial release. So not that cool. The last physical record I bought would have been pre lockdown on a trip to London via Thailand. The Quite Temple by The Quite Temple.  

What are you obsessed with at the moment?

As always and constantly. Music. I’m concerned I’m not going to be able to hear it all before I die.

If you could travel in time… where in time would you go? Why? 

Mid 70s New York New York for obvious reasons. Ibiza in the mid 90s would be fun to do all over again. And the future so I could come back to the present and be all smug like. But having said this I do feel happy in the here and now and I’m incredibly grateful for what I’ve seen and been witness to on my own journey through time and space. I have had some amazing travel companions through the years and that’s what’s important right…

Some self help questions for a Monday…

Am I excited to dive into the challenges that I have lined up for the week?

My challenges of late have all been based around trying to enjoy and make the most of our enforced isolation so yeah I am generally pretty excited at the start of the week. We (The Brothers Grim) have a weekly residency at the incredible Hostel La Torre on a Tuesday so Mondays – once I’ve gotten over the inevitable hangover from Sunday’s Pikes session – are spent going through music. It’s a very chilled environment at The Hostel so my head space on Mondays is perfect for finding that soothing sound to help ease the daily grind. 

Am I looking forward to engaging with the people I am meeting or working with?

As I’ve previously mentioned I run a guest house and Mondays are the only day that I have no interaction with our clients. Or anybody else for that matter. I actually find it quite difficult engaging and interacting with people generally let alone with a head full of guilt and self loathing. 

Am I going to my dream job?

I am in bed just about starting to feel well enough to open my computer. And maybe eat a bowl of cereal.  

Am I being compensated fairly for the value I bring to my job?

Anybody getting paid anything for playing music made by somebody else for the enjoyment of themselves and others is being well compensated. 

Do I feel energised, rested, and confident?

Never.

If you were trapped on a desert island with one other person, who would you choose? How long would it be before you eat them?

My wonderful and ever patient wife Sarah who I have traveled the world with for the last 33 years.

Your doctor says you need more exercise…. what do you take up for exercise?

I walk the coastline of Ibiza with my Brother Andrew after riding my bicycle in a morning to help get the blood flowing. 

What’s your answer to everything?

I’d like to say “yes” but it’s more often “no” but having said this I do get asked some fucking ridiculous questions. 

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