DJ Escape is being compared to Vin Diesel, and he doesn’t mind. He’s got Diesel’s looks, charisma – and the power Diesel yields in Hollywood matches that which Escape holds over gay clubland.

The irony is that the gayest part of Escape is from where he hails – Queens, N.Y. Everything else about him is, sigh, straight. But that doesn’t deter his mostly gay following from packing nightclubs across the country to experience the wonder kid live.

“My music is more adapted to the gay party community,” says Escape, who estimates that about 90 percent of his gigs are for gay crowds. He says he has a lot in common with gay men. “Gay guys know music and they party from night until the afternoon. They’re always ready to tear the dance floor up, just like me.

“Dance music is about love and freedom,” he says. “There’s so much pressure in the world today. Work pressure, family pressure. Guys that go to the club have learned the secret to happiness. We look forward to Saturday nights when we can run to the DJ and leave our problems on the dance floor. There’s nothing better than that.”

Rocket: First off, I want to tell you that I’ve been a big fan of yours since Ultimate Afterhours Volume 1 (May 2001). The vibe of that album was decidedly upbeat, especially for an afterhours compilation. What’s the vibe of your latest endeavor, Total Escape?

DJ Escape: The vibe is still upbeat and feel-good, just more clubby and up to date with what I am playing and producing.

Rocket: What’s your process for choosing a compilation’s tracks?

Escape: I like to choose tracks that are big for me in the club and are exclusive, so by the time the CD comes out, the music is pretty fresh. I try and make sure people are getting something different when they listen to my CD. For the most part, on this CD, that’s what I did with also putting a lot of my own work on it.

Rocket: I’ve read that among your influences, Junior Vasquez pretty much stands out from the rest. What is it about him that made you want to switch from hip-hop to house? Was there a particular moment?

Escape: Yes, hearing Junior at Palladium and experiencing that whole vibe made me want to do all this. It was the energy in the room, the vibe, the crowd and the music. I remember hearing [Toni Braxton’s] “Unbreak My Heart” for the first time. Wow!

Rocket: What are some hallmarks of your DJing style?

Escape: I like to be creative, most of the time playing more than one thing at a time, giving you an experience. Hearing things you love, played like [you’ve] never heard them before. A lot of the time by layering acapellas over tracks.

Rocket: You’ve mentioned that you see the dance music scene being more fun than ever, that there’s a return to higher energy, vocals and bass-driven music, and a move away from the dark and monotonous beats that took over the floors in 2001.

Escape: I’m feeling now people just want to go out and have a good time. Hearing music they know mixed in with music they don’t know, and some music they love that they haven’t heard in a while. I mean, unless I am playing afterhours, where of course the music will be darker. Don’t get me wrong, people like to hear beats and tracks, just not all night.

Rocket: What are some good examples of this return?

Escape: I recently did a mash-up of Vernessa Mitchell’s “This Joy” with Inaya Day’s “Moving Up.” That always gets a big reaction. Also, I did a mash-up of Byron Stingly’s “U Turn Me” with [Madonna’s] “Perfect Love.” Madonna is always a crowd pleaser as well.

Rocket: Who are some artists to watch out for and why?

Escape: Some of the new artists on my CD are great: Osha Kai, Rachel Panay and Lauren Hildebrandt. Jenna Drey as well. All singers I have recently remixed that are making a mark on the club scene.

Rocket: You and your longtime manager Marc Katz have parted ways. What brought that about?

Escape: Wow, is that still a hot topic? You do know Britney is divorcing K-Fed? I just felt it was time to take more control of my work environment. Times have changed, and I want to be involved in all aspects of my career.

Rocket: What production projects do you have in the pipeline?

Escape: Right now, I am remixing Sunshine Anderson’s “My Problems” with Johnny Vicious. I recently also completed mixes for Beyoncé’s “Listen” and Dreamgirls’ “One Night Only,” with Dom. I am also right now working on a new singer, Charlie, with Tony Coluccio. The name of the song is “Love Sets You Free.”

Be sure to catch DJ Escape here in San Diego on Dec. 9 at Club Montage. For more information, visit www.clubmontage.com.