Walking Through Doors: The Life and Journey of Trace Harris The man behind the iconic Smartie Parties of the 90s and 00s and renowned percussionist, Trace Harris sits down with The Night Bazaar to chat about his life as he publishes his memoir, Walking Through Doors

I first met Trace Harris as a young, eager beaver of a DJ in the early 00s.

I sold my soul to him for a small chance, selling tickets in return for the opportunity to do a Cubism showcase on one of his famous Smartie Partie Thames boat parties in the capital.

It was, looking back, an amazing touch point in time for my Cubism adventures. The boat party was followed by a bonus set in front of Trace’s mental Smartie Partie crowd which he promised us if we did well. We ended up closing the main room heading into 6am at the long defunct and sorely missed London venue, Cable. It was a wild set and a fantastic early DJ experience for us playing out to such a big peak time crowd. I remain grateful to Trace.

Trace’s new book Walking Through Doors is a fabulous read about a man mountain, moving mountains on the front line during dance music’s golden era and how after overcoming adversity and the chaos of clubland he has found peace, becoming a father at 66 in sweet harmony with the rhythm of Ibiza. I recently got back in touch with him to chat about his new memoir and reflect on his journey.

Trace Harris’s life is a story of resilience, adventure, and self-discovery—a journey full of unexpected twists, remarkable achievements, and lessons learned from both triumphs and setbacks. As he looks back on his life, Trace reflects on how his experiences have shaped him, particularly the philosophy that has guided him through it all: “Always Walk Through Doors.”

“The words ‘visualization’ and ‘manifestation’ were never on my radar as I was growing up,” Trace says. “I just assumed I was lucky or in the right place at the right time.” But looking back, he realizes these very principles were always at the heart of his journey. “I made all these things happen because I just knew how to do it,” he admits.

Trace’s life journey started with his love for music, particularly percussion. He played in nightclubs around the world, representing the iconic Ministry of Sound World Tours, and travelled to 28 countries as part of his music career. “From tapping the bongos as a kid to playing percussion all over the world in the greatest clubs, representing the iconic Ministry of Sound World Tours and a Smartie Partie residency at Turnmills in London, it’s been an incredible ride,” he reflects. But his achievements didn’t stop there. He was also a bodybuilder, winning bodybuilding competitions, and he opened his own gym.

His entrepreneurial spirit led him to promote parties on the Thames, eventually creating Smartie Partie with his then girlfriend, Claire White which took him to over twenty-five countries. He even found himself in magazines like GQ and Esquire and made numerous TV appearances. “I was doing everything I could to make my parties successful—no stone unturned,” he recalls.

However, as is often the case in life, there were bumps along the way. A few times, Trace’s ego got the better of him, leading him to lose everything. But he always found a way to bounce back. “Several times my ego took me too far and I lost everything,” Trace admits. “I was down, but not out!  I always felt my mum was with me in a spiritual sense, and I knew she would always help me pick myself up.”

Trace’s mother, Dolly, who passed away when he was 21, imparted a powerful piece of advice that Trace has carried with him ever since: “Trace, always Walk Through Doors.”

For Trace, this advice was more than just a simple saying—it was a philosophy for living. “It meant always looking past what’s in front of you, seizing the moment, and moving forward,” he explains. It’s a philosophy that carried him through both the good and bad times in his life.

At fifty—an age that marked the same point his mother had passed away—Trace had a life-changing realization. “I realized how young fifty is,” he says.

“I felt like a twenty-five-year-old and I looked better physically than I ever had.” This revelation led him to fully embrace his mother’s words. “So, I made a big step to live by my mum’s words, just as I have since the age of twenty-one when I lost her,” he says.

But even with this renewed sense of purpose, Trace still faced challenges. “I took this a step too far, lost everything I owned, and almost my mind,” he recalls. But just as he had before, Trace found the strength to rise again. “When I hit rock bottom, I got a sign from my mum, or my inner self. It was very powerful and beautiful.”

As Trace wrote his memoir, Walking Through Doors, he reflected not just on his own life, but on what it meant to leave a legacy. “I became overwhelmed with a feeling of not having a child to call me Dad,” he confesses. “I settled into the idea that fatherhood would pass me by, and my book became my child, the legacy I would leave behind for anyone that might be interested.” He dedicated the book to his parents, Dolly and Tommy, who were his inspiration and guiding lights throughout his life.

Soon after losing his father, Tommy, Trace met the love of his life. “I met my dream woman, my twin flame,” he says, smiling. “She made my life, my journey, and my very existence all make sense.” Her presence gave Trace a renewed sense of purpose and meaning, and he knew it was time to finish his book. “But guess what! The doors are still waiting. I continue to walk through them,” he says, with the same adventurous spirit that’s defined his life. “And I might even write about it. Who knows?”

Now in his 60s, Trace has become a first-time father. “My son, Zamolxe Trace Harris, was born on May 1st. He’s almost 3 now,” Trace says with a proud smile. “I’m very lucky to be able to spend 23 hours a day with him, teaching him, learning from him, and most importantly, loving him.” Trace reflects on how blessed he is to be so present in his son’s life. “In 10 years, my son will already have spent a decade with me by his side, every moment as my best friend,” he notes. “This is as much as most children get their whole life if you add up the hours.”

Throughout his career as a promoter, Trace has seen the evolution of the industry, from the early 1990s when he first started promoting to the present day. “I began promoting in 1994 when I entered and won my first bodybuilding show at the age of 35,” Trace recalls. “I quickly realized I had the ability to pull a crowd to whatever I was doing.” His first event, where he posed to Pink Floyd’s music, marked the beginning of Smartie Partie. “I took over 100 people with me to the Ministry of Sound, and I realized we had just made this club about £5000. On the spot, Smartie Partie was born.”

For nearly two decades, Trace’s brand Smartie Partie became a global sensation, with parties held in iconic locations such as Ibiza, Privilege, and Space Terrace. But despite the fame and success, Trace maintains a grounded perspective. “I feel nowadays it’s about the attention span of the new wave of club kids,” he says. “They follow DJs because they are superstars, not necessarily because of the music they play. But we never booked headline DJs to increase our crowd. We were blessed knowing people followed us because of who we were.”

Looking back, Trace understands that his life has been shaped by his ability to walk through doors—whether they led to success, failure, or something in between. “I’ve stopped chasing big money. It’s essential, but it’s not my God,” he explains. “I’m still blessed to have a good mind and entrepreneurial skills, but I don’t let my ego rule my head anymore.”

Now, living in Ibiza, Trace embraces a simpler, more balanced life. “I still promote events, but it’s no longer about chasing the big highs or stressing over money,” he says. “It’s about finding happiness and peace, and I get the same buzz from doing events now without the financial pressure.”

For Trace Harris, the journey continues. “The doors are waiting,” he says, a smile spreading across his face. “And I’ll keep walking through them.”

To get your copy of Trace Harris’ memoir Walking Through Doors parts 1, 2 and 3 – HEAD HERE.

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