Over in the UK we got our first experience of your sets when you toured the Universities with Paul Oakenfold and from that point on we were hooked on your sound. How do you think your music has changed and developed since those days back in 1999?
Well, I always think that the one of the most interesting sides of dance music is the ability to change constantly, so every year or so there's loads of new producers and sounds, still at the same time, house always been at the center of my world so it varies around the different varieties of house music. I always liked the deep, dark and funky side, but also some emotion and melody, never too hard or fast.
Last year I made my first trip to South America. The passion for the music from both the crowd and the Dj was second to none. You have been playing all over South America for a long time. Has the music scene been filled with this kind of energy from the beginning?
The energy was always there and not only for the music, Argentineans and most Latin Americans really passionate about things. It can be dance music, rock music, football or anything really. The dance scene has been going on for years but since 2000 its getting seriously big and events like Creamfields in Buenos Aires attracts even more people than the original in Liverpool.
Coupling the huge clubbing scene in South America, with events like the South American Music Conference and Creamfields. I could easily see clubbing tourism taking off as it did in Ibiza and Miami. Do you think this would be a good development?
Well, I do not think it's similar to those examples. The so called South American Music Conference, at least on its first year, was only a party so I really doubt that is a good thing to promote a conference that way. It was really disappointing to see new 'promoters' jumping on the success of the scene just trying to make money from it when they never ever been into dance music before. They sold the idea of a 'conference' as it was Miami and it was only one party. Hopefully this year they will get their act together for the good of the name of the South American scene.
Creamfields is a huge show but still, it's a festival and I do not see people travelling so far just for that. Then you have the beaches around, but there are not loads of clubs there yet so, I would love to say yes, but no, I don't think so. There are many people going from abroad of course but not on a scale like the places you mentioned.
So your record box has taken you around the globe, what has been highlight for you so far?
Too many to mention! Tokyo, Argentina and Eastern Europe are my favs!!
In 2001 you gained 50th place in the DJ mag top 100 poll. Last year you made 6th position. How does it feel to have shot right up the list?
It feels really good to be recognized by people from all over the world in such a high way, but at the same time, each year the chart goes more and more on a direction the music I play doesn't, so I'm not sure for how long that will be reflected.
Did you always aspire to make djing a career and did you ever think you would be one of dance music's superstar Djs?
Well, I've always been a dj, never did anything else, but of course you dj for the love of music not to be a superstar. That is something it may come after years of work and you do not plan in the beginning. When I started playing back in the day at home, djing was hardly a clever thing to dedicate your life but I always been convinced that this is what I wanted to do.
What do you think you have shown as a DJ to become so successful that other
Dj's have not?
Dj wise when I moved to UK years ago I realized that most Djs would play only
one or two styles of music, so I was able to play more clubs at being able to play many styles all mixed together on a more eclectic way which was also different at that time.
Now it's more usual but it wasn't back then. Also I think being true to yourself its really important. I always sounded myself when it was popular and when it wasn't.
Then I work a lot, travel non stop all year around and play more gigs than the average, do a 2 hr radio show with all new music every week, run my website myself every day, I'm in touch with fans, etc. last but not least, I have a great manager and booking agents.
Have you got any recommendations for of good up and coming Dj's?
Be yourself, that is the first and most important thing to be a good dj. There is too many dj's just playing what the biggers play but only 3 months later. Create your own style and sound. Then, once you are good enough, work as much as you can and get a good management and booking agency to help you to get to the next level. It won't happen overnight but if you try your hardest and are really good, sooner or later good things will most probably happen
If you could play in any location in the world, where would it be?
It would we playing at the sunset in Jose Ignacio, a very small beach in Uruguay.
I do it every year but still, never get enough. The view, the atmosphere and the people are just fantastic.
If you could work with any artist dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Again, too many to mention! From Kraftwerk and Giorgio Moroder, Depeche Mode, Pink Floyd, Prince, Michael Jackson, U2, Sakamoto, Quincy Jones, Joy Division,
Frankie Knuckles. It's an impossible question really, (not to start with dead ones) there are countless artist that have inspired me and would love to work with.
When was the last time you were strutting your stuff on the dancefloor and who was playing?
Don't understand that but if it means a dj that blew me away. John Digweed at Global Gathering.
With new technologies like, Ableton, Ipod mixing, computer mixing do you think Vinyl could be come extinct?
No, there will always be Djs that prefer that kind of media
What technologies do you prefer to use?
Any digital, because the possibilities are endless cds computers anything that allows me to work on a track and play it straight away. Since the internet downloads, music has become accessible to anybody anytime so the best way to keep delivering some special stuff in a set its do it yourself and that can be editing a loop of a Depeche Mode track, do your own music or re edit someone else stuff.
Although djing is a very exciting job, it must get tiring when you are traveling so much, what do you do to relax?
I do not have much time for that, but you get used to all the traveling, you can do loads of things on the planes! I hear new stuff, check emails, make music, re edits, there is loads of work I do on a plane. Then its important what you do when you land. Good food and as healthy life as possible helps too.
We are very excited about your impending set at Sankeys. Your sound will be perfect in that club. Why has it taken you so long to play there?
I did it a few years back, and can't wait to play again I'm really looking forward to it
Do you have any future releases planed?
My new single with John Tonks called Warsaw it's coming this week on Bedrock, then we are working on new stuff too, also some remixes with him and others with my South American partner Martin Garcia.
What do you have keeping you busy for the next year?
A new cd will be around. Loads of tours, remixes and own stuff and my own digital label
