Clubs

Rumour has it you’ve been tearing Ibiza a new orifice… how has it been for you this summer?
‘The season is better than last year and last season was fantastic. The connection between Cream at Amnesia and myself is very strong and we still attract a lot of people.’

What can we expect from your live show this weekend?
‘It’s going to be a full-on banging stream and just as good. I’ll have a drummer, keyboardist and guest vocalists from the album with me. It’ll be like a band but it won’t be what people presuppose a live show to be like because my music belongs to the clubby atmosphere.’
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What track on your new album is really going to set the crowd off?
‘There’s one full-on techno track on the special-edition CD called “Big Bang” and that could rock it, or “Far Away”, which is probably the closest to what people expect from me. But to be honest I think the whole album rocks all over the place.’

It nods to pop, rock and classical, as dance. Why so eclectic?
‘If you are an established rock band, it’s fine to work with a DJ, but somehow if you’re a DJ, some people think it’s not okay for you to work with rock guys. I don’t like those limitations. If I feel that there needs to be a guitar to kick it then there is a guitar to kick it. I think it’s positive that my new album fits between all genres of music.’

Is crossover appeal important?
‘My sound has its roots in the smelly basement clubs of Berlin but I never think about whether something will have more rock or pop appeal. And with my collaborations, it’s not about getting a “name” on the album, it’s about someone like Jessica Sutta from the Pussycat Dolls bringing the edgy sexiness of the pop world that I can’t bring to the music myself.’

Has the social and political climate had much influence this time around?
‘The title of the album is to do with that. I realised that we’re “in between” humankind on this planet; we’re developing somewhere but we don’t really know where because nobody has a concept of where we should go yet. In a way, politically and socially, we are somewhere “in between”’.

You’re constantly coming top of DJ polls, but how do you see your position in the dance world?
‘I’m very glad that throughout my productions and sets I’ve been able to influence what electronic music is and how big it can be. On the other hand there wouldn’t be a Number One without Number 100 and we’re all extreme electronic lovers. It’s a big honour to be on top but I’m very passionate about what I do and I always will be.’

Paul will be on the main stage at South West Four, Clapham Common, Saturday Aug 25, 7-9pm