Hello Rich! Why thank-you for giving up some of your valuable time for this interview. What are you up to right now?

Busy with gigs till the end of the year and in the studio with productions for both Filthy Rich and my alter ego Spektre. I’ve just come back from ADE which is a dance music conference in Amsterdam where I have been networking for the forthcoming year. I’ve got tours coming up in South Africa, South America and Australia in the next six months as well as pushing my label Control Freq which is on its 8th release and getting stronger all the time!

Where did you DJ at the weekend?

I played in Newcastle at Digital for Kiss Da Funk with Kurd Maverick, then on Saturday I played at Hat Club in Southend followed by an after hours party in Leeds called Dunkel Technik at new venue Kerbcrawler. It was a long one let me tell you!

What are you working on in the studio at the moment?

I've just done a remix for my label Control Freq of a Dirty Secretz track I have signed and a remix of a new Toby Emerson track on Subversive called ‘Reflections’.
I’ve also been working on some new tracks with my good friends Prok and Fitch. We have just finished three new tracks; Gravel, Naga and Squeeze, which are all absolutely awesome. I’m really pleased with the results and am looking forward to playing them out this weekend.
I’ve also just had original tracks signed to Stealth, Big Love and Floorplay records.

You’ve teamed up with another Hat-Club ressie James Fitch to release Suck My Terrace / Tunnel Vision on Seamus’s Big Love label. What’s the advantage of pairing up in the studio?

It’s always great to have someone else to bounce off in the studio. After all two heads are better than one, especially when you are into very similar music and are like-minded about what you want to produce like myself and James. I’m really pleased with this EP and I’m looking forward to doing more collaborations in the future. We have another track signed to Stealth called ‘Lesson One’ which is due for release early next year.

And it’s downfalls?

None that I can think of…..apart from maybe sharing the profits!

You’re playing at Hat-Club’s 4th birthday bash. What can we expect from that?

Well I am playing last set so you can expect plenty of filth and plenty of new tracks. You get a little bit more freedom when you play last and you can basically smash it as much as you want. There will be no holding back, I can guarantee you that!

In your opinion, what’s been the key to Hat-Club’s success?

It’s an event that is not just about the music. It’s about the people that go and the vibe that the theme of the party creates. It’s always busy and always has an amazing atmosphere no matter where you are in the club. Hat Club is definitely one of my favourite places to play at.

The 3rd birthday at The Cross was one hell of a party. Can it be beaten?

I have to say the birthday at The Cross was my favourite ever Hat Club. But it can always be beaten. And where better to try than the newly refurbished Pacha. The line-up looks awesome and it should be a great night.

What do you think about yet another club (The End) closing in the capital?

Now is not a great time for clubbing especially in London, the closure of so many clubs in such a short space of time can only be a bad thing for clubbers and the nights involved. Things are always changing and I’m sure this will lead to new clubs and nights, but it’s disappointing that our country has lost so many clubbing institutions. The End is a great club and will definitely be missed.

What do you think of the results of this year’s DJMag Top 100 awards – an accurate reflection or just a big hype?

You can look at it both ways. It is obviously a fair reflection of the people who actually voted because it’s a poll that’s decided by the readers of the magazine. The demographic of people that vote seem to be into Trance, which may be more based around hype created through the forums by, shall we say, the youth. However, I don’t think it is a true reflection of the actual most popular DJ’s in the world. My top 100 would look a lot different!

And now some quick fire questions: (we will get our psychologist to explore these later...)

Is DJing a quick fire route to becoming Filthy Rich?

Well, I’ve been DJing for 12 years and I’m not filthy rich apart from by name! I’m still working on it though.

What’s your earliest memory?

Playing football in my front room with my brother and knocking over my Mum’s vase from off the mantelpiece. I got chased with a wooden spoon!

What is the most amount of pain you’ve ever been in?

When I fell out of a car when I was younger.

What’s your biggest fear?

Spiders and sharks!

What annoys you most?

Queuing. And the politics and bullshit of my chosen path in life.

If you could taste a rainbow, what would it taste like?

A mouthful of skittles.

What’s the best way to spend a Sunday?

Have you seen that scene in The Departed with Jack Nicholson in the bed with that girl? If you haven’t, check it out and you’ll get the picture!

Thanks for that advice, we think the party people of Hat-Club are gonna need it! And finally, what head gear will you don at the birthday party? We’ve noticed that the DJs are the most slack in wearing innovative head gear! Put us to rights…

I’ve got an authentic fluffy Russian hunters Hat that I’ve been threatening to get out for a while….depends how wrecked I am!

Thanks Rich, it’s been a pleasure. Catch him at Pacha on 15th November for Hat-Club’s 4th Birthday.