This boy gets everywhere.
Future Mixmag hero and dance music extraordinarie Ali Wilson is on a roll. Having completed a mammoth number of dates this year and sending his company Tekelec to the moon and back, we've barely stopped short of crowning him the King of England.
Ok, perhaps that's a tad exaggerated. But there's every reason to praise this one, as he excitedly prepares for one of his biggest dates of the year, this Saturday's Innovate Vs Twisted - Extreme Showcase, at London's iconic Rennaissance Rooms.

Ali kindly gave away some ever so precious time in his studio to 1 very lucky competition winner. I wanted to find out just a bit more about this master producer, so let's probe Mr Wilson...

So Ali, you’re inviting one lucky person into the studio with you to make their own tune. Are you looking forward to it?

Yea of course, as long as they don’t want to make grime or garage! Hehe, just kidding, I'm really looking forward to seeing what someone else with talent can come up with. You never know, they might have some ideas I can pinch ;-)

What are you looking for from the winner?

For someone to come into the studio with good solid ideas of what they want and tracks they are into at the time to show me what they are aiming for. I think that someone with an exceptional passion for music will shine through more than others, as that is what I have always maintained.

They’re obviously going to come in with their own ideas of the tune they want to make. What would be your nightmare scenario?

My nightmare scenario? Urm, probably someone that wanted to remix a track from Westlife! Na, like I said before someone turning up and wanting to make Grime or Garage or not having any idea of what kind of track they want to do. You've gotta have some inspirational ideas before you get down with the hardware.

Would you refuse to do something if it was totally against everything you stood for or would you just humour them?

No, if someone came into the studio with an idea I would of course try it, that’s what engineering a track is all about! Of course if they wanted to do something out of the ordinary then it might end up working pretty well, it's all about experimentation.

What would be your dream winner?

Someone who understands the music well and who’s into a lot of different styles of music, not just dance! Also if they could play instruments that will help. I once had someone in the studio that could play the bagpipes. We did try to introduce the bagpipe sound into a tune but it sounded like a car crash was coming through the speakers.
We decided to lay that one to rest.

What is it about music that makes you so passionate?

For me it’s the different moods you can create, it’s more powerfull than any words or pictures. Look at the music that tv commercials are using now for instance, they're moving further into the electro & hard dance genre to promote their products - using just music.

How does it feel when another DJ drops one of your tunes in the middle of a set and everyone goes ballistic?

It’s an amazing feeling that’s hard to describe! There’s nothing quite like it! :o)

Do you ever just try to mingle in with the crowd or are you getting to the point now where you’re getting recognised in clubs wherever you go?

Yea I get recognised a bit but I always mingle with the crowd, I love it on the dancefloor in a good club with a good atmosphere!

We all know Carl Cox is a massive fan. Have you approached him to work with him at all?

No I haven’t but of course I’d love to work with him!!! Hopefully in the future :o)

Apart from Coxy, who else are your musical heroes?

Prodigy, Liam Howlett is the man!

You’ve got a young family – does that take up a lot of your time now? Do you manage to strike a healthy balance between them and your music?

Yea of course it takes up time, and yea there’s a nice healthy balance there! I think it's important when you have a family to understand there's more to life than work. Although I try to include my family in anything I do work-wise too - they love it!

What do you get up to in your spare time? Are you a typical bloke – do you like going down the pub, sinking a few pints and watching the football?

I go down the pub now and then but most of my spare time is either with my family or working!

Innovate vs Twisted gave away the chance to be thrown down a hill in a giant inflatable ball with Phil Reynolds – is that something you’d like to do?

It’s making me feel sick just thinking about it hehe, I’m into theme park rides but I think that’s pretty mad! Then again, stuff a few beers into me and ask me again! :o)

What’s 2007 got in store for Ali Wilson and Tekelec?

There’s lots of things going on that are in the pipeline! I’m joing forces with Gareth Emery’s label Five AM to take TEKELEC to the next level! :o)

Are you excited about playing at The Renaissance Rooms? With Twisted AND Innovate together in one venue, to say it’s going to big is quite possibly one of the biggest understatements of the year!

Yea I can’t wait, I always love playing Twisted & Innovate events so to have them all in one is gona be like a piece of cheese that’s been left out in the sun all day – going off! :oD

It’s being called the Extreme Showcase – what’s the most extreme thing you’ve ever done?

Turned over the channel on the TV! :o)

What’s the most extreme thing you’d consider doing?

Watching a DVD!

(Ali is just such a WILD guy)

What’s the most extreme tune you’ve ever played out?

Too many to mention!

Who’s the most extreme DJ in your opinion?

Coxy, he plays right across the board from one extreme to the other!

Who’s the most extreme Producer (apart from yourself >;D) ?

Hehe, I’m loving a bit of Sander Van Doorn, also MIDOR is doing some quality stuff!

If you could have an extreme celebrity DJ death match, who would you have it between and why?

Westwood on Radio 1, Hip Hop's not my thing!

Well thanks Ali, as usual it’s been our extreme pleasure talking to you and that’s a bundle for taking time out of your extremely busy schedule to talk to us >;D

No probs! See ya’ll at Twisted Vs Innovate!!!