Mike Dierickx, aka M.I.K.E. is unquestionably a living legend in dance music. As a producer his output across the broadest spectrum of trance over the past decade is unrivalled, both under his M.I.K.E. name and just as famously the Push and Plastic Boy alter ego's, plus over 40 other aliases over the years.
As an innovator and leader of the scene, success for M.I.K.E. the DJ has followed a similar path to the top, entering the DJ Magazine Top 100 poll in 2003 at #50 and not looking back since. M.I.K.E. is a genre defying genius, fusing the best of trance with electro, progressive, techno and everything good in between to create inspirational, entertaining and cutting edge dance music that’s blurring boundaries and once again bringing dance fans and DJs together on a global scale.

Hi Mike, How are you ?

I'm cool thanks!

To break the ice, tell us an interesting or random fact about yourself !

Mmm...i'm a producer and Dj, reside in Belgium in the city of Antwerp, and my life evolves around producing music, my kid and soccer!

Where about in the world are you now ?

In Belgium in my studio but planning my move to New York City later this year!
Really exiting.

How would you describe your style of music ?

Trance with a touch of progressive, or just called it dance music with attidude.

What have you been up to in the last six months ?

I am working a lot in the studio on my side projects. Touring the world, Singapore, Finland, San Francisco, L.A., the list is long :) And promoting the new Push album ‘Global Age’.

What are your aims and ambitions for the rest of the year & 2010?

Well, like I said, I’m working hard on follow ups of Push, M.I.K.E. and Plastic Boy.
And of course my gigs, I love travelling around the world so I hope over the next months I will visit some city's I never been before.

When growing up what did you want to be when you were older?

Oddly enough I wanted to be in the Diamond trade, but I studied industrial electronics.
Now being a dj / producer it totally the opposite to that early dream.

What influenced you as a child growing up to make you who you are today?

Well, listing to music, and as a kid i was watching top of the pops and when i saw those 80s synth based bands like Depeche Mode and Visage i was sold! I loved the fusion of vintage gear and synths and samplers. Still today pretty much dominating the EDM scene!

If you were not DJ'ing what would you be doing for a job now ?

Dunno, life makes many turns sometime. I might run a record shop maybe, or working in the industrial electronic industry perhaps.

What advice would you give to anyone wanting to make it as a DJ/Producer ?

Just believe in yourself, do what you feel you got to do, and DON'T follow any hypes or trends! That's what makes a dj or producer unique in his way.

Which other DJ's do you rate out there as 'ones to watch' at the moment ?

There are many good djs / producers’ out there.
Don’t really have a favourite but I always admire the technical skills of my friends John Fleming, a brilliant dj.

The scene is always changing, where do you see it going?

It's going the right way again i think. The past 2 to 3 year where hard! Musically, trance was a bit lost, but it seems we're all back on track! Pwew!

What has been your favourite event to play at in the UK and why ?

The gallery in London tops that list. I play for them on regular bases the past 12 years already, and the club never fails. Amazing crowd, its London after all but Eliminate might follow in their footsteps hopefully...

Tell us a bit about what your working on in the studio?

Remixes, new Push single and just finished my side project called "Caromax, a more progressive direction I took here.

What can the Eliminate faithful expect from you on September 11th?

A lot of new M.I.K.E. tunes, I’m gonna play out the new M.I.K.E, Push and some other new tunes I did produce this summer, I might also throw in some M.I.K.E. classics as well, who knows! But we'll set the dance floor on fire for sure.

Have you any final words for your fans out there?

I'm really looking forward to come and play for Eliminate! See you all there!

www.mike.be