As 2008 draws to a close, what’s going on in the world of Scot Project?

I am preparing myself for a cosy Christmas, apart from that, it was a quite a good year for me, and I am looking forward to 2009.

Its been yet another busy year for you. What has been your personal highlight of 2008?

My personal highlight was the release of my first official “Scot Project” release in 3 years, due to some pre existing contract issues I had to take care of. The feedback and support from most of the leading DJ’s in the scene, was great, not to mention the response on the dance floor. Apart from that, I worked on some exclusive edits and remixes for all my DJ sets.

Although you are the undisputed ‘Founding Father of Hard Trance’, your musical style spans many genres of electronic dance. How best would you describe your style?

The style of hard trance has changed over the years, but for myself, I would describe my style as the “harder edge of trance”, a mixture of tech trance and electro elements with a touch of old school hard trance.

You’ve just recently completed a tour of Asia and North America. What is your view of the scene outside of Europe and which is your favourite country to play?

Asia is still a good place to play, as the people are open minded and enjoy the different faces of electronic music, from house, electro to minimal and trance, the US on the other hand is a little bit different. Although the people seem to mostly get behind electro and the minimal stuff, on my last tour to the US when I was in Vegas and LA, it was great to hear and see the crowds craving for a different kind of music. Although there were house, electro and minimal DJ’s playing at the events, when I was playing, the crowds were really excited, and the response was fantastic.

From your fantastic arsenal of productions to your legendary DJ sets, you’ve accomplished so much in your career so far. What has Scot Project yet to conquer?

My passion for music will never stop, and I don't look back and just rest on the sofa and enjoy what I had done in the past. New productions, bootlegs and edits are all in the pipeline, so it won’t get boring! :)

Who are you most inspired by and why?

I was and am still inspired by good productions, fresh ideas and the big range of electronic music. I don't have any specific artist who inspires me, as I listen to nearly all kinds of music and different things inspire me, along with life’s experiences.

You will be treating Tall Trees to an Exclusive Producer set at the upcoming Kiddfectious v Advokate Project event. Which of your productions do you love dropping into a set best?

I will play my most recent productions, edits and bootlegs before I drop tracks like “Overdrive”,” I want your love”, “Thunder in Paradise”, “2nd Trip” and all the other banging remixes from the good old hard trance era. It will be a mixture of the old and new Scot Project sound.

You’ll be joined by some of the biggest names in international hard dance and hardstyle at the event. Are you a fan of hardstyle?

I am looking forward to this event, it will be a good night with the whole range of harder dance music. Hardstyle is not necessarily the style I represent, but I noticed that I am not an innocent part of this movement :) As in the past, a lot of my old tracks and remixes (especially the bass and breakdowns) were the sample source and inspiration for a lot of hardstyle tracks, which makes me kind of proud of course. But hardstyle is now its own genre, and I like to listen to it sometimes.

The event is set to get Christmas and the festivities going with a bang! What do you prefer to do around the Christmas period, relax with friends and family or go out and party?

I think most people are focused on Christmas and spending 2-3 days with the family until they feel the need to escape from the perfect harmony (ending sometimes up in stupid arguments). So 2 days are nice to be in a cosy environment, but I like to party with my friends as well. Luckily this year, I have a special Christmas tour in Ireland where a good party is guaranteed.

As the dawn of 2009 draws nearer, what do you have in the pipeline for the New Year, and do you have any New Year’s resolutions?

2009 will be a good year I hope, lots of things I plan to do, hopefully most of them can be done, but I guess we will have to wait and see.