Outside the Skyline is solely made up of guest features, which is not your usual release, why go that route? I’m thinking the title of the album has something to do with it.

I really enjoy working with various artists/vocalists and exploring different styles… I love the whole process of song writing; recording and creating music and I wanted to create a cohesive album that reflects some of my inspirations. Soul, funk, disco, rock, reggae and electronic elements all interwoven, featuring a wide range of amazing singers, and ‘Outside the Skyline’ is the result.

Where do you go (mentally or physically) to create a song? How long does it take to get the right sound? And when do you know it’s finished?

I write songs very spontaneously and without an exact plan… usually, first I put together a rough track instrumental idea, then I get a feel for what style vocal would fit nicely on top. Sometimes I will write the lyrics and melody collaborating with the singer I have in mind, and sometimes I will write it myself and then bring in the vocalist to perform and record the song… there are no exact rules to the process, I just try and stay open minded to various styles and I have so many musical ideas always going through my head.

I’ve followed your DJ career for about 10 years now, what pre-show rituals, if any, do you have? Anything unusual like rehearsing in a room full of Patchouli incense and peach candles.

[Smiles] I just show up with my music and spontaneously see where it goes! It’s always a bit of an experiment, testing out lots of new tracks all the time as well as just having fun with it all.

Can you recall a particular experience that made you say, “I wanna be a DJ?” Because you were a musician beforehand. 

I never planned on this really, it was not a serious goal to be a professional “DJ”, I just really enjoyed playing records for fun and it naturally progressed into a full-time thing along with the production and all…

If you hadn’t become an architect of music, what do you think you’d be doing?

I probably would have either opened a bar or a little restaurant… both of which I still might do in the near future actually… that or go open a little bar on a beach somewhere exotic like Tahiti… that sounds good, disappear and live in paradise!

Changing gears, what are your thoughts on the celebrity DJ culture; e.g. successful singers or rappers who are now “pursuing” a DJ career? And I’m using pursuing loosely. 

To each his own, and the best of luck to anyone that wants to be creative with music. It’s personal taste and personal preference, but overall it has all become a bit watered down it seems. It’s definitely a different time now from the good old days of every DJ playing records and diggin’ through the crates.

I’m curious, what color do you think matches your music? And why? 

Depends on the mood… maybe one part blue for the deep and laid back aspect, with some red or orange thrown in there for warmth.

Outside the Skyline is in stores now.