I see this new project as a more physical take on progressive house music… deep and emotional, but built through layers of movement, where the groove, drums and basslines really take the spotlight.

I think with ‘Passion’ I’m pushing further into the heavier and more physical side of my sound, with some tracks also moving into higher BPMs. ‘Dream Decoder’ felt almost like a soundtrack, ‘Desire’ was like dancing at sunset, and this new project is more about that closing-set feeling at a club or festival. Full energy, while still keeping the emotion and atmosphere I always look for.

I basically create the music I’d want to dance to myself. I just follow a feeling and try to translate it in the studio with as few creative filters as possible. Then I leave the track to breathe for a few days and come back with fresh ears and a more technical perspective.

The initial creative moment is a very intimate spark for me, and coming home from a tour with memories of people dancing feeds directly back into that process. I think it’s a loop I’ve been living for decades, so by now it’s naturally part of the way I make music.

As a teenager I discovered electronic music through Orbital, William Orbit, The Chemical Brothers, Underworld and Leftfield, but it wasn’t until my university years that I really had the chance to experience it live. I still remember seeing Alexander Kowalski live in my hometown and Joris Voorn at Sónar in the early 2000s… beautiful memories. While at the same time being really inspired by the more elegant and introspective side of house music, with artists like Luomo.

It’s really difficult to pick one specific moment after so many years. Closing Sónar in 2015 after The Chemical Brothers felt like a full-circle moment, and playing Berghain in 2012 was really special too. Then there were many special summers playing at different clubs in Ibiza, and of course many Anjunadeep shows where I’ve felt that same connection and joy… Explorations, Printworks, Los Angeles…

But probably my closing set for the Anjunadeep Open Air in London in 2019 felt like the start of a new chapter in my career.

Anjunadeep Explorations has definitely become something very special for me. I’d never experienced anything quite like it before. You actually get the chance to meet and connect with people who share the same love for the music, in a very unique environment. It’s difficult to explain… you really have to experience it.

Of course! Dancefloors have changed because the world has changed too, but some things stay exactly the same. I love seeing different generations experience music in their own way, especially younger people discovering ’90s records for the first time. Trends come and go, but some music is simply timeless.

It really depends on the situation. I still prepare my sets a bit like in the old days… think about the intro, a few key moments, and leave the rest open. I love improvising and finding that balance between new music, my own productions, edits and a few classics. For shorter slots at big festivals, though, I usually go straight to the point and play mostly my own productions.

I’m a very sensitive and introspective person, so my mind is pretty much always active. Creating is actually a kind of therapy for me, never an “obligation”. I’m naturally very curious too… I’m obsessed with movies and series, especially sci-fi stuff. I listen to all kinds of music beyond electronic music, and I find it quite natural to translate things I see, hear or feel into sound. Touring is also a big source of inspiration.

More ‘Passion’ EPs. This is really just the beginning, so stay tuned!