42. Steve Aoki

Steve Aoki

In December, Dim Mak Records boss Steve Aoki will release his debut album, the project he's been working on for the past three years. But he's not made it easy for himself, which probably...

Style: Electro-house

Best known for: Dim Mak Records

Tune of 2011: AutoErotique 'Turn Up The Volume'

Breakthrough DJ/Producer of 2011: Skrillex

What's the future of DJing? The music will always be the most important thing. DJing itself doesn't have to change.

Favourite app? “My girl's favourite is Solitaire. I'm a Solitaire spectator.

Discovery of the year? “My luggage that transforms into a scooter. I live and die by it. It's incredible.

Rediscovery of the year? Signatune' by DJ Mehdi. Mehdi changed the game, one of the most incredible human beings on the earth. Playing his music gives me back those memories.

Awkward Moment? I played at the Identity festival in the US. The rain was going sideways. Nothing was working. It took an hour to fix the sound, I played for 10 minutes and then they shut down the show. This rig takes six hours to build, and I play for 10 minutes

Style or substance? “If you have substance, then style doesn't matter

Pet Hate? Merch issues. I come from the rock world, so I always bring merchandise to gigs. And clubs just don't know how to handle it

In December, Dim Mak Records boss Steve Aoki will release his debut album, the project he's been working on for the past three years. But he's not made it easy for himself, which probably explains why this set has taken so long to formulate. His list of collaborators are probably pretty tough to tie down; people like Black Eyed Peas main man will.i.am, Lil' Jon, Tiësto, Laidback Luke, Chiddy Bang, Travis Barker from Blink-182 and Rivers Cuomo from Weezer.

“Even with busy people, there's always time,” he says. But surely will.i.am, what with being perhaps the most sought-after hitmaker on the planet right now, he must be tough to get hold of?
“Well, we did 'I'm In The House' together a few years back, so he's a good friend,” he says. “When he is in his zone, it's like magic. He comes out with hooks and ideas instantaneously. He's one of a kind.”
A slew of singles will be following before the end of the year too, so it may be impossible to avoid Aoki in the coming months. In a good way. Obviously.