13. Gareth Emery

Gareth Emery

Given that Gareth Emery played to over two million people in 40 countries over the last year, you wouldn't think the Southampton-born trance DJ would sound so surprised that he sold out h...

Style: Decks, clubs, rock and roll

Best known for: Selling out (clubs and festivals!)

Tune of 2011: Gareth Emery feat. Mark Frisch 'Into The Light (Benjamin Bates Remix)

Breakthrough DJ/Producer of 2011: Craig Connelly.

What's the future of DJing? The end of this obsolete fascination with genres. Just let the good music speak.

Favourite app? BlackBerry Messenger. This alone makes an otherwise crap phone worth having.

Discovery of the year? Nando's Black Card. It basically gets you free chicken for life. Not sure how you acquire one, perhaps mentioning them in a magazine could help?

Rediscovery of the year? X-Press 2 'Muzikizm'. Still sounds incredible today.

Awkward Moment? Getting thrown out of Ministry Of Sound on a night off. Actually I shouldn't say that, they'll probably be checking the CCTV now.

Style or substance? Substance of course, but the reality of modern-day dance music means that some style is required for success as well.

Pet Hate? Laptop DJs. 30 minutes setting up to press play on a pre-recorded set - fuck off!

Given that Gareth Emery played to over two million people in 40 countries over the last year, you wouldn't think the Southampton-born trance DJ would sound so surprised that he sold out his debut seven-hour solo set in Manchester six weeks in advance. “The fact everyone was there just for me made it really special,” he beams.
One fan who didn't make it was Britney Spears, who helped Emery to another personal first this year - his remix of her 'I Wanna Go' track was his first proper 'pop' remix, which Britney herself deemed “so hot!”.
Emery admits his more purist trance fans were less keen, but they shouldn't worry that he's jumped ship, given that Emery's Garuda label is still banging out underground anthems and he's working on the follow-up to 2010's debut album, 'Northern Lights'. He's also planning on expanding this year's full live show - featuring singers, guitarists and ivory-tinkling from the classically-trained DJ himself - into an on-the-road extravaganza. For Gareth Emery, it really is the more the merrier.