Hot Air: House & Techno Conversation With Mike Boorman

The man behind the legendary We Love at Space in Ibiza gives his view on the current state of DJ booking and programming of nights. He also reflects on his glory years at Space, and then how he struggled to come to terms with his exit from the venue.

An enlightening discussion with Chris Coco about the finite detail of sunset DJing, coinciding with the release of Chris’ new album My Favourite Place (Before Sunset). Who knew just how many permutations there are?!? Proximity to the equator, cloud cover, time of year… it all counts! Chris' new album is available here: https://chriscoco.bandcamp.com/album/my-favourite-place-before-sunset

Greg Wilson goes deep with Mike Boorman on the relationship between creativity and political unrest. Could these be good times for creative scenes? Or is the marketplace too fragmented and too disaffected to be truly innovative? Using musical history and philosophy from the likes of Alan Moore and John Higgs, Greg sets about answering these questions, and while he’s at it, gives a whistle-stop tour of his psychedelic musical collective, Super Weird Substance.

The founder of International Feel puts the world to rights with Mike Boorman as we find out how his minimalist lifestyle has underpinned his creativity. He also offers a great insight into the circumstances that helped shape International Feel and ultimately his career, and sets about explaining the changing path of the label from boutique underground to something with far wider commercial appeal.

Andy Cato sold his share of the Groove Armada back catalogue and now dedicates most of his life to his organic farm in the south of France. He had no experience of farming, but after extensive research he became certain that he had a formula of sustainable farming that would be profitable but also good for the planet. Did he pull it off? And does this mean the end of Groove Armada? In discussion with Mike Boorman, Andy tackles the bigger issues of geopolitics, consumerism, the link between chemical companies and government subsidies, and just how much food the human race actually needs to survive.

Rebekah speaks to Mike Boorman about her mental approach to life and to music, and how this has changed through the years. From a socialite party girl on the Birmingham scene, Rebekah transformed herself completely to become a teetotal grafter who eventually conquered Berlin. After initially attracting the attention of Chris Liebing at CLR, Rebekah discusses what life has been like after the demise of CLR; the creative rationale for her debut album on Soma; and whether gender debates are useful in this day and age. Tracklist: 1. Rebekah - Confined Heart 2. Rebekah - Fear Paralysis 3. Jake Conlon - Groke 13 4. Rebekah - Code Black 5. Rebekah - Again

Dirtybird founder Claude VonStroke talks to Mike Boorman about the importance of humour in music. He explains how his own spoof DJ name came about and accidentally helped him sell more records, how the Dirtybird character was originally an in-joke with his brother, and he goes into detail about what Dirtybird stands for beyond just the sound of the music. You can catch Barclay on his European tour this summer. Dates here: http://www.claudevonstroke.com/

The house Godfather cuts through the bullshit and speaks to Mike Boorman about the evolution of the remix through the eras, and tells us exactly what he thinks about today’s standards. How have things changed since the golden days of $25,000 remix budgets from the majors? Morales also recounts the chaos of running his own nightclub and his recent experience of doing a Simon Cowell and judging a DJ reality TV show. Never one to pull any punches, this was a frank and amusing exchange. Tracklist: 1. Rare Pleasure - Let Me Down Easy 2. Michael Jackson - Remember The Time (Silky Soul 12" mix) 3. Jamiroquai - Space Cowboy (David Morales remix) 4. REM - Losing My Religion (Timmy Regisford remix)

After being rigged up to a hypnagogic light machine, H.O.S.H talks to Mike about his passion for lighting in a club, and goes into detail about his own club-lighting concept that synchronised a giant roulette wheel with the key and rhythm of the music. He also talks with great enthusiasm about his new label and album, and how he’s adapted to becoming a father for the first time. Tracklist: H.O.S.H - The Drumpet Show Thievery Corporation feat. David Byrne - The Heart's A Lonely Hunter H.O.S.H - Karma David August - Instant Harmony

The energetic Loco Dice talks in depth with Mike Boorman from theransomnote.com about the art of mixing genres. Dice deconstructs his creative journey, explaining how a brash hip hop kid from Dusseldorf became a world-famous house/techno DJ, and how his latest hip hop-infused album represented a completion of his own creative circle. He reacts to the criticism he received for the album, and pays homage to the people who first inspired him to cross genre.