Dean Demanuele is part of a small but spirited Maltese scene that’s helping to put his small country on the map with regards to electronic music. With releases on the likes of Mobilee and his own Dazed & Confused outpost, he’s undoubtedly a man on the rise, while his country’s stock is only set to rise even further this summer thanks to Annie Mac’s Lost & Found festival, which takes place in April. We checked in with Dean to see what he had to say about it all recently… You’re from Malta, right? Was it a good place to experience electronic music as a teenager? What were your first experiences of...

Ralf Kollmann, alongside Anja Schneider is the figure head of the illustrious Mobilee imprint. Coming into their 10th year as of 2015, evolving and adapting to the current climate is a given, but sticking to their roots and aspiring to further their brand is a must. We ask Ralf to confess his outlook with 5 simple questions… 1. Best label party I have been involved and why is… Definitely our own event series in Barcelona at the Hotel Silken Diagonal rooftop. Its a very special atmosphere with a stunning view over the whole city. A very intimate happening with random people from all around the world that all make friends towards...

French producer Acumen has resided over a period in house music where both minimal, tech-house and more recently, straight up house music were the norm. As such, the Time Has Changed owner if well qualified to chat about the perils of modern day dance music and the state it finds itself in. And as it happens, he’s quite optimistic about where it’s all going – which is no real great surprise when we consider the wealth of brilliant music that both he and his two labels (the  other being Thrill of It) have summoned up in recent times. Considering all of this, we settled down with him recently for a quick chat to discuss his new EP, life in...

Steve is playing at Fire and Lightbox, South Lambeth Road, SW8 1UQ, on January 1 from 6pm-6am. Admission: £10-£50. www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?640380 Since launching his label Viva Music in 2006, Birmingham born and bred ‘King of Space’ Steve Lawler has gone from strength to strength. Now with summer behind him the DJ talks about quality over quantity and why people need to put down their phones and enjoy the music. Following a busy summer touring South America and the US where he played 20 gigs a month, Steve has finally got a chance to put his feet up. “I’ve got six or seven gigs in December, then only five in January and February....