When I started working on electronic music, that was after the rave period. I haven't even seen that part of it that much.
There's always so much music around me now, it seems like everything has to be something with music, so in my spare time I try not to listen to anything. It's so hard for me to listen to something without trying to see a benefit in it: 'Maybe I'll make my own version of that track or maybe I'll do this or that.'
I have my guy Semi who is my on the road - he's my personal trainer. He helps me out with training and stuff like that, and he's shown me a lot of things I can do on the road. We were trying to figure out something that I can do everywhere, like in my hotel room, so I don't have to have a gym.
When it comes to electronic music, I started listening to a lot of Daft Punk, way before I knew what house music was, and then progressed into a lot of Steve Angello, Eric Prydz, Axwell, Sebastian Ingrosso, and Laidback Luke.
I think I am a pretty good judge of character in general and try to surround myself with the best people I can.
I guess I think like deep inside, I know that it's like, it's a different kind of performing, it's not really... You're not performing like a guitar player or a singer is performing, you know what I mean? So it's weird to be in the same type setup as one of those. 'Cause I'm not really doing much, you know, like technically it's not that hard.
It's hard - some people get inspired by a feeling, but I'm mostly inspired by melodies.
I actually only started listening to house music around the time I started making it. I got hooked both to making music and to house music.
I have always been mainstream. It's so weird, because I don't see it as something negative at all. So many people see it as something negative.
I always used to travel without a passport case, and because of it I think I'm four passports in. I bought this small Tumi case to protect my new one, and it works really well, not just for protecting it but also for keeping credit cards and small stuff. I just throw it in my bag when I'm traveling, as opposed to stuffed in my pocket.
I've always worn a lot of Ralph Lauren, and plaid shirts in general have been a signature piece for me. With plaid, you can look super-relaxed or you can look a bit dressed up.
House music originated in America, and it has always been around, but I guess it just got a tighter hold on Europe and other parts of the world.
I don't really look at the charts at all. If anything, I try to out-do what I've done before. I try to make music that I like and I trust my own judgement with what will work with a wider audience. If you compare yourself to the charts, you lose perspective on what you're doing and why you're doing it.
Obviously there is stuff that I wouldn't play in a club that I play at festivals, and vice-versa, but my sets are still dominated largely by my own music. I think that's what makes me stand out a bit. My music is also festival- and club-friendly, so it generally works out well.
I have a hard time writing music when I'm on tour.
For me there are two types of country: There's the shoot-yourself-in-the-head country, and then there's really good country music.
I've always been a producer - that's how I see myself first. The DJing came second as a way for me to be able to perform.
When I started out, I was Avici with one i. But on MySpace, that name was taken.
