Ok, if one person, band or artist could get you musically, who would it be? You know – the one that just seems to always find the right notes that will play in your head perfectly so you don’t even have a choice whether or not you want to dance? Well, Moguai is it for me. Every original song I’ve heard from him has just made my feet take over my body. I’ve played his songs to death to the point that everyone in a 5km radius is over him. So it is no wonder that I had big expectations for the first show I’ve seen of his.

This man’s just gotten back from a few days in Byron so anyone would expect that he would be, to say the least, relaxed. As such, the show got off to a relaxed, slow start and I was beginning to doubt my faith in this his ability to make me move. After a few tracks my faith was restored as he managed to pick the crowd back up. Again, more tracks from the Ministry of Sound’s ‘NastyDirtySexMusic’ album (did DJ’s all around the world get a ‘bulk buy’ on these records or what? I’m not complaining, just noting how influential this album was. To tell the truth, I was a little disappointed in the whole show – I expected to be stomping my feet for the full three hours, but found more ups and downs than a rollercoaster. Having said that, this man deserves a complimentary certificate from the Red Cross for resuscitation, because every time I felt the crowd die, he put out a golden original, with tracks like ‘Get On’, ‘Freak’ and ‘U know Y’, all pumping the crowd into gear. This combination of originals and a few favourites like the remix to Blur’s ‘Song 2’ managed to keep everyone on their feet.

My English teacher once told me that a good story is defined by a good beginning and a killer ending. I’m not sure if Moguai delivered on the good beginning, but he really managed to wrap up the show well sending me home floating with my head full of good tunes.

I was actually a little surprised that the owners of Family/Empire decided to plug Moguai at Empire and not at Family, even he mentioned how small it was compared to what he was used to. I did however manage to catch up with Moguai in the intimate environment that is the Empire before the show and asked him a few questions:

Who was the artist who most influenced your music?

I’ve been mainly inspired by the artists I have travelled and worked with, artists of any style, not just electronic music, they can come from anywhere – from bands, or from classical or from rock and this inspires me. I am also influenced by life, when I’m watching television, when I see fashion – whatever.

First piece of vinyl you ever owned?

It was Falco – Der Kommissar (The Policeman), he was number one in America with that track at the time.

How are you finding Australia so far?

All the time I am here it has been very special for me. My first tour was around 2004 and every time I come back I get influenced in a particular way that I am getting calmer, more like Australian people, not too stressed like we are in Germany or in Europe. I’m very happy to be hear right now. I’m looking forward to coming back.

If you could be any animal, what would it be, and why?

I could imagine myself being a lion as Leo is my star sign.

Best and worst gigs?

The most incredible moment I’ve experienced was when playing in Berlin in 2001/2002 in front of 750,000 people. It was the most amazing moment in my DJ life. The worst gig however, was one in Vienna in 1994. I threw it out of my hat. It was horrible.

Where are you going to from here?

I am going back to Germany, then the Czech Republic to play in Prague then to Miami.

Favourite track you’ve ever made?

It was of course ‘U Know Y’, because it was a huge opener for me to the international market

Favourite cartoon character?

It may be old, but Asterix, that, or a character of Yugi-oh…I can’t remember his name.