He’s one of the biggest names in the hard dance scene worldwide, and since he was born in New Zealand and is now based in Australia, it’s fair to say we’ve been quick to adopt Steve Hill as one of our own. The list of accomplishments on his CV is vast to say the least, and when reading his bio you’ll be taken aback by the rather staggering array of achievements it throws at you. To give you a taste, he’s played 1,500 shows in more than 50 cities, performing to a combined total of over 750,000 people. He’s released over 150 productions, which have sold over 500,000 singles and appeared on 2,000,000 compilation units. Want more? Then keep on reading, as ITM catches up with the reigning ‘King of Euphoric Dance’.

You are described as a pint sized Kiwi, though you’ve clearly proved that big things come in small packages! You are huge in hard dance production, even nicknamed the ‘King of Euphoric Dance’. What does it all mean to you?

You can’t be competitive when making music. It just doesn’t work. You either make a big record that everyone likes or you don’t. Some of it is chance, some of it is luck, some of it is talent – but a lot of it is hard work. If you want to be the best you have to work at it. No one has ‘made it’ for a long period of time and not worked at it and given it their all. I never really get a chance to reflect on past achievements because I’m always looking to the future. The day I do is the day I’m not working hard enough. Put simply I just do what I love which makes achieving things a whole lot easier!

Does the ‘King of Euphoric Dance’ have his own King?

Indeed. We are all ruled by someone. I am ruled by the clubbers). If I don’t perform, I am thrown to the lions.

You entered the international hard dance scene in 1999 with the hit ‘Frantic Theme (Get A Life You Drug Addicts)’, which sold a massive 27,000 copies. Since then you have performed over 1,500 shows in more than 50 cities, playing to a combined total of over 750,000 people. You’ve released over 150 productions, which have sold over 500,000 singles and appeared on 2,000,000 compilation units. I would like to count backwards and ask, where did it all begin?

I’ve been a DJ as long as I can remember. I was working at a record company and shop in North London where we also had a studio. Someone cancelled their studio session – it was a Monday! – so I asked if I could go in and make a tune. 4 hours later we came out with ‘Frantic Theme’ which went on to sell loads of copies, so whenever I wanted to go into the studio after that I didn’t have to wait for a cancellation! DJ gigs all over the world ensued once I had a few big records under my belt. That’s where it all began. The rest is history.

You have been in the industry long enough to have worked with big names, gain a travel itinerary that I could only dream of, produced a astounding amount of hits, performed at some of the most remarkable parties on the planet, remixed everyone from Kylie to BK, and you’re the owner of Masif Recordings, Y2K, VW Records and S-Trax. I could not think of anything else left to do, what is there still that you want to accomplish?

There is so much left to do – especially when a lot of people are genre hopping or putting down the scene that made them. I’ll help prove the scene is healthy, alive and kicking. There are so many good people in this scene; a lot of people I look up to who are really talented who are so down to earth. I love working with them. As long as there are people like that around this scene will be a great place to be in. A lot of what I do now is because I want to do it. I play in 12-15 countries each year now. I play small gigs because I like it up close and personal; I play big gigs because… well they rock. All of them I enjoy. I’ve been really privileged to work with who I have, and to be given the chances I have in life and I’ll never forget who got me where I am. Those people still support me. I’m going to continue the legacy of what I set out to do… nothing will stop me… except the Grim Reaper.

What is the one high light in your life that still makes you go, “WOW”?

It sounds cheesy… but being a dad is the greatest thing in the world. I just got back from a two week tour of Europe and my 1 year old was there to greet me when I got home, and it was one of those moments you went… “WOW!” That, graduating in Honours in Commerce at university, and playing to over 60,000 people at Dance Valley without pissing my pants… They’re all life highlights!

This year you are celebrating 10 big years in the scene, where to next?

Hopefully onto the next 10 years. This decade has flown by… rock on the next!

It can be common for people these days have two residences, but you hold 5 residencies in 4 different countries – the UK, Holland, Australia and New Zealand. How does that work logistically?

The residencies I have change occasionally but not often. A ‘residency’ to me is somewhere that plays me whenever I am in that city or country; I play for them exclusively and am listed on their promo as a resident. I now hold residencies in the UK, Canada and Vietnam as well as Australia and New Zealand.

I read that you have three favourite beers; Heineken, Sapporo and Singha. You have performed in more than 50 cities worldwide, along the way I’m sure the selection would have been vast! How do you manage to have only three?

When I was in Japan on tour they have these vending machines that sell beer – there’s not so many of them anymore, as it used to encourage underage drinking, but it was excellent for foreigners who couldn’t speak the language and just wanted a cold one. So Sapporo in the tough silver cans was best, as they don’t break in the machine when they drop. Whenever I drink them now I think of Japan. Heineken you can find anywhere, it’s like McDonald’s, so that’s comfort food when away. Then Singha, it really quenches your thirst! I have tried many others but those are the faves! It’s funny the amount of people that come up when I play and hand me a beer and it’s one of those three. News travels fast… Sapporo is my fave by a country mile, remember that!

‘Masif Hard Dance Anthems Vol 1’, mixed by Steve Hill, Luca Antolini and Dark By Design, is out now through Masif/Stomp.

Watch the video of Steve Hill going back-to-back with Nervous at Sublime in Sydney recently: