Alongside his legendary countryman Richie Hawtin, John Acquaviva is undoubtedly the most revered identity to have emerged from the Canadian electronic music scene. His career spans more than two decades, having established seminal record labels Plus 8 and Definitive with Hawtin in his early days, as well as blazing new trails in technology in more recent years as one of the earliest champions of Final Scratch and Beatport. His newest find? The Pacemaker hand-held DJing unit that gadget freaks have been frothing about in recent months (check the YouTube clip below for a demonstration). Heading to Australia this month for a national Onelove tour, inthemix caught up with the electronic music’s elder statesman to find out where it all began, and where he’s heading in the future.

How and when did you catch the electronic music bug? From my understanding you were already established as a DJ when you founded Plus 8 and Definitive Recordings with Richie Hawtin?

I caught it as a young boy listening to dance music on the radio. Most people listened to rock, but dance music gave me the energy I craved. I immediately started to by 45s of all the songs I loved, and I tried to select and play songs at school parties, sneaking in clubs underage. I became a backup at the city’s best disco, and in 1982 at the age of 19 I became the number one DJ in the number one club in my city. So over the 80s I used my money to buy records and a studio… then met Rich at the end of 89.

Looking at tracks from your recent back catalog, such as ‘Zombie’ on BluFin, there is still a raw techno vibe with your take on electro house. Is this intentional or just the “Acquaviva” style?

I think both. I like to have an edge and push it when I can. Not always, but often.

You are also known as a major supporter of Beatport, and – with Richie – one of the early beta testers for Final Scratch before it got picked up by a wider audience. What do you feel is the next advancements in DJ technology and how is it going to effect the consumer?

About 7-8 years ago people thought we had lost the plot when we introduced Final Scratch technology, but Richie and I were adamant that our world needed to catch up and truly embrace technology at hand, as well as champion others that were incubating. The super cool and exciting thing of late is pacemaker… a handheld DJ device from Sweden and the company Tonium. This will help everyone to mix their favorite tunes and save them.

Were you surprised at how quickly Beatport became the quasi-standard on digital dance music and how it was delivered to the end DJ/punter?

You always hope, but we are certainly humbled by the extent. I guess people really were waiting for digital content for their digital technologies.

Are there any up and coming producers that we should be keeping an eye out for that you recommend?

I am biased cause he is my label mate now, but Olivier Giacomotto has come a long way the past year. Kid Dub is no slouch either, look out for him.

Over 25 years being active in the music industry, if you were to play your ultimate track what will it be and why?

There is a time and place for everything. I might play ‘In My Life’ by the Beatles at a funeral, ‘I Feel Love’ in many circumstances, or ‘French Kiss’ by Lil Louis. On the other hand, something more edgy and techno if called for… just like you can’t eat one type of food, or at least that’s how it is for me.

Word is you’re based in Europe now. How have you found cultural change from North America?

I keep one foot in each continent. People don’t realize that both Rich and I were born in Europe but grew up in Canada. I am from Southern Italy, so I love the Mediterranean. I typically spend most of my summers in Europe with the family, then back to Canada for school.

John Acquaviva tours Australia for Onelove this April:

Apr 17 – Monastery, Brisbane
Apr 18 – Metropolis, Perth
Apr 19 – Tank, Sydney
Apr 25 – Prince of Wales, Melbourne
Apr 26 – Platinum, Gold Coast

Check out this clip to see the Pacemaker that Acquaviva mentions in action: