In the world of journalism, cliches are generally frowned upon, except for those moments where they just have to be used. Without doubt, right now is one of those times. Steve Helstrip, the sole member of the pseudonym known as The Thrillseekers, is one of those figures in the dance music industry who has – wait for it – practically done it all.

For those of you not familiar with the popular Brits’ style, perhaps you’re not quite the avid trance fan that you always claimed to be. After all, The Thrillseekers have a host of achievements that would make any artist in the modern day and age envious, including one track (the eternal Synaesthesia) selling a million copies, co-writing a Grammy nominated album (with Ferry Corsten’s Right of Way) and ‘least’ of all having the pleasure of reworking trance royalty like Armin van Buuren and Tiesto. Furthermore, adding more prestige to the amazing accomplishments that have already been achieved, amazingly enough they’ve all occurred over a nine-year period spanning from just 1999 to the present day.

“Oh, I definitely made the right [career] move,” Helstrip says adamantly. “I never really wanted to do anything else and it feels fantastic to have been so lucky with my career. Long may it continue. I always knew that I’d make it in music. But I still consider myself incredibly lucky to be living the dream,” he speaks confidently.

The most interesting thing about Helstrip’s career is that he’s still around, and still producing superb realised trance stormers, so many years after the massive success of Synaesthesia in the late 90s. For a lot of other DJ/producers, such success so early in their career might have led to them burning bright but burning short. Ask yourself this: how many DJs do you know that can honestly say that within twelve months of playing to live crowds, they were invited to play a highly regarded gig at Paul Van Dyk’s birthday party? Steve Helstrip, that’s who, and as it turns out, that was merely the beginning of his already wild career ride but undoubtedly a defining moment in his life and career.

“Oh blimey, there have been loads of big moments. The whole Synaesthesia rollercoaster – the song achieved so much so quickly. Then within a year or so I was remixing for Chicane who’s one of my heroes. And then I was playing alongside Paul van Dyk and appearing on television the world over. It has all been very exciting stuff,” he says, looking back to the heady days of the late 90s for a moment.

Since then, Helstrip has taken his trance-laden sets across the globe to over seventy nations, playing in excess of five hundred gigs. And Helstrip sees Australia in particular as a country where the late-night revelers know how to party. “Music production was, and still is, my first love. [In saying that] DJing is a pretty close second. These days I’m getting a little tired of all of the traveling, but that’s a small price to pay for the immense amount of fun that I have at all of my gigs,” he says.

“I’ve visited Australia on five separate occasions now with the highlight definitely being the Godskitchen tour in December of 2007. The final in Melbourne was mind blowing. Australia’s my favourite country to visit so I’m literally counting down the days until I return,” he says fondly.

Today, with three kids at home, a hugely successful global podcast and radio show alongside constant travel and fan appreciation, The Thrillseekers know talent when they see it. And with a new year having just arrived, Helstrip’s prediction for big things within the trance world in 2009 lies with Armada tech-trance big gun John O’Callaghan and the Netherlands-born Richard Durrand. “They are (both) great producers that seem to be rocketing ahead with their careers,” Helstrip says of the two artists, who’re making a lot of noise on the global music circuit.

About a decade ago Helstrip found himself watching television when a sample came on, leaving him captivated and eventually using it in one of his own tracks. Now, with his tour to our shores in February fast approaching, which at the moment sees him visiting the Defcon festival in Melbourne along with Sublime in Sydney, we’ll repeat the emphatic saying once again in Australia – “here come The Thrillseekers!”

Catch The Thrillseekers experience at the following shows…

Friday 6th February – Sublime White, Sydney
Saturday 7th February – Defcon Festival, Melbourne