When it comes to Honour Roll worthiness, they don’t come much more qualified than DJ Harvey. With a musical trajectory that began as a 14-year-old punk drummer in Cambridge, he’s gone on to be many things to many people: cult hero, re-edit revivalist, Balearic don and above all, a DJ who plays from the heart.

When Harvey traded his drum-kit for a set of turntables, it was hip hop that consumed his hours. With the “gangsterisation” of rap and the rise of acid house, the DJ shifted focus to feel-good dance music. As the ‘80s became the ‘90s, his open-ended parties with the Tonka collective gained notoriety around the UK. It was in these halcyon days that he also made a name as a resident at the Ministry Of Sound and his own Moist club night with distinguished guests like New York City titan Larry Levan.

What earned Harvey his mythical reputation abroad, though, was his creative partnership with Gerry Rooney as Black Cock Records. Picking up where Ron Hardy and Danny Krivit left off, their disco edits are now collectors’ items.

For the last ten or so years, Harvey has been in “self-imposed exile” in the US while he awaited his Green Card. In that time he’s dreamt up a range of projects – including new production outfit Losussolus – but his main game has been enjoying life. As he blissfully puts it, “I think I could actually have a good time anywhere”. He helps that good time along with the famed Sarcastic Disco all-nighters, regular stints in Hawaii and a daily surf.

With his new freedom to roam the world, Harvey has Australia (and its beaches) in his sights. Down the line from his studio, the dance music renegade steps up for the inthemix Honour Roll.

First things first – how was your Thanksgiving?
It was really good; I’ve lived on nothing but turkey for the last week. It’s a fun diet. I think I’ve got pancreatic problems now.

With your newfound freedom to leave the US, have you been travelling like crazy?
I haven’t been back to England yet, but I got my green card at the beginning of the year. I did a major tour of Japan and Europe and even popped down to Mexico. When I haven’t been on the road I’ve been in the studio, but it has been nice to get back to the rest of the world and see that people still remember who I am. That’s good!

Do you think the time away has only amplified your reputation abroad?
In some respects. If you’re away from a scene for a long time, in some respects absence makes the heart grow fonder. With all the modern technology people have some idea what I’ve been up to. My reputation has remained intact, and it was nice to go and make a personal appearance. I think that still counts for something; for people to see that you really do exist.

The crowds were probably 50-50; half old school that would’ve come out before ten years ago, then the other half a whole new generation of kids who were maybe 12 or 13 then. It’s all good. The scene is really strong actually. It’s still quite small, as in most of the clubs I play are still 500 to 1000 people. But it’s definitely global, I can travel to Australia or Singapore or Reykjavik and there’s a club there for me to play in.