“I play the music I have always been into. And so does John ‘00’ Fleming. He’s one of the few genuine people in this viper’s nest of cunts that has his integrity intact.”

It was a trademark John Askew moment when the Discover Records A&R veteran and longstanding DJ/producer sank the boot into the trance scene, living up to his reputation of speaking his mind. It’s always been the case, but this year he’s slid in alongside Fleming as one of the scene’s most outspoken critics, and simultaneously, also one of its most strident supporters when it comes to keeping it real.

There have also been plenty of other developments in Askew’s professional life that have seen him stepping into the spotlight. Earlier this year he left his post at Discover to take up residency at Paul Oakenfold’s enduring Perfecto Records stable. Signaling the next stage of his career, it also marked the moment where he pulled back from his hectic DJ schedule to play a more considered selection of gigs.

Of course, this didn’t stop him from signing on as one of the headliners for this year’s Godskitchen tour, and it’ll be his most anticipated Australian tour yet. Here ITM talks to Askew about battling his way through the viper’s nest, and what’s in store for the trance scene moving forward.

It’s not an exaggeration to say you’re being talked about more than ever before this year. Do you feel like you’ve moved into a different stage of your career over the past few months?
That’s interesting to hear. I have definitely changed by approach to pretty much everything relating to my own DJ and production career. I now focus 90 percent of my time that’s available for this side of what I do towards making music. I now do a hell of a lot less gigs – say 9 or 10 over a couple of months, and then three months off with no gigs at all.

I have also cut away all unnecessary and hugely time-consuming online self masturbation that seems to have become so essential for those who care about “working their way up the ladder”. My website is now gone except for a holding page with details of the most upfront release or remix, and I use my Facebook to cover any other important news and Twitter is more for talking shit. Other than what new music is coming up, and what live shows I am doing – is any of the rest of it of any interest to you? Biographies, press shots… Would someone please pass me a cigarette and a loaded gun (undecided on whether it’s for me or them).

As some of the hugely popular trance jocks have moved towards a more mainstream sound, you’ve been positioned alongside the likes of John ‘00’ Fleming as one of the alternative voices in the scene. Was it ever your plan to play that role, or did it just happen that you slid into it?
I play the music I have always been into. And so does Fleming. He’s one of the few genuine people in this viper’s nest of cunts that has his integrity intact. I haven’t changed my style for about 15 years – except maybe the BPMs have come down to a nice steady 140. Why would I ever play anything other than the music I was into?

The attraction of making more money and getting a higher position in the DJ Mag Top 100 is a seductive prospect for a lot of impressionable young DJ/producers, and I entirely sympathize with those who get sucked into it, but I’m not impressionable. I make the music I want to make and enjoy playing it to an underground of like-minded people who are also fans of that sound.