If you were in amongst the sizeable crowds that rolled up for Erick Morillo at Future Music Festival 2010, you’ll know the house kingpin can still work a mainstage with ease. Over this New Year’s party marathon, Morillo is bringing his bag of “future hits” back here for Summadayze and Summafieldayze, plus a NYE club show at ivy in Sydney.

So what’s Erick Morillo been up to in 2011? Plenty, actually, as you’ll be unsurprised to discover. We got on the phone to the DJ, producer, Subliminal Records boss and frequent flyer to hear his summer plan.

It looked like another blockbuster Ibiza season at Pacha for you in 2011. Any standout memories?
This has been our 13th summer doing Wednesdays; it was absolutely phenomenal. Ibiza was absolutely jamming. I can’t believe how many people were in Ibiza this summer. People come to Subliminal because they love good music. I’m just happy to be keeping up that tradition.

I think this summer the highlight for me was welcoming Danny Tenaglia to my party at Pacha. He’s definitely one of the DJs I always looked up to as I was coming into the scene, and to be able to share that night with him in August was definitely a highlight of the summer.

What is it about Danny Tenaglia that inspires you?
Danny’s a legend. He was already a star in the late ‘80s, early ‘90s. He’s a DJ’s DJ. The records he plays you can’t get anywhere. He makes his own remixes, so when you hear a Danny Tenaglia set you’re hearing music only he has.

You guys obviously share a passion for marathon sets, too.
Absolutely. He’s a king at what he does, and that’s why it was such a pleasure to work with him this summer. If I had to go hear anyone play, he’d be it.

Is that what a true DJ is for you; having those records or versions you can’t get anywhere else?
For me, it’s about creating a vibe. It’s not necessarily about having music no one else has; it’s how you present it. It’s about taking people on a journey.

It must be interesting for you to observe that after all these years, the US is going mad for dance music right now…
It’s really taken over. Back in 1992 when I went to England and was introduced to the DJ culture, hip hop was the culture here in America. To see dance music now becoming the culture in America 20 years later, finally, with MTV playing dance videos, it’s amazing, y’know?

Places like Las Vegas are doing incredible business. I just played to 7,000 people at Marquee. Vegas is like Ibiza, but all year round.