John Talabot isn’t your average producer. The Spaniard uses a fake stage name, covers his face in press shots and reveals little about his private life – in short, the producer’s identity is shrouded in mystery. But this approach has allowed his music to speak for itself. Speak it has: the 29-year old’s original productions have appeared on cult labels such as Young Turks, Permanent Vacation and Hivern Discs. His first album, fin, was released on Permanent Vacation last week and received a five star review from the Guardian. Impressive, right?

But it doesn’t stop there. Talabot has been on remix duties for artists like Joakim and Shit Robot. He also enjoys a good ol’ fashioned collaboration, having worked with artists like Pional and Glasser.Talabot has also made a name for himself by mashing synths and samples, using rolling basslines, percussive beats and African chants. In the country for St Jerome’s Laneway Festival and a couple of headline shows, Talabot spoke to inthemix when he touched down in Brisbane on his debut visit to Australia, and his first trip so far from home.

Given that Australia is yet to see you DJ live, can you tell us a bit about what we can expect from your set?
I will try to do what I always do: feel the people. There might be some `70s disco, `90s techno, electronic, house – a little bit of a mixture of everything that I like. I try to be energetic when I play; I like changing the rhythms and the changing the melodies. If you play the first and the last track and you feel like there has been nothing in between, that’s not good.

What’s your preferred method of DJing: vinyl, CDs or laptop?
I actually DJ off my USB stick. I buy a lot of vinyl, but I’ve ripped them all to digital. I realised if I had to choose what to bring on vinyl to a tour like this, I couldn’t only pick 100 tracks because I’m playing something like nine sets while I’m here. I have four USB sticks, the main players and some on the bench in case the others get injured. I use the Record Box program that Pioneer made, which is pretty amazing.

Glasser is also on the Laneway tour, any chance she’ll come out and sing Families live?
It was something that we wanted to do, but at the end of the day I didn’t make it in time. I want to do the live show together, so we’re making it but not this time around. I’m looking forward to seeing her though, I want to hear some of the new tracks.

Your new album is just about to come out, can you tell us a little bit about it?
Yes, it’s going to be released in a few days on Permanent Vacation. It’s called fin and everything on there is new.