Along with the promise of Sandwell District, Creamfields has another star offering for techno fans in 2011 – the back-to-back pairing of Motor City dons Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson. The two DJs will be together for three hours at each show, celebrating 25 years of Detroit techno under the Hi-Tek Soul banner.

Rather than a ‘one-on, one-off’ arrangement, the sets will see May and Saunderson in the mix together. We spoke to both figureheads recently to hear why it just clicks for them.

“You know, we were at the beginning of this whole movement and we enjoy playing together,” Saunderson says. “We’ve got four decks, four CD players, drum machine, keyboard. Derrick’s a little more traditional on vinyl, while I’m on Traktor. It’s a good incorporation of just great music; us vibing off each other. It’s not really planned out, but we’ve got a good ear for music, and together it brings a different type of energy.”

“Hi-Tek Soul is funky, groovy, electronic soul,” he continues. “It doesn’t mean it’s slow or super-fast; it’s just got a pulse that you can feel. It’s definitive to the ear.”

May, Saunderson and Juan Atkins of course make up the Belleville Three, originators of Detroit techno. Playing together is second nature for the Creamfields-bound pair.

“We can work on eye contact,” says May. “Even when there’s problems and things aren’t working right, we still just have to look at each other to know when not to be selfish, when to jump. We’ve got that down to a science.”

Look out for the full interviews with both Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson on inthemix soon.