By calling his debut compilation ‘Maximize!’ in 2007, Berlin producer/DJ Shir Khan made a clear statement of musical intent, though two years on he admits his subsequent success has brought him more than a few dilemmas. “I think some people misunderstand me in Germany right now, they think, sound-wise, that I’m a new Justice adaptation because I’ve played with them a few times. I have 100% respect for them but actually my DJ sets are becoming a little deeper again. Of course I’m not playing tech-minimal but I am playing music that’s more stripped down. I’m also not playing so many hits any more.”

“It’s interesting, sometimes I talk to friends who tell me ‘you should be playing new rave, you shouldn’t be playing old records, you’re known for your maximal style’,” he chuckles. “I say ‘I try to play some music that matches people’s expectations but I try to bring it in new directions.’ Of course, sometimes people are disappointed but I think it’s important to move forwards. Recently some people have started telling me I’m becoming quite a techno DJ but I don’t think that’s true.”

Whatever label he’s described with, he’s certainly pushed himself far beyond the confines of Berlin, where he started out five years ago spinning mash-ups and bootlegs when all else in Germany was minimal. He now presents a weekly Tuesday night show on leading German radio station network Radio Fritz, inviting guests such as Soulwax, Riton and WhoMadeWho onto his program. He’s also a major star of the blogging firmanent, though he’s no longer so devoted himself, he admits.

“I’ve started listening to some of my old DJ sets for inspiration,” he says. “What’s happened with these blogs is that you get individual tracks that become hot for two weeks then there’s already another track that comes along and it’s really hard to stay on top of all the music and to know everything that’s coming out right now. It’s a hassle so I decided to play lots more older music again and to make it sound fresh in a new combination.”