He's just about to release his brand new single 'Cantona Kung Fu' on Tsuba Records, Kevin Griffiths speaks to ATL Dance...

ATL: Hi, and how the hell are you today?
I'm very well thanks. Am in Australia for a tour/holiday so I've missed all the snow back in the UK. Not gutted about that one!!

ATL: Let's get started then. First musical memory?
My brother playing his Madness 7"s, especially 'baggy trousers'. I then bought the Adam Ant album and have been hooked on vinyl ever since.

ATL: Have you ever played Ireland and if so where, when and how was it for you?
Never played or ashamed to say even been to Ireland. Someone invite me please, I'd love to come!

ATL: Now, what prompted you to get fully involved in dance music?
I've always loved music and knew I wanted to work around it. I was a bit of an indie kid as a teenager and got into dance music through the 'baggy era' in the late 90's - Stone Roses, Happy Mondays and that scene. Paul Oakenfold (when he was good!) produced the Mondays and used to do 12" mixes so those records really got me into clubbing. It wasn't long after that I got a pair of 1210's. That was nearly 20 years ago and i still can't get enough of it.

ATL: What's been your best clubbing experience?
John Digweed at a night he used to do called 'Babelicious' in 90/91 at a small venue in Kent. It was a really exciting time for me, having just really got into dance music. Having said that, every year there are always some amazing parties. Last year's secretsundaze at Sonar was brilliant, surrounded by the best music (mountain people were playing), good friends, cold beer and sunshine.

ATL: For non dance music, what are you listening to at the mo?
As I'm away in the sun at the moment lots of dub reggae - trojan and soul jazz do the best comps. I've also dug out David Mancuso's Loft compilations released on Nuphonic, packed with old funk & disco gems. A more recent album is Adele who has an amazing soulful voice.

ATL: So, do you have any famous DJ mates and if so, who, and what are they really like? Go on you can tell us...
Ha, not really! I won't name names, but generally the bigger the DJ and diary the bigger the ego. I think some DJs reach a certain level, take too many drugs and lose the spark. You get the feeling they are in it for the wrong reasons. I've heard some awful sets by some very big DJs. For my label Tsuba I like to work with talented, grounded artists that are easy to get along with and are in it for the music. They are the best DJs I find. Guys like Peace Division, Eric Borgo, Dean from Bearweasel, Dyed soundorom, Sam Okain and Spencer Parker.

ATL: What is really the best club in the world?
Fabric for me. I've played there a few times now and did room 2 in september last year which was nerve wracking but brilliant. It really is such a great soundsystem and is such a well run club. It's a special venue and now The End has closed is even more important.

ATL: Your criminal record - what's the worst piece of music you've ever played out?
Cripes, probably some dodgy bootleg when I used to do bar gigs. About 5 songs mashed up into one!

ATL: Who is the best DJ in the world and why?
That's a tough one as I like lots of DJs and it depends on the mood, club and time. I really rate Craig Richards the Fabric resident though. He plays lots of old house records amoungst the new stuff and isn't afraid to experiment. Eric Borgo is also very underated - he's technically brilliant and plays amazing records. Luciano spotted his talent and snapped him up for his Cadenza agency.

ATL: And when will we see you again then?
I'm starting my Australia tour this friday in Brisbane, then it's onto Sydney for two gigs, Melbourne, Adelaide and back to Sydney to finish off. I did it last year as well and had a great time. Adelaide, the smallest town, was one of my best gigs of 2008 - a totally up for it crowd going crazy to underground house music they had never heard before. Doesn't get better than that!

ATL : Ok, giz your top five tunes and bugger off...
1. Livio, Roby and George G 'Invers De Palma' (Cecile)
2. Okain 'Trouble' (Tsuba)
3. La Pena 'Keep Moving' (La Pena03)
4. Spencer Parker 'My Heart' (Rekids)
5. Kevin Griffiths 'Cantona Kung Fu' (Sascha Dive Mix) (Tsuba)