House supremo and former half of Everything But the Girl, Ben Watt opens his heart to Across the Line in this revealing celebrity interview. He plays Stiff Kitten this coming Saturday (19th May). Be there, or remain cuboid.

Hi, and how the hell are you today?
Adequate in a Thursday morning kinda way

Let's get started then. First musical memory?
My Dad coming home at night from jazz clubs with musicians and friends and being got out of bed and sat in front of the speakers at 3 in the morning to listen to Basie, Roland Kirk, Bud Powell while they played poker.

Ever played Ireland and if so where, when and how was it for you?
Played in Cork for Greg and Shane a few times - great, enthusiastic, knowledgable crowd. Electric Picnic two years ago with Laurent Garnier was superb. Dublin, Waterford and Belfast gigs have all been played to crowds who know their music and appreciate my approach and pacing.

What prompted you to get fully involved in dance music?
A mixture of recording techniques with EBTG in the early-mid 90's (our own stuff like Missing, Walking Wounded, and collabs with Massive Attack, Deep Dish etc) plus Howie B's insistence that I should become a DJ!

Last piece vinyl you bought and is it going to finally pop it's wee plastic clogs soon?
Some rare 7 inches for my jukebox. A couple of early stax singles.

Best clubbing experience?
Ones that leap to mind are Lazy Dog 2000-2001, Good Vibrations festival in australia 2005, The End in London on any of the many NYE's i've played there, last week at Plastic People for the insane Buzzin Fly may bank holiday special!

Your house is on fire, you can only carry one piece of vinyl or CD out, what will it be?
Original pressing of Dusty in Memphis.

Non dance music, what are you listening to at the moment?
Bartok, The Unbending Trees.

Do you have any famous DJ mates and if so who, and what are they really like? Go on you can tell us...
Most of the top flight DJs i respect are the ones who remain the most grounded. I've had nothing but good experiences with Laurent Garnier, Francois K, Roger S, Danny Krivitt... and I guess I avoid the company of those who need an extra DJ booth for their egos such as... oh, no, I won't go there...

What is really the best club in the world?
It needs several ingredients - the room, the system, the DJ, the crowd, the music and the stimulants... On a good night, any club that gets these right is the best place.

Your criminal record - whats the worst piece of music ever played out?
What do you mean! I stand by every single tawdry moment.

Best DJ in the world and why?
I can remember some great nights when everything came together effortlessly. I remember being mighty impressed by Mark Rae rocking a front room full of 40 people at a house party in Venice beach using only vinyl and a home hi-fi system last year...

And when will we see you again then?
When you least expect

Please give us your current Top 5 tunes...
The Unbending Trees - Alfred's Lovesong (Strange Feeling)
Pig and Dan - Touch (Cocoon)
Mlle Caro and Franck Garcia - Always You (Buzzin Fly)
Stereotyp - Keepin Me, Fauna Flash remix (G-Stone)
Kaos - Panopeeps (Unknown)