Louie, tere was a video of you DJing recently in Miami. Was that your mum you were with at he party? Does she go to all of your gigs?

You know a lot of my parties here in the US are family orientated. My mum, my sisters and their daughters, they all come out and they love this music. It was my mum who was rocking out and the other woman was my aunt! You can see the video at www.defected.com/tv.

Did the music that they played when you were growing up influence your style now?

As you know I have Latin heritage, Salsa music is a big part of my growing up. I had a very famous uncle singer named Hector Lavoue signed to the label Phonia, I also listened to Elton John, Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, and got I got musical influences from my sisters going to clubs and being club queens in the late 70’s and 80’s. They brought a lot of records from Zanibar and the Loft, Paradise Garage and The Gallery.

Did you go to any of those clubs?

I used to go to the garage when I was 15 years old, I remember what Larry Levan was playing when I first went in there and it was amazing. He played Candido – Thousand finger man, Street Player - Chicago, a lot of those records that influence us today were played in the club. I still play those records today.

I guess you could say that Larry Levan was a role model for you.

Yes he was a role model for me as a DJ, a producer and a remixer. He remixed and produced tons of great records, the Beach Boys, Grace Jones, Gwen Guthrie and even Mick Jagger.

What about your legendary underground Network Party?

I took a break for a couple of years and then I met Don Welsh who was Barbara Tuckers partner at the time. He had already started the underground Network at Elite. They asked me how I would feel about being the resident DJ at all our parties every Wednesday. Then they came up with the concept of making it a music industry party where all music industry heads could hang out, dancers, DJ’s etc. and so we went over to the Sound factory where we had seen Frankie Knuckles playing. It was bumping and we loved the club.

I guess that was your first residency?

Exactly, things will stand out if you like them you like them, if you don’t you don’t. I play music that I like, music that gives me chills.When you play a particular song, you can see the reaction from the people. It is a question of how you bring it in and what you do to create a dynamic vibe. You can make a crowd sing a song just by the way you are playing it or you can accent parts that people what to sing it or say it, even if they haven’t heard that song before.

When I play there is certain energy, I got to admit it now to this day as I have inspired a lot of people and it feels really good to have touched and inspired these people. I’m proud and honoured to be able to do that, weather it’s a DJ or a person on the dancefloor.

How is it changing for you is it getting better or worse?

It is changing, obviously the vinyl, we have had a great run for the last 15 years and it has been wonderful and is dwindleing and is becoming more of a purist thing, with my releases at Vega Records we still take care of the purists, that is something that is close to my heart obviously because I am a DJ and I still collect vinyl, even though I play CD’s when I’m travelling. I have a huge collection of vinyl.

Give me some of the names that are on the inspirations CD?

Denise Williams, Summer Madness, a Tania Maria song that she did last year, Twisted by Ultra Nate the four hero production, Donnie Hathaway, Valdez In The Country.A really beautiful vibe!

Can you tell me about any amazing DJ experience that you have had?

The Beach in Miami, it was amazing, my mum was there, my wife was there, my son was there, my friends and family from all over the world, I had a great time, they were on the beach on the sand in Miami which is very hard in these days. We had Anane performing live, Mr V, Nina doing the Cerrone song that I was telling you about earlier. We had a poet named Ovi, who is a new guy that I’m working with now for my elements of the life album. It was such a great party.

Sounds like you have a lot going on Louie!