Paul Woolford is one of the most respected figures in House music, blazing a trail slightly skewered from the centre and making challenging music. An old chum of the Soup, we caught up with him to press him about the advent of his new label, Miami, and why Back to Basics is stiull the best club in the world for him…

"Last time we spoke you were in the midst of a season as resident on Ibiza's most famous terrace at Space. How did all that go and will you be back this year?"

It went really well. It was a year of transition for both Space and for me; although it was my second year as a resident for them I was exposed to many more people than previously, and I don't play it as safe as many have done in that position. It was interesting, and occasionally a challenge but I relish that anyway. I loved going there at the end of the weekend. As well as the pleasure I get from my other gigs, because it's on a sunday, you still get to do all of those as well so it was an incredible summer. I will be back this year, definitely!

"You also seemed to hint at the possibility of starting a new record label, is there anything else you can divulge on this issue?"

YES. The label is called Intimacy and is a complete self-indulgence for me. Musically it's cutting edge and the design is being handled by Trevor Jackson so everything looks very sharp. The first release is a 4 track EP that I have done called "Body Double". I won't be running this in the way that so many people seem to be at the moment, so there won’t be loads of dodgy swap mixes and it won’t be half-arsed. It's the label I have wanted to run since I was a lot younger but never had the balls so I'm doing it properly now that I have the right team around me, no man is an island. The labels I aspire to are people who have done things their own way over the years, people who have taken a part of what's current and bent it out of shape to fit their own vision. That’s what I'm interested in so we'll see how it takes shape. I have a killer techno record from Argentina signed for summer by an artist who is also recording for Spectral as well and there are a few more interesting things in the bag. Watch this space; there will be more information shortly.

"What's forthcoming from you in a production sense?"

Firstly another Bobby Peru single for 2020 Vision. "The Truth/Lies" will be out March 26th and is another departure probably from what people expect from me. Two completely different tracks and two completely different approaches. And then the "Body Double EP" on Intimacy under my own name should be available by the end of April as well. Again the 4 tracks are contrasting each other and it will be interesting seeing what people make of both of these releases.

As far as remixes go, there are a couple due which are Giorgio Prezioso "Pongo" on Gut which is proper stripped down acid-house floor music, and then a mix of a John Shevlin track which takes Drexciya as a major inspiration and goes in that direction.

"You're still resident at Back to Basics, the club where your love for dance music was ignited. What's the secret of its success and could you ever see yourself not being part of it?"

The reason why Basics is still going is because we live and breathe it. We have utter belief in it to the maximum and it's seen all manner of dark days that I won't go into. But none of these things can stop us because when a group of people have complete belief in something and want to make it happen - it will happen. It's still my favourite gig no matter what. And there is no way I could ever envisage not being a part of it. I fucking love it.

"Miami is just round the corner, and this seems to throw up the endless debates that surround its importance. How crucial do you think the conference is, particularly in the light of rival gatherings increasing in importance, like the ADE, MIDEM and Sonar?"

These days it's more of a clubbers thing really. The good thing about it from a dj or producer point of view is that you get to bump into loads of people that you wouldn't normally see together, so that's always great fun...but as far as business goes, most of it's done beforehand anyway. Saying that, I'd rather be doing it there than stood piss wet through in Leeds. It's not crucial, but it is good to be there. I think things like ADE and MIDEM are far more conducive to getting work done because those are industry-led. Sonar is probably a good meeting of both sides. Either way, all of them are an excuse for a session - and what a great excuse.

"Whilst electronic music has lost some of its lure for the mainstream masses, it’s underground has solidified and at the nucleus of the scene now are some of the most hard-working and passionate people within the creative industry. Has the way the scene has warped in the past few years tested your resolve at any stage?"

Not at all, my approach remains the same as it always has been. Work as hard as you can and make it happen. I know that there are various people who have floundered and found things difficult but if you choose not to adapt then you get left behind. I'm not interested in looking back, only forward.