Riva Starr

Metamorphosis is a wonderful thing. Just as the caterpillar enters a cocoon to become a beautiful butterfly and angelic teen Barbie dolls enter a nightclub to become messy harlots, so has Stefano Miele experienced a ponderous transformation of his own. Previously celebrated as international breakbeat superstar Madox, in 2008 he did a musical Megatron and switched to producing bouncy tech house under the guise of provocative new kid on the block, RIVA STARR, although it hasn't been such an instant switch. "I have always been producing and playing house music so with the common elements it has been quite natural," explains Starr. "When you think that someone like Locodice started out producing hip-hop and are now producing what they are, it shows that you can be really diverse."

His profile was really catapulted into the stratosphere with appearances at the 2008 Miami Music Conference, where he caught the ear of most of the big name DJs with some well timed hot releases and blinding DJ sets. "I didn't go this year [but] it was a really good experience when I went in 2008. I played at the Dubsided after party with Switch and Sinden, Jesse Rose and Claude Von Stroke which was insane! It's such a great place to be, the streets are filled with all of these big DJs with one thing in common: they are all drunk!" he laughs.

One thing that separates him from other tech house producers is that he is always trying to change up his sound so he doesn't keep churning out the same sounds over and over again. "I am working on an album at the moment," reveals Starr. "There is a lot of groovy housey stuff on there as well as something with breakish elements too."

Having had such continuous success as an artist, performer and remixer it would be safe to say that he would feel some pressure to create big records every time he stepped into the studio. Not so, Starr replies confidently. "No, I don't feel pressure to make hit records. Some producers are scared that they do not want to disappoint people and just make tunes for the club. I see it as being more about fun and not just 'business.'"

Having played at massive festivals all across the globe, it begs the question, which does he prefer - the intimate confines of a club or the balls out hedonistic nature of a music festival? "Actually I have fun at both. At festivals you can play the more banging stuff and you get to hang out with lots of other DJs and it's really fun but to play in a darkish club with a more intimate vibe is really good too. I love to play a lot of after parties so I can get the best of both!"

Keep busy this upcoming Queen's birthday long weekend by checking out Riva Starr as part of the awesome Warehouse Winter Music Festival lineup. It's on Sunday June 7 at the AIS Arena. Tickets on sale now from Ticketek and Landspeed Records.