There is something in the air in Sweden. The country is home to more dance music luminaries than it is to Eurovision pop idols, and that's saying something. At only 24 JOHN DAHLBÄCK has earned his place alongside other Nordic notables such as Eric Prydz and Axwell. Interestingly the well known 'House Mafia' are not where he draws his inspiration. "It's funny, I don't think of other producers as major influences on me," says a stoic Dahlbäck as he prepares for his upcoming Australian tour. "I maybe like one track, but no specific producers."

How then did such a young prodigy get introduced to the world of electronic music at only 15? His first release came out on vinyl when most other kids his age were more concerned about the impending release of Playstation2. "My cousin Jesper was a pioneer of house music in Sweden and he first introduced me to dance music," Dahlbäck remembers. "I was lucky because my father had a studio at home and I had the privilege of using that from an early age. I would just go in and try to make sounds on his computer."

Jesper and his cousin continued to make techno influenced tracks under the moniker Hugg & Pepp. Yet it wasn't until Dahlbäck founded his own label, Pickadoll, in 2000 that his production work began to achieve worldwide recognition. "I had a few labels before this one, but they were all with other people," he says. "I wanted my own label for original music so I could choose tracks myself that I think really stick out."

With artists including Style of Eye, Sebastian Léger and Zoo Brazil all putting out releases on his imprint, Dahlbäck has come to see Pickadoll as the greatest measure of his own success. "In Swedish 'pickadoll' means 'gun,'" Dahlbäck explains. "I chose it because it was edgy and unusual to me at the time, just like the music I was making. The logo is great; it shows a girl licking a gun. It all fits together."

Australians have their first ever chance to catch John Dahlbäck in action this summer as he helps headline the Stereosonic tour. Fortunately Canberrans won't miss out as Dahlbäck was also in the first round announcement of the Foreshore lineup. The Swede only has positive comments about the scene down under. "I have heard it is crazy good!" says Dahlbäck. "I have worked with Tommy Trash before, after I met him in Amsterdam, and I think that Australian music focuses a lot more on melodies. Over here everything is a lot more minimal. Australian music is not afraid of using more vocals which I really like."

After Dahlbäck's track Everywhere featured on John Course's disc of the 2008 Ministry of Sound Annual compilation, his impending tour has been highly anticipated for some time. "I am just going to play a bunch of new tracks from my next album to really showcase me and my music!" he enthuses.

Catch John Dahlbäck at Commonwealth Park at this year's epic Foreshore on Saturday November 28. Although first and second release tickets have already sold out, third release tickets are still available for $99.95 from Moshtix. GET YOURS NOW!