it's all about respect
| an interview with JOHN ACQUAVIVA

With twenty five years of djing and producing behind him, John Acquaviva is a renowned mainstay of the international club scene, an odds-on favourite to rock the party. But being a star hasn't brought with it a superstar attitude. Respect is a word he uses a lot. Respect for the dancefloor, for the fans, for the music and the artists who make it.

"I know what it takes to be a superstar dj but that's almost embarrassing for me because I'm not better than the clubs I play, I'm not better than the people I play for. I do deserve respect in that I travel the world, I've got a great deal of experience. I hope that if people don't like what I do at least they can try to respect it because I have my vision of what music, what clubbing should be. I feel reluctant to put myself above the people, because the people are who have made this scene, so its about an equal three way triangular relationship. A good club has a good crowd and normally has a great dj and when one gets beyond the other two it's not so good. I've been playing almost 25 years, and until the scene exploded there were only a few djs. Anyone who's been around since the early days of the 90's or earlier were doing it because they loved it. The older guys tend to have that respect and that passion for the music."

Co-founder of the Plus 8 record label, John Acquaviva is an important figure in the development of the electronic music scene in Canada and beyond. Based in Windsor, Ontario, and taking inspiration from the music coming out of Detroit in the late 80's, Plus 8 had huge underground success around the world and is still quoted by many artists today as a guiding influence. Aesthetically it takes its signature minimal sound from its other founding figure, Richie Hawtin, with John acting as the label's "ambassador".

His own sound is not easily defined. He cannot be pinned to a specific style or scene, moving easily between techno and house, from classic to minimal, with some electroclash or latin sounds thrown in for good measure. As one of the most versatile djs around, he aims to both educate and entertain his audiences.

"I used to party in a small club with my friends and I was the one they trusted to make the party, to choose the right music at the right time, to let loose on a weekend. Clubbing can be deeper but if it's not then that's all it has to be. You go out and you enjoy yourself. But by changing the music at least I give the opportunity to people to hear different styles, different nuances of what's going on in the electronic world. "

Passionate about djing, he has never felt the need to release his own original material. After having amassed an enormous music library over the past couple of decades, he still finds inspiration in record shopping, and is constantly hunting down new tracks from around the world.

" I've never had the desire to express myself, or on another note I've never had the bravado to expose my inner thoughts. I really like buying records, for me its not going into the studio and seeing how I can impress myself, I like going to a shop and hearing other people from all parts of the world, and saying 'wow, what the hell were they thinking?' I have 2 houses of records, and I can pretty much look at a record and tell you when I bought it, where I got it. "

John is now expanding his repertoire into the digital realm thanks to the recent software innovation known as " Final Scratch ", a dj technology which bridges the gap between digital sound files and old fashioned vinyl. The potential of this technology to change the way djs travel and perform is enormous, and John Acquaviva was one of the first to adopt it wholeheartedly.

" For me it's the best of both worlds. I think djing really is about turntable culture. I don't think cds are the way to go, I don't like the feeling. With Final Scratch I can use the turntable to control what effectively is my record box in the laptop. I have about 3500 songs, that's like showing up at a gig with 35 record boxes. I can also play unreleased stuff that friends and artists give me. Some people have said that Final Scratch makes it easy to play tracks that aren't legitimate, but is Final Scratch the first product to ever allow people to play digital files? Now that digital distribution is catching up so you can honestly download tracks, it's the more honest way to go. The guys at Final Scratch are working to do it right."

Hearing the newest dj technology alongside the well worn classics, the old school and the new school mixing together seamlessly in a powerhouse set is a treat not to be missed. Whether you're in the mood to hear sounds that other djs don't play or you just want to get down in style, this is one superstar dj who will do justice to the name. Don't miss his next Montreal appearance.

John Acquaviva played in Montreal November 29, 2003 at Aria alongside Derrick Carter and Steve Lawler.