Ben Sims is a name now famous in the Techno ring. Delivering his unique 'Hardgroove' Techno sound Ben has established himself as a DJ, producer and record label master. Setting goals and reaching them, means you have to set new ones, no doubt Ben will reach his next set and will rise to even greater heights.

What's been happening in the world of Ben Sims recently in terms of DJing, production, and anything else for that matter?

- Just very busy travelling around DJ-ing, doing remixes and getting prepared for my LP. Also the next installment of the 'Escapism mix series, continuing to push the music I'm into through my labels and starting my own parties with my girlfriend in London called 'Retrovert'.
How do you think techno stands now, globally?.

- Getting bigger in some places and smaller in others, it's always changing, mutating and moving. Right now there seems to be a lot of interest from more commercial orientated DJ's and clubbers.

Where do you think techno is going - what are the sounds and who are the artists?

- I think a lot of people got bored with the avenues techno was going down and have tried to do their best to improve it. But as with all genres, each has it's glory period, it's classic era which it will never repeat. The way forward is to keep an eye on the past.
Personally I look to a certain group of artists to keep me excited. It's important to remember that it's not about computer programs and loops. Yeah you can use that shit but you have to look beyond that too.

Your earlier productions on Killa Bite have become classics - yet they seem to have a stronger house influence than your later releases which tend to be harder and faster - do you still take much influence from house?.

- I did seem to be a typecast for a while and found that frustrating yes. The hardgroove sound is still my thing and still what I'm about but so many people were doing that I didn't the point. I was getting so many shit records through the post that sounded like what I was doing that I just decided to experiment a bit more, which did result in some tougher music but not just that.

I just took time out to reflect on what I wanted to be doing and now the sound has changed and all the bandwagon jumpers have moved on to whatever is 'IN' I can get back to my own thing again.

I still play and make tougher tracks but the warehouse vibe is where my heart is and yes I sometimes it's cool to crank it up a bit, you just have to make it funky.

Among some of your counterparts - people like Samuel L Sessions and Deetron - Detroit is a great influence upon their music. What are your musical influences?.

- Detroit is a big influence, so is Chicago. Most forms of black dance music, from soul to reggae to funk ti hip hop to disco.

A quick search for 'Ben Sims' on one of the peer-to-peer file-sharing programs reveals many of your DJ and production works free for downloading what do you think about that?.

- It's fucking annoying but I guess predictable.

In the recent peace marches in London there was a group of DJs who have been dubbed "Ravers Against The War" - do you see techno having a political role to play in such events?.

- Not really, yeah. Like everybody I have opinions but I fail to see what role Tacho could play. The governments don't even listen to the voters.

Including your work under 'Aural Emote' and your collaborations, you have a large catalogue of your own work and remixes, with about a hundred and fifty appearances on various CDs (including your own). Are there things you're still yet to achieve?

- I'm going through a period of re-setting my goals.

When I started out my goals were to have were to have a record label, DJ regularly and have the people I respected play my music. I've reached that now, so I now want to progress as an artist and record my first LP. I also want to play more varied sets and make more house music.

You've released enough records of your own productions that you could DJ for quite a while without using other people's music - have you any interest in doing a live performance?

- It's possible that I may do it at one of my own parties in London as a test to see if I like it. Although it's unlikely I'll ever do it often. I'm a DJ first and foremost, that's my first love, my escapism.

What can we expect of Ben Sims in Australia - is Escapism Part 1 a good guide, or does it really depend on the mood of the night?

- The vibe will still be similar to Escapism 1. The intensity will depend on the night and the crowd. Hardgroove guaranteed.