Dance music has its fair share of self-appointed pioneers, but Canada's John Acquaviva is the real deal. Acquaviva's career stretches back to the late eighties when he founded the Plus8 imprint with Richie Hawtin, home to Hawtin's Plastikman and F.U.S.E works as well as early Speedy J and Kenny Larkin twelves. Acquaviva was also one of the first to tout the Germans: Back in 2001 he released 'Mainhatten Sound', a compilation of tracks from seminal techno stable Force Inc., which was also one of the first ever mix CDs created with Final Scratch. He was also one of the first to embrace electronic music's digital future: if you didn't know it already, Acquaviva is always wearing a Beatport T-shirt because he founded the company - together with Hawtin, Bad Boy Bill and a few business partners, and he's one of the online store's proud dads.

Yet Acquaviva has never been one to rest on his laurels. In the past twelve months he's relaunched his label Definitive, releasing electrohouse by a stack of new talent. He also took on Ibiza with a residency at Privilege, one of the biggest clubs on the island. Finally, he also squeezed in a new compilation 'Acquaholic: The True Electro Experience', seventeen cuts of ravey electrohouse for Germany's biggest dance label Great Stuff.

Is there anything John Acquaviva hasn't done? RA chats to John Acquaviva about Beatport, electrohouse vs. minimal and running off to join the circus.

What have you been doing today? How do you usually spend your time when you're not DJing or producing?

Today? I'm at my home office having one of those days which consists of listening to a ton of music: demos, promos and new releases on the Internet, primarily from Beatport; and answering emails and phone calls. It's great to be busy, but all this stuff needs to be done outside of those late, social, glamorous hours in the club.

On the diary on your website, you describe a recent trip as, "seven gigs, three studio sessions and 23 flights in fifteen days." How many interviews? How many afterparties? Is that fairly typical of your schedule these days?

Not too many interviews although I never say no. On that tour there were no after parties. I have so many requests and gigs that often there is only one flight to catch and you can't attend after parties. I really enjoy them, but when you have gigs everyday, it's tough to manage.

Besides your family, what's something you miss from Canada when you're on the road?

Nothing really. Well, perhaps my home Canada is a more affordable country and we can have big homes. So that's a real luxury we appreciate here. Space is soothing.

Recently, some DJs seem to be flying their parents in to their international gigs. Perhaps it's the only way they can get to see them. Have you ever brought your mum or dad along for the ride to one of your gigs or to your Acquaholic nights in Ibiza?

Actually no. Though I travel to Europe with my parents and extended family. I'm more keen for my kids to know where I come from and to learn about European/Mediterranean culture. My parents are also getting quite old.

So, what were you working on during those three studio sessions?

Heh heh. A new EP with David and Julio from Fresco. They are based in Barcelona and we have two very nice tracks: 'Bungee' and 'Ethanol'. Then I was in the studio with some young artists on my label Definitive, Damon Jee & Olivier Giacomotto. Olivier is hot as his remix of 'Volta - just hit number five on Beatport today. Those charts are not hype but sales, so it is nice for young friends I believe in to have this sort of success and acknowledgement. The third session I was starting a new single with my good mate Lutzenkirchen.

"I can handle and often play some minimal music. I just can't do it for a whole set as I lose patience."

So about your new song 'Bungee'. Have you ever been bungee-jumping? What's the most dangerous thing you've done in your life?

I've never been bungee jumping, but the bass on this track is so crazy that we had to call it that.

The most dangerous thing I've done is flying. I love to fly and because of that I have gone to remote parts of the world where there are no roads, sometimes in rickety helicopters or single engine planes. Once we were flying in an old single engine plane from like 1950 in Northern Vancouver Island trying to get back to a city while a storm was approaching. The weather was super bad and we were being thrown through the air. We had to fly very low because the plane had no instruments - it was only guided by daylight and the pilot's vision. The clouds were low and we barely kept above the trees. I should have died then but luckily am still here. (smiles)

You're spinning again at Turnmills in London soon. How does London, Canada compare to London, England?

Well, I do live in the second biggest London on earth. There are many others so my London is quite nice. It has about 350 000 people so we have everything. But to be honest, it pales in comparison to London number one for the most part.

You founded Beatport together with Richie Hawtin and some other partners almost three years ago. You're obviously a proud dad of the company as you're often photographed wearing a Beatport T-shirt. How many of them do you own? Can we expect any other lines? Beatport boxers, perhaps?

T-shirts or companies? (laughs)

Of course, your relationship with Richie Hawtin goes a long way back to when you both founded Plus 8 Records. The maximalism of your current ravey, party electrohouse sound is the polar opposite to the minimalism of Richie Hawtin. What are your thoughts on minimal techno in 2007? If you had to play a set of minimal techno, would it do it for you?

I am a music junkie and have a bit of everything. In the eyes and ears of some people Rich and I are far apart, but we are really quite eclectic and broad in our tastes. I tease him that he has a more rigid image in the eyes of many, whereas I am not as well known or defined. I quite like it like that. I can handle and often play some minimal music. I just can't do it for a whole set as I lose patience.

Who's your favourite electrohouse producer?

There are so many. Basically all the guys I invited to play my night in Ibiza fit that billing.

"Dance music is like looking in the mirror everyday. You never see a change, but if you look at a photo from one, five, ten, twenty years ago you go 'Wow!'".

What's coming out next on your label Definitive Recordings?

We've just released Robot Needs Oil 'Volta', which is a new artist by the name of Greg Kobe from Poland. Eastern Europe is where a lot of the youth and energy is at these days. Then we have Lazar from the old Yugoslavia as well as releases by Damon Jee & Olivier Giacomotto. Those are all the young and talented producers I really like so I'm releasing them.

You've been in the music biz for a quarter of a century. Who or what do you think has most shaped the dance music scene?

I will answer this in a different way. Music has always been about the beat in the community of a big or small club. For me the perfect combo is like a triangle: a great venue, the crowd and DJ all coming together. Dance music is like looking in the mirror everyday. You never see a change, but if you look at a photo from one, five, ten, twenty years ago you go "Wow!". For the most part, everyone has their say and like a bacteria that refuses to die, it just hangs around and keeps evolving.

Technology has played a big role in your career. Is there a piece of software or hardware, or a service that you'd still like someone to develop?

Not right now as the last five years have delivered a lot of our dream products like Final Scratch technology.

If you weren't a DJ and producer, what do you think you would be doing instead?

I studied and have a degree in mathematics and statistics. Boring. As I tell many preople, much to the chagrin of my parents and the amusement of my professional friends, I ran off and joined the circus - kind of like the lion tamer skit in Monty Python, though a different ending for me. So I guess I probably would have been a banker or in the insurance business. Perhaps in a parallel but more dreary universe.

Finally, what is one record (not necessarily dance) that you wish you'd produced?

Ravel's Bolero. Those were the days too, you know. A bit of a silly answer but I would have loved to sit in the sessions of all my favourite records. Any Moroder session, Kraftwerk, some one hit wonders - were they lucky or did they really know what they were doing?