Benny Benassi's take on music, creativity, girls and Italian cuisine

BB: That moment doesn't scare me, and I don't try to follow what the market demands; in our work we simply try to do what we like more, what gives greater satisfaction. And in general, I see what we do as entertainment. If you are a DJ, then first of all you have to enjoy yourself in order to make others enjoy themselves, so that others have fun together with you. We work as a big team, and inspiration comes from every direction. For instance, one of my colleagues once heard a car horn, and it inspired him to create the track Satisfaction. So the source of inspiration can be different in every case: some old samples, or someone randomly striking a chord on the keyboard - all of this can serve as a source for many tracks. As for Satisfaction, the fact that the track became a hit is probably what all musicians want, because they always really want the music they like to be liked by everyone else too. At the same time, it doesn't scare me if what I do next isn't popular - let it be however it turns out. I don't know what the future holds, and I don't think much about such questions. I live in the present, I have fun with what's happening now, and in general I think I've simply been very lucky already. I always land on my feet like a cat. I'm very lucky in this life. And still, of course, it is a very piquant feeling when people like what you do, and that's why I don't want to consider myself an underground DJ; I like being a DJ who makes music for people. During my performances I really love to play good music that people like and that entertains them. That is very important to me. And sometimes during a performance you can see me sending an SMS from my phone. Someone might think I am texting my favourite girls, but in fact I usually chat by SMS with my cousin, telling him how the show is going, what the atmosphere in the room is like, whether the crowd is into it, what the energy is... Every one of my sets is special, unique, because I make it as an improvisation, based on what the crowd wants and the atmosphere there. I never prepare my sets in advance - I know very well the records I bring with me and I can improvise. I'm lucky, because I am the famous DJ Benny Benassi and all the record companies rush to refresh my record collection every week and send me new ones, so I am up to date on all the musical events.

BB: I like both of these things, because they complement each other. Lately I've been devoting a great deal of time to studio work and, at the same time, performing a lot. For example, this month I have to play at 11 parties, and that's a third of the month. I really like that I'll spend that third having fun, because every performance is a big thrill for me, and there's never too much of it. So, a third of this month I spend having fun, a third sleeping, and the other third - I'll think of something to do. Because of such a packed schedule, unfortunately, I don't have enough time to listen to other DJs. I really like Erick Morillo's technique. I've also had the chance to work with the Canadian DJ Tiga; I really like his music and the effects he uses, I like his sound. Lately, unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to work with other DJs, because I'm busy even on weekends. I also work a lot in the studio; various musicians often come to me asking me to make remixes of their tracks. The foundation of my music is the characteristic low, juicy bass. I understand that all these artists would like their tracks to be played at the discos. And so, to make them danceable, we use precisely these low basses, which are a hallmark and our sound. As was the case, for example, with Outkast, Tomcraft, Sonique, Electric Six - this technique was applied to them.

BB: I myself don't really celebrate holidays like Christmas and Valentine's Day, and I don't pay them too much attention. As for all those in love, I'd like to wish that every day be like Valentine's Day for all lovers. In general I fall in love practically every day, because practically every day I travel to a new place, a new city. At the moment my personal life is a bit tense - I'm always off somewhere on tour, on the road, but if in some place I meet a girl and I like her, then it's very pleasant to run into her again somewhere half a year later (joke). And in general, I really like meeting people in supermarkets. Because you can see what a girl is buying, which products she prefers, what she eats. You can strike up a conversation about what's in her basket and get to know her that way. But there's one problem - married women, who are often already mothers, go to the supermarket (joke).

BB: By the way, I cook quite well myself. And, naturally, the thing I love most in the world is pasta, the typical dish of Italian cuisine. I can make pasta for any taste. Personally I love fish very much, but I don't eat meat at all, so if you like, I can make you pasta with fish or with seafood.