So, in the space of a week, we bring you two interviews, with two of the biggest DJ’s around. Enjoy this one, as we dig into the one and only Pete Tong…

Is it still a buzz being there with millions of listeners as they start their weekend?

Yes of course there is, I wouldn’t do it to be honest. It is the biggest fun about doing the R1 show particularly compared to any other kind of radio show you’ve got one of the biggest network and online listeners which has always been really important to me.

You’ve started a new show on Thursday nights as Part of R1’s in music we trust programming. Tell us more about it.

The BBC have got a general remit to get more involved in new platforms and to get the younger audience to enjoy the output of the BBC in a more modern way. It’s getting harder as there is more choice and there is more and more competition and more fractions in terms of the audience and how they enjoy their media. Radio 1 is at the forefront of the BBC and is getting out there and getting amongst it. These shows, of which there are 4 of them and I am doing one are meant to be gateways I suppose, or a one stop shop for all things that are happening in the world of electronic music and dance music. It is a great opportunity for me as they are really getting behind them, they have started really well and I think they will start pushing them more next year once all the legalities have been sorted out about podcasting as the new shows are designed to work first and foremost as a radio show, but they are designed to be enjoyed as shows that can be downloaded to your phone or iPod or MP3 player or to listen to online.

You do a night called Pure Pacha in Ibiza and this will be your 4th consecutive year. How have the parties gone this year and what have been the highlights?

The highlight for me this year is that is wasn’t just about one night and it was about every night. It was about the residency as opposed to the dj’s. When I started it I was taking over from Ministry which was a high pressure night we had all the biggest names in the world on the night so you tended to look back on the season and you could say that was a good night and that was a good night. After 4 years, it’s really the party that is bigger than any one DJ. I had a really great opening few weeks with Laurent Garnier doing the opening party, but it’s been really consistent throughout the season and we had a really good ending with Bob Sinclair.

You also recently launched your own compilation series with Universal. What is the idea behind the series and will there be another volume coming soon?

I’d like to think that I can do 2 CD’s every year, one that reflects the more cuttings edge nature and what I do in the club and another one that used my reputation and goes on television and sells as many copies as a possible which is good for all the producers and musicians. It’s all very well being uber cool but then you only sell a couple of thousand copies. My current album is called the Essential Dance Hits, which is basically the biggest records I’ve played throughout the summer over the past six months hopefully put together quote tastefully.

How did you feel when you reached #1 in the music podcast download chart?

It was a good achievement but it harder and harder now as you have the BBC, Channel 4 the Guardian using them as a marketing tool for their other businesses.

Last year you produced some of your own material under varies guises. Will you be making more of your own music this year and will you be doing any interesting collaborations?

I recently did a track with Paul Harris and Jay P which should come out before the end of the year and I want to do more, but time is the biggest problem in the equation is time. I get asked all the time to do collaborations, but it’s something I’ve got to get more of a discipline in and force it into my agenda.

What else can we expect from Pete Tong in the future?

You’ll have to wait and see.

Cheers Pete. There you have it.