WAX LYRICAL: CLAPTONE

Swooping in with the pinpoint accuracy of a hawk, dance music fans have quickly fallen prey to the siren sound of Claptone. It was a delectable edit of Wu Tang's "C.R.E.A.M." that first made the half-bird, half-DJ dominate club play and top the German Club Chart in 2012. This nostalgia for hip-hop’s most recognizable piano keys, fused delicately with deep house, remains a favorite amongst the mystery producer’s hyper-expanding fan base to this day.

And Claptone’s just getting his feathers warmed up. A new EP is due out on Exploited Records in the coming months from this enigmatic artist who conjures club magic from behind a gilded pointy mask.

So as the golden-beaked anomaly flies ahead, and everyone else strains their birdbrain in an attempt to catch up, we flagged him down for five minutes and got him to squawk.

What was your first-ever rave experience?
“I'm sorry to let you down, but you won't get me to brag about my first ever rave experiences some 20-30 years ago with this or that now legendary DJ headlining in some warehouse, castle or forest. I could though.”

Most crucial dance record of all time?
“Daft Punk - Homework”

Three albums that never leave your stereo?
“Portishead - Dummy”

A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders”

“Pink Floyd - The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn”

What's your lights-up, end-of-the-night tune?
“Sometimes you have a secret you just can't reveal.”

If you could meet anyone – alive or dead – who would it be?
“God.”

Imagine the world is going to get tomorrow. What are you gonna do tonight?
“I would take my mask off.”

Three words to describe clubbing in Y3K...
“Deep, emotional, frantic.”