These days, Swedish-born Eric resides in Los Angeles. Famously, he has a fear of flying and therefore tends to only play EPIC (that's Eric Prydz In Concert, by the way) dates across the US, preferring to take the more leisurely tour bus route option as opposed to swanky private jets.

His debut studio album 'Opus' that came out earlier this year is indeed a musical composition of tech-glistening, electronic multi-layered wonderment. Four Tet's remix of the title track gave it some extra magic and set the record straight on just one of the directions Prydz wants his creation to go. With epic video and visual accompaniments taking the sounds to another futuristic level entirely, his live shows do the precise job of wowing his fans and securing his place on the world stage.

In the summer, Helsinki's Philharmonic Orchestra paid their own form of homage to 'Opus' with a beautiful rendition that was performed far from the stadium-filled, confetti-busting, megatron-exploding, extra-happy crowds his music is equally at ease with.

His labels Pryda Recordings and Mouseville Records are also ticking along nicely. And with Pryda and Cirez D keeping his alter egos in check, Eric has ample opportunities to evolve as an artist and producer, which he continues to do. HELENE STOKES