Frizz: I managed to catch a couple of the Cocoon parties this summer, what can I expect from the new album?
Sven: You should buy it and hear it! It's quite a special mix because we sampled and tried out a lot of sounds and atmosphere from going out. It's the Cocoon ritual from beginning to end - that's what makes it so special. Jezebel: What's your favourite track on your new mix album?
Richie: The Legowelt. It reminds me of the Cocoon night, with Sven playing at the end and people going crazy!
Amyl Nitrate: Why do you think the Cocoon night had such a buzz in Ibiza this year?
Sven: There was a missing link musically on the island and I think we solved that with our style, pure house and pure techno music. The people at Cocoon are real music lovers and that's what they come for.
Steve Sherwood: How about you two guys setting up a regular Cocoon night, or tour, in the UK and bringing the deepest, twisted techno tunes with you?
Richie: Sven and I have spent a lot of time together at the Cocoon nights in Ibiza and we try to play more regularly together as we're good mates. Hopefully we'll play everywhere in the world eventually.
Craig Duffy: What are your opinions of Mauro Picotto, and the criticism that he receives for not being a 'proper techno DJ'?
Sven: The thing is that Mauro is quite known for his commercial music and suddenly he's changing his opinion and wants to become a techno DJ. Maybe it'll take time for people to believe he's now into techno and not trance anymore.
Mr Choonz: Do you see yourself always playing Techno?
Richie: I always see myself as playing the most progressive form of progressive music at the time and techno means that to me - so yes. Techno to me means any type of electronic music. If it's good, if it's progressive, I play it.
Andrew Lauder: In a time when DJ's like Fergie and Picotto are crossing over into other genres like trance for financial reasons, what are your thoughts on the current state of techno?
Sven: I think as a producer, Mauro made a lot of money when he was in Trance and now it's difficult I think for him to change his opinion - I don't know the idea behind it.
Richie: Techno for me has never been stronger. The last 6 months alone has seen some of the most amazing records in the last 10 years. When I began 12 years ago the only reason I got into Techno was because it was the music that spoke to me - the rhythms may change but the attitude will remain the same.
Michael Knight: What's your favourite piece of kit in the studio?
Sven: I like the 303 and the 909.
DJ Archaozz: Can you explain how Final Scratch works and how has it changed your live sets?
Richie: I think it's really too long to explain how it works - maybe visit www.finalscratch.com It allows me to bring more tracks with me. If people saw me playing over the summer they'll know we were playing so much and I was able to do that as I was bringing 2000 records with me. It gives me much more potential to make my sets more interesting.
Craig Duffy: What are your current top records?
Sven: KOMPAKT - Pocket Game. It's got mad guitar rifts and vocals, and crazy stuff.
Richie: It's by Matt Johnson from Vancouver. It's no.7 on a record label called 'It is what it is'.
Kris: How did you two meet?
Sven: In New York at the new Music Seminar in, I think, 1991. I bumped into him at a hotel in New York and he gave me his record Fuse - I was so proud of it and I played it a lot afterwards at my club The Omen in Frankfurt.
Richie: He then invited me and the rest of the people on the label over to his party at The Omen - it was totally wicked.
Mark Snook: What's in store for us kids tomorrow night on the Essential Mix?
Richie: It's more of an after-hours set. A bit like listening to me this summer about 12 hours into my set.
Sven: It's more like the middle of the night, techno full on - groovy, wild and hypnotic.
Dog Doctor: Who would you most like to hear an Essential Mix from?
Richie: Either Derek May or Jeff Mills - Detroit 1988 style radio mix.
Sven: Andrew Weatherall together with Ricardo Villalobos.
Alec Empire: Richie, does your brother have a book out of his artwork, the one on the front of the Fuse album is amazing, I'd love to see some more of his stuff.
Richie: No - but you can see his stuff online at mhawtin.com.
Warhol: I love the artwork on your Plus 8 label - do you have much influence on it?
Richie: About 70% of the artwork, especially the labels, I used to do myself. I have a lot of influence on the overall look of the label. I am now a seasoned professional at Corel Draw.
Craig Duffy: Sven, do you and Green Velvet have meetings to decide who's going to have the next 'interesting' hair style?
Sven: I had the chance to talk to him at the Cocoon party in Ibiza this year - but we didn't talk about haircuts!
Blaine: Who do you most admire in this business, and why?
Richie: Mike Banks from Underground Resistance. He's stuck to everything he believes in and hasn't been swayed.
Sven: Also, Underground Resistance were at my club - I invited them to the Plus 8 party and to The Omen. Robert Hood, Jeff Mills and Krafwerk inspired me to go in this direction.
Richie: Also, Daniel Miller - he runs Mute Records.
Sven: And John Peel!
Prog: You both spend a lot of time in Japan. What makes the techno scene over there so vibrant?
Sven: The Japanese people, if they like
something they really go for it 100%. They especially go mad for German Techno. I really like the food, the technology, the architecture, the way the people work. This year on New Year's Eve Rich and I are playing together at the Womb club in Tokyo. We're celebrating our 4th anniversary today and we're having a huge party in the Cocoon club tonight. We will be playing the Cocoon parties around the world, in Tokyo and Ibiza.
Sir Arthur: Which artist would you most like to remix?
Richie: That's a hard question. Right at this instant it would be Ricardo Villalobos, but I think if we tried to get together in the studio we wouldn't get any work done as we'd talk too much. It would be a big party!
Sven: Maybe a remix of 'The Girl from Ipanema'.
Stumpy: What is the strangest thing that has ever happened to you whilst DJing?
Sven: I was playing in Israel at the beach in Tel Aviv and suddenly the police stormed the party and asked for my passport. I had to stop the music to show them my passport and everyone was booing. It was a strange situation!
The Sleeve Wizard: What was your first ever gig like?
Richie: It was at a teen club in Ontario and it was really good as it was full of my friends and we played all the hits of the moment - Front 242 and Kraftwerk. It was fun. I wasn't really nervous back then but I get nervous now.
Marge: What do you want from Santa for Christmas?
Sven: Marzipan!! A chocolate cake with marzipan inside.
Richie: I want a Land Shark - I just saw it today. It's a cross between a Jet Ski and a motor bike - it goes 200 mph!
Limbo: Richie, why were you banned from entering America?
Richie: That was because I was working in America without the right paperwork. I wasn't able to enter the States until it was all sorted out, but it gave me some good time in the studio to record Concept 1.
Trevor Savory: What are your favourite UK venues/nights?
Sven: I played at the Orbit club in Leeds over 10 years ago, the End in London, Atomic Jam at the Que club.
Richie: All of the above and you can't forget Slam in Glasgow, and Lost in London.
Woodsman: Who do you think should have won the top 100 DJ poll?
Sven: Ha ha! How can you say the top ranking DJ (Tiesto) is the No.1 in the world? No one knows him in Germany. I've never heard him playing. I think Rich is no. 25 and I was a bit in shock when I saw that Timo Mass was behind me as he's working hard in Ibiza, the US and South Africa.
Elephant Man: If you weren't a techno DJ/ producer what would you be doing now?
Richie: I was originally going to school to go into cinematography and special effects.
Slate: Have you got loads of groupies?
Sven: I always have groupies around me - it's part of the deal!
Richie: That's why I hang out with Sven - to get the extra groupies!
Lady Chatterley's Lover: Have you ever visited an internet chatroom?
Richie: 6 or 7 years ago I was using IRC sometimes. My chat name was different every time.
Jim: When are you next in Glasgow? And what do you think of the Scotish techno scene?
Sven: I've only been to Scotland once, I'm sorry! I played in Edinburgh and had a great time. Next spring I'll be there, and at T in the Park.
Richie: I don't think I've ever done a bad party in Scotland. Slam and T in the Park were amazing this year. The Scots just go for it and it's always amazing.
Christalmighty: What was the first record you ever bought?
Richie: I remember having a Shawadawaddy record! And a record called Disco Direction for my 9th birthday. One day I'm gonna sample it!
Sven: Chic le Freak. A disco tune from the 70's.
Stewart Alan: What records are you most proud of producing?
Richie: Concept 1.
Sven: All of them.
Russell: I saw you at 3am on the Ramblas in Barcelona...did you enjoy playing at Sonar 2002 and will you be going back next year?
Richie: Yes - it was ok, but I look forward to playing some smaller parties in Barcelona next year.
Radio1-Webteam: That's all we've got time for. Here's a final word from Sven and Richie...
Sven: Thanks for spending time to chat with us and hopefully you'll come to our next party and definitely check out the Mix CD - The Sound of the 3rd Season.
Richie: Thanks to everybody who joined in. Happy anniversary to the Cocoon posse and I will see everyone next year for Cocoon season 4.
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