Benny Benassi was born in Milan in 1967 and then grew up in the provincial town of Reggio Emilia, Italy. He started DJing when he was still at school and has been producing with his cousin Alle Benassi for about ten years at Off Limits studios. His first as a producer was with the track "I feel so fine" by KMC feat. Dhany which went to n°1 in the UK club charts in 2001.

The following year, working under the BENNY BENASSI presents THE BIZ trademark, Benny and Alle came up with "Satisfaction" and in one fell swoop ravaged the dance-floors and dominated sales charts round the world. The album “Hypnotica" followed. In the meantime Benny and Alle produced more melodic dance music under the Benassi Bros. banner. The charts of half the planet gave them thumbs up.

1. Hi Benny, Can you tell us where you are right now and what you are doing?
I'm on a bicycle writing the answers as I pedal to the studio, in northern Italy. The studio is in partnership with my cousin, Alle. He's my musician and producer.

2. How did you begin to work professionally in music?
I always wanted to be a DJ and started as a teenager in a club near where I lived. I started producing with Alle over ten years ago, now.

3. You have been at the forefront of modern electronic music for some time now, where do you find the inspiration to keep things fresh?
I don't know. I still like to listen to what younger DJs are doing and am turned on by it. As long as that lasts, I guess I'm connected.

4. What is your favourite track you produced and why?
It's hard not to say “Satisfaction”. It changed NY career and my life. But I also really love “Love is gonna save us” and the new single with Kelis, Apl and Jean Baptiste, called “Spaceship”. It'll be ready for the summer.

5. You recently collaborated with Kelis, can you tell us more about that?
It's a series of coincidences. My management sent a beat to a writer in L.A. called Jean Baptiste Kouame, who also features on the track. He's a great guy, writes for Rihanna and Black Eyed Peas, among others. He wrote a great melody and hypnotizing lyrics. We loved it and asked him what he thought it would sound like with female vocals. Without saying anything, he sent it back after two weeks with Kelis on it. Then we said, hey that's great now we need a rapper. So he sent it back with Kelis and Apl, as well as himself.

6. You debuted on the Ultra Music Festival Main Stage in Miami with Kelis performing live, how was it?
It was an amazing set and there were people as far as the eye could see. I really enjoyed it. Kelis came on and sang Spaceship and the remix Alle and I did of Acapella, her new single. She was irresistible.

7. Having fulfilled your greatest ambitions, is there anything else you feel you want to achieve in the music world?
I am a lucky person. Well paid to do what I love and I get to see the world, too. But the stimulus to be creative and work with new writers and singers never goes away.

8. If you hadn't become a massive DJ what job would you have been doing?
I would have tried to become a professional cyclist.

9. You are special guest at Toolroom Knights, Ministry Of Sound on May 1st, what do you think makes the Toolroom parties so special?
I've always been a fan of Toolroom. I mixed a compilation for them last year. I've done quite a few TK parties, now, and I love it. TK really gets electro and everyone seems to enjoy getting involved.

10.And what can the crowd expect to hear on the night from you?
I wish I knew.

Interview in courtesy of Toolroom Knights.