A name that brings back fond memories for many a long-time DnB fan, Aphrodite is best known for his work with Mickey Finn under the Urban Takeover guise in the second half of the '90s, when he helped to pioneer the energetic, exciting sound of jump-up jungle. This Tuesday he's part of a ridiculously big DnB line-up at Ministry of Sound for Embrace - a party in aid of Cancer Research UK. We caught up with this legend to see where he's at in 2007...

What’s been going on in your world then? What have been the highlights of your year?

Made a new album, ‘Break in Reality’ which will hit the streets this autumn and winter. Quite a few highlights but getting married of course makes the rest seem normal.

When things were really starting to take off for you in the mid ‘90s, did you ever envisage a time when DnB would be such a major scene? Were you just taking it each day a time or did you have the long-term view in mind?

To be honest, I still don’t thinks it’s a major scene, but sure is rock solid one. I find it amazing how its spread around the world, and I love the diversity of the music. No way did I envisage it would last this long. It’s great!

On Tuesday 28th August, you will be playing at a massive rave-up called Embrace at Ministry of Sound, in aid of Cancer Research UK. Do you think they can pull this off on a Tuesday night??

Let hope it’s a great night!

You’re playing in the same room as your old Urban Takeover sparring partner Mickey Finn. Do you still see and work with each other much? Can we perhaps expect a little back-to-back action in the name of charity?

Maybe, we still work together now and again…I hope a lot more in the future….it was interrupted by us both spending more time with our families.

What are your feelings about the general state of the drum ‘n’ bass scene in 2007? What would you say to its detractors?

I really like it all. If I could change it, it would be to have the music more diverse and more tempo variations. If there are detractors then they should not get so uptight - it’s only music at the end of the day, and each to there own taste.

What do you feel sets the DnB scene aside from other dance music scenes?

For me it’s the energy - there really is nothing like the energy of a crowd going for it and enjoying the music.

After many years of refusing to embrace the world of digital downloads, the DnB scene finally seems to be becoming MP3-friendly. Was there a catalyst for this do you think or was it just an inevitable process?

It was inevitable, but more I think to do with the fact that DnB producers rely so much from vinyl with their incomes, and basically switching to MP3 sales is a dramatic loss of earnings. The gain is the spread of the music and the ease of getting the music now.

Have you been in the studio much recently? Who have you been working with and what have you been cooking up?

Wait and see… Youngman MC, Beverley Knight and a heap of remixers…

What unfulfilled ambitions do you have? Musical or otherwise...

Ambitions – to create and oversee the music for a film/TV series….

What have been your top 3 tunes of the summer this far?

Loads of tunes to chose from, so here’s a few

‘Crazy Diamond’…High Contrast – ‘If We Ever’, ‘Drowning’ remixes, DStyle-‘MindKiller’, Phetsta – ‘The Congo’, SubFocus – ‘Druggy’

Check out the full line-up for Embrace here:
http://www.dontstayin.com/uk/london/ministry-of-sound/2007/aug/28/event-129762

Interview By Ben Gomori