Whi le Dutch trance has continually dominated DJmag’s world renowned Top 100 poll in recent years, the sound of Dutch house is catching up in leaps and bounds. And its most famous export, Fedde Le Grand, is keen to shout about it. “There are a lot of guys I’m really proud of at the moment: 2000 and One, Madskillz and Lauhaus, alongside the more commercial DJs like Afrojack and Chuckie,” Fedde tells DJmag.

Could 2010 potentially be the time he builds further on his hard work and strives for something like David Guetta’s stellar level of fame? It’s a double-edged sword, as usual. While he’s involved in some high-profile collaborations, a new double compilation for Toolroom — released 22nd March — sees Fedde returning to his beginnings in credible, club-focused music. “It’s come full circle. Beatport has lots of almost Chicago house, it’s almost old school filter-disco, which is where I started. I can’t always play that everywhere but when I can, I will. On the other hand I think commercial house is really getting over the top. I don’t mind playing a big hit from time to time, but it’s a bit ridiculous in some scenes,” he adds, careful not to mention any names.

With America looking to Europe, cheque book at the ready, for a pieceof house music’s new cache of cool, Fedde is keen to separate his twin roles as DJ and producer. As the former he’ll be returning to one-off singles and collaborations, using his F.L.G. moniker to release “straight up, four to the floor, no-nonsense” tracks like new F-Man collaboration, ‘An Old Technique’. But as someone who also has a track record of producing big room sounds with a commercial twist, he’s begun to find himself with some very big names on speed dial. “It’s a good time if you know how to get the connections and how to deliver,” he admits of recent Transatlantic interest.

Fedde reveals that, as a producer, he’s often happy to make tracks with famous pop stars without putting his name to them. “I do more behind the scenes,” he says. “To make tracks for someone’s album is fine, but at the moment it doesn’t really fit with what I want. For instance, I’m working with Dannii Minogue and Britney Spears, but nobody really has to know.”

And while he seeks to get back to the underground, another collaboration shows he might not have any choice about achieving superstar DJ status. “I’ve been doing a track with Tiësto,” he reveals. “I used to work in his record shop, then we met up in America recently. He’s been playing a lot of the more melodic side of house so I suggested we do a track.” Add to that potent pairing a mystery vocalist from Fedde’s little black book and suddenly maybe Guetta should be getting worried...