Legend of the progressive scene Dave Seaman caused a real commotion at Star Live's Renaissance vs. Nation party last Friday. The British DJ and former MixMag editor got irritated when City Weekend's Rachel Simhon wouldn't let him back down on questions of genre, but forgave her after she told him that she got her start partying in Miami when he was a resident at Groove Jet, her haunt back in the old neighborhood way back in the day.

• After everywhere you've travelled for work, what was it that made Beijing an attractive destination?

Why would I want to go anywhere? Travelling is one of the best aspects of being a working musician. Back in the late 80s, when I started getting interested in this music, my biggest dream was to maybe DJ a wedding or a birthday party, and then to actually make it to a place like Spain or America was a huge deal. That was when there was no DJ culture as such. Now I love knowing that I can play a club anywhere in the world and find a crowd.

• You're considered an icon in the progressive scene, but how would you personally classify your sound?

Back in 1997, this word "progressive" came around to talk about a genre of music, but it's not at all a genre. Progressive is a spirit. There is nothing that I'm not willing to play.

• So you really can't describe it or sum it up for us?

Journalists are all simply anthologists, but a DJ actually has to watch that crowd, week in, week out. I play to the audience, because this is my job. But first and foremost I think that we're not meant to dissect this music, or intellectualize it. You either feel it or you don't.

• What was the particular music that influenced your current sound then the most?

Acid house is the single most important phenomenon in music in the last twenty years, and the way it has transformed every aspect of music in general has made it transcend any fashion or trend. That hard, bass-heavy house that was the music of the 80s is still what moves me. If anything is minimal, it doesn't even interest me. I have my tastes, like we all do.

• Is there anything that alienates you in the electronic music scene presently?

Fashion goes round and round, from hot to cold on every kind of art. But dance music is, to me, so primitive and all-encompassing. How could it possibly alienate someone? Anyone should be able to join into something that moves them.

• So what have you been listening to these days?

Goldfrapp, Matthew Diaz, Amy Winehouse. I just listen to music 24/7. Music is my life.