Olav Basoski was last seen flying the musical flag for Defected more than a decade ago, where the scene – both musically and in business terms – was a very different place. However, after a few years of, in his own words ‘not really convincing himself’ with his musical output, Olav is well and truly back in the form that made him one of the most celebrated house producers of the last decade. Here, was speak to him about the rise of the Dutch scene, early acid house influences and the new landmark track of his career.

So, how was 2010 for you?

It was good in the sense that I more or less rediscovered myself musically. I had somehow drifted off my own path a bit in recent years, so falling back in love with ‘my own style’ of tracks was a big thrill.

You’ve previously mentioned Baby Ford’s ‘Oochy Koochy’ as a strong influence for you musically…are there any other tracks that really stand out in your memory from the acid house era?

Yes, Stakker - Humanoid. That was so big at the time, I remember hearing it for the first time on a dancefloor and thinking WOWWWWW! I think it was actually in the club where Zki from Chocolate Puma was playing. It might have even been him!

Your last full release on Defected was Opium Scumbagz way back in 2000…why do you think the time was right for the reunion on ‘New Day’?

New Day is probably the first track in a while that completely made sense to me. I had been doing other types of tracks in the years leading up to this, but had never really even convinced myself. That's got to be a bad sign. So when I ran into Simon in Ibiza last summer and played him the track it felt like coming home. I know, sounds odd but that's how it was.

Tell us a bit about the new track…

It's got a very summery vibe, half disco, half house. It's got a nice catchy vocal to it that coincidentally reflects how I felt when I made the track. Like "this is more where my passion is, from now on this is what I'll be doing again". A new day has come…haha! Well I'm laughing now but that's actually how I felt.

How do you think your sound had changed over the last decade?

My sound? Plenty, but not so much the last decade, more the last five years or so. All to come back full circle now, so I'm here again doing what I like best! A few years back when electro was totally the thing I thought that's where I should be going too. It wasn't. It didn't sound right when I did it. It didn't sound true, honest. Makes sense? Then when friends started telling me I should go back and do what I do best and what people love me for. It still didn't land with me yet, until one day (that new day I guess) things clicked again and I realized that was the type of sound I fell in love with and the reason I started doing house music in the first place.

The Dutch house scene is getting a lot of international attention at the moment due to some big name DJs and the rise of events like ADE…what do you think it is about the Dutch sound that appeals to people?

It’s the roughness of it all, the "bebop" mentality I think; throwing together samples, huge basses and synths. The ‘I don't give a f**k’ type of attitude. To be honest, sometimes I really like what guys like Afrojack and Laidback Luke are doing and I get this itch to try something like that too. And I think I should be able to do so, maybe I just need to figure out a way to mix it up with what I do myself. I have a name for it already…Dirty Disco. Could work! Boom!

What have you got planned for this year, musically?

Going further down this old trusted path I've discovered again, making more tracks tracks tracks! OK I hate doing the whole ‘hush-hush’ thing, but there's a couple of projects planned that I'm not supposed to talk about too much yet. Anyway, some exciting collaborations are scheduled too. Hopefully I'll be playing all around the world. It feels right to get back on the road again. Let's make 2011 rock!

Anything else you’d like to tell us…?

I just quit smoking. Feels weird.

New Day is out now on Defected