Given that Gareth Emery played to over two million people in 40 countries over the last year, you wouldn't think the Southampton-born trance DJ would sound so surprised that he sold out his debut seven-hour solo set in Manchester six weeks in advance. “The fact everyone was there just for me made it really special,” he beams.
One fan who didn't make it was Britney Spears, who helped Emery to another personal first this year - his remix of her 'I Wanna Go' track was his first proper 'pop' remix, which Britney herself deemed “so hot!”.
Emery admits his more purist trance fans were less keen, but they shouldn't worry that he's jumped ship, given that Emery's Garuda label is still banging out underground anthems and he's working on the follow-up to 2010's debut album, 'Northern Lights'. He's also planning on expanding this year's full live show - featuring singers, guitarists and ivory-tinkling from the classically-trained DJ himself - into an on-the-road extravaganza. For Gareth Emery, it really is the more the merrier.