Diego Miranda has been on the road a lot this year, playing China, Japan and Thailand, where he signed a monthly residency at Illuzion in Phuket. He also laid down some of his thrilling electro sets at Ushuaïa and Hï Ibiza, as well as playing at home in Portugal.

"I did a lot of producing in the studio this year which makes me very happy," says the Less Is More boss who has had a number of Beatport hits in 2019. "I like to experiment with different influences and I always like to produce strong songs to play at festivals, but it also gives me great pleasure to produce more mainstream tracks with a lot of vocals, tracks that play on the radio."

Proof of that came this summer on 'Mala Suerte' with DAMA and WAO, which showcased a totally new approach featuring reggaeton influences. Next up are new songs with Nick Jam and Le Twins, then a bold mission heading into 2020: "After conquering Asia I am now focusing on working the United States of America dance scene.”

Do you submit your DJ setlists to the relevant royalties collecting society?

“I am a member of The Portuguese Authors Society (SPA) and my sets are mainly filled with my own tracks or mash-ups.”

What more can we do to combat the mental health crisis in our scene?

“It is very important to prioritise a work-life balance, take care of your body and mind to avoid getting ‘eaten' by the spotlight. Avicii’s film did a lot to bring awareness to this subject and it helped change the way the dance music industry looks after the wellbeing of artists, so I believe that more information, documentaries and films like this are great tools to raise awareness.”

Are you personally doing anything to improve the gender balance of line-ups?

“I believe the industry is finally acknowledging and committing to improving gender balance in line-ups. There is still a long way to go though. I do my own research into new artists across the board and try to do more collaborations with female artists to contribute to this commitment, and encourage more aspiring female producers and DJs out there.”

What changes have you made this year to be more environmentally friendly?

“I found out that to offset a one-way flight from New York to Berlin at least eleven trees should be planted and I was shocked! So I have been actively looking at ways to offset the carbon footprint that my tours generate."

What was your favourite toy when you were a kid?

“I was so into ET and He-Man!”

What’s your guilty pleasure?

“It's got to be gummies, for sure!”