Satoshi Tomiie got involved with music at an early age when he studied piano at the urging of his parents. He developed a passion for music and was eventually exposed to the sounds of hip-hop, a genre that inspired him to start DJing and producing. Satoshi’s first big break came when a Japanese cosmetics company asked him to produce a track for their forthcoming promo parties where house music legend Frankie Knuckles was performing. Frankie was impressed by Satoshi’s production skills and the two would go on to collaborate and create the seminal house classic, “Tears”. The track is still a dance floor favorite and its sweet sounding keys and emotional vocals have clearly stood the test of time.

Satoshi quickly became one of the most in demand producers in dance music after the major success of “Tears”. He has remixed and worked with the likes of Photek, Kosheen, Simply Red, David Bowie, U2 and Mariah Carey, among others. In 2001, Tomiie launched SAW Recordings, a record label that explores the deeper side of progressive house. The label has enjoyed a successful run and continues to pump out solid dance cuts from many top artists. Satoshi has recently mixed the latest installment of the Renaissance label’s Masters series, an outing that superbly blends the latest deep and techy tracks from his collection.

With his long resume of DJ mixes, original productions, and remixes, Satoshi has solidified his place among the dance music elite. Not one to rest on his laurels, Tomiie continues to travel the globe and push his sound to receptive audiences at all of the top clubs.

Metrowize: How do you go about compiling your mix CD's? Do you just sort of wing it or do you carefully plan everything out?

Satoshi Tomiie: Taking advantage of the best of both. Collecting and picking the favorite tunes for weeks and months, sorted by the moods and keys (musical key) this takes a long time and needs a dedication. Spending some time to decide how I start the discs, and once the first few tunes of the mix are set, everything else just flows..!

MW: Tell us about some of the upcoming releases on SAW. Are there any up and coming new artists we should know about?

ST: Tomoki & nono, they are a duo reside in London from Osaka, Japan. I was introduced by Yoku from A Hundred Birds. Their EP will be on SAW very soon, one of the tunes 'Lark' is also featured on my Renaissance compilation. Many people might know them from their previous single on Four:Twenty.

MW: Do you have any remixes or productions of your own that you're releasing soon?

ST: Yes, it will be soon under the name of Mes "Madrugada" The title in Portuguese means 'dawn', atmospheric deep house tune with a touch of techy element. Toby Tobias is working on the remix at the moment and will be released in early 2009.

MW: Describe your studio set up. Do you mainly use software or do you have a good assortment of analog equipment?

ST: At the moment I don't have a studio so everything is on a Laptop. Answering the question, everything is done on software. Recent soft synths sound amazing. I still keep my good old Mood and Rhodes though, I love the feeling of playing them.

MW: What's your take on laptop DJing? Do you think it makes the whole practice too easy or do you think it opens up new creative possibilities?

ST: I think it opens up new creative possibilities. It's like the invention of the washing machine freed up some time for house wives to something else.. lol

MW: You're normally associated with house music, but earlier in your career you spun hip-hop and played in bands. Do you ever get the itch to revisit those previous interests?

ST: Not really, my scratch skill is super old school and I hate practicing and rehearsals....

MW: What parts of the world do you think have really interesting and emerging dance music scenes right now?

ST: To me definitely 'dance / electronic music new world', like South America, Eastern Europe are two hot areas. Tokyo is constantly great and despite the increasing amount of regulation (against the nightlife) and slower economy, Italy is still the place.

MW: You've been involved with dance music for many years. What inspires you to keep moving forward with it?

ST: Inspiring new music, great crowd all over the world, food (very important!) and a few yummy drinks.