Maarten Hoogstraten is jetlagged, busy, but nothing short of a happy man, “we’re just back from Miami and now working on a few tracks after getting a lot of inspiration from a lot of other DJ (during the Miami Music Conference), “ and how couldn’t you, it was all “Sunshine, good DJs,” laughing, “it was pretty good, just a bit hectic.”

Adding to the insanity that is already a busy year for Bingo Players, having “played last year for the first time on the Armin stage,” they can’t wait to get back and see just how much us Aussies, “go nuts,” to their sound. “We are really looking forward to the tour.”

Testing out a few new numbers and a couple of bootlegs, Bingo Players who consist of Paul Bäumer & Maarten Hoogstraten cannot wait for the few days off in the middle of Creamfields, “we’ve been a few times, so seen the zoo and the like. This year have some time in Melbourne so will be just chilling out, grabbing food, making some music and hooking up with some friends.” A tip to any worldly travellers, Australia is the place to go for “amazing Asian food, like sushi! We can’t wait.”

Simon Patterson was here what only feels like moments ago, “I haven’t change the world,” he admits but is “finally getting better from being sick and have done a few tunes.” The one thing he’s still yet to conquer is jetlag. “There is no stop to touring, I’m getting used to it, its just so tough.”

Since he was in Australia the last, “I’ve been touring non-stop. Last 2 months have been in Europe, so I’m bit more on ball. Maybe I need to learn from Charlie Sheen, he’s epic, try to learn some of his quotes,” he laughs. The energy Simon has that Charlie seems to omit is what might be missing, “I’m doing lots of gym and but having computer issues, which I’m tweeting and you know, with a few gigs in the middle,” he laughs, “just lucky the gigs have been good!”

2011 hasn’t slowed nor looks to, “since Christmas, it’s been good to be in Europe and have a few weekends off, to just knuckle down, get back at the gym, eat properly and have a moment to stop. Fitness and eating when touring,” he says are the first things to go during touring, “loose that and it makes you more tired.”

After years of humbly impressing Australian audiences as a member of Thundamentals, Rumpunch and Sketch The Rhyme, it’s time for MC Tuka to step to the fore and distinguish himself as one of the country’s most exciting lyrical talents, with his debut album ‘Will Rap For Tuka’.

‘Will Rap For Tuka’ is the culmination of years honing his craft, both in written form and performance, and delivers one of 2010’s most diverse efforts right before the buzzer sounds. Tuka is as comfortable rocking over a stomping Gypsy horn line as he is over Dub-Reggae or a driving Boom Bap rhythm.

A collaborator of the highest order, Tuka has worked and recorded with Chasm, Dialectrix, Two Toes and The Tongue. But for his solo debut, Tuka really has wholeheartedly taken on the ‘solo’ mantle, with only two guests on the entire album – Tenth Dan and Radical Son – and with even the cover art being hand drawn by the Sydney MC.