Ministry’s Marketing Manager, Karen Bell, and A&R/ Compilations Manager, Aden Mullens, discuss how the latest release - mixed by John Course and Anna Lunoe - came about.

In terms of the process of selecting acts to mix the compilation, has it reached a level where you’re now receiving calls from producers/ DJs expressing their interest in the project?

(Bell) With MOS being a such a well known dance music brand internationally, we receive heaps of requests from DJs not just locally, but globally about getting involved in the compilations we release. A lot of them are not right for our territory, but it’s great to know that the art of DJing is alive and well all around the globe!

John Course and Anna Lunoe present a nice blend of the industry mainstay and new star on the scene. How important is it to get the right people to mix the discs?

(Bell) Extremely important! Clubbers Spring is an opportunity for us to showcase new music which we may not feature on our more commercial compilations like The Annual and Sessions. This year we have a great combo of the established Don of dance music – John Course – together with hot new talent – Anna Lunoe. While John has been a mainstay on the Ministry front for some time now, he continues to impress on all fronts and is having a particularly amazing year. His label, Vicious, is fast becoming one of the most sought after DJ labels, signing such talents as Avicii and Angger Dimas. On the other side you’ve got Anna Lunoe - a real rising star with a great attitude and impressive list of DJ gigs. Anna also has her first remix featured on the compilation as well, which we’re stoked about!

On that same tip, the track and artist selection; is it a joint effort by the people doing the mix and Ministry of Sound in what songs feature?

(Mullens) Definitely a joint effort. It’s the DJ’s experience, skills and perspective we want conveyed in the mix. Sure, we have some level of input, but it’s important to realise that it’s the DJs who are out in the clubs week in and week out, so they’re the ones who know which tracks are actually working on the dancefloor.

This is the third ‘Clubbers Guide To Spring’ - as a brand, how has it grown with each new release?

(Bell) It’s been a really well-received album right from the word go. Where it can often take a few releases for a concept to bed in, this is something which people have embraced from day one as it perfectly bridges the much needed musical gap between Sessions and The Annual. People have shaken the winter blues and they’re getting geared up for summer, and this has become a staple purchase on the end of winter shopping list. Festival tickets? Check. New summer wardrobe? Check. New tunes? Check. Clubbers Spring is the only mixed club comp out there addressing our punters’ need for hot new tunes at this time of the year.

Dance music in Australia is really enjoying a golden age at the moment; do you think there’s a direct correlation between the amount of dance compilation series available to punters and the increased popularity of the mainstream’s acceptance of dance music?

(Mullens) The popularity of dance music has had a direct impact on the number of dance compilations available for sure. And with the amount of amazing tracks out there, it’s not like we need to find an excuse to put a new comp together! On each one of our compilations we make sure we’re only using new tunes (unless it has been an undeniable club or radio hit!) or never-before-heard remixes, ensuring that the MOS fans are getting every bit of value they deserve when they purchase a new release.

‘CLUBBERS GUIDE TO SPRING’ IS OUT NOW. THE NATIONAL TOUR LANDS AT THE MET THIS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, WITH JOHN COURSE, ANNA LUNOE, GOODWILL AND SAM LA MORE ALL PERFORMING.