But Nick van de Wall - aka Afrojack - isn't taking the money and running. On the contrary, he’s embracing his opportunity and running with it.

“Now I'm 22 years old and I've basically been making loops for about half my life,” he says. “I downloaded Fruityloops and then made some tracks and remixes and things. When I was 14 or 15 I tried to make something more for the club scene and I was playing in bars and clubs in my home city, which was a really small town. When I was 16 I realised I wanted to DJ for my colleagues and I started asking people to book me for shows.”

Indeed, he is acutely aware that the production element goes hand in hand with the DJ set - and this was confirmed by industry colleagues who were pushing Nick to further his production interests.

“Basically everyone was telling me to get into production,” he says. “That was the theme and everyone was saying you can't have one without the other. So I got onto the Internet and via his forum, Laidback Luke helped me out with some production and other bits and pieces. Then when I was 17 I got the opportunity to play in Greece on a little island, for eight hours a night virtually all week. I only got paid $200 but I felt rich! From that, I got my first record deal and that was called ‘In Your Face’ and that got supported by Luke and (Sidney) Samson and by December 2006, I had my first booking as Afrojack and then it just got bigger and bigger.”

So right now, there is no doubting that young Nick is pretty chuffed about being invited to the land down-under for a Ministry of Sound tour alongside Wolfgang Gartner and Hardwell. For he sees this as a chance not only to spread his wings, but also to present an eclectic performance that will highlight his versatility to fans.

“I like all sorts of music; I have taste in weird stuff too - I like trip hop and dubstep and melodies; whatever it is, there is excellent music out there. I also love the dance stuff and things like electro house which is popular; I like techno and then I can get into the Black Eyed Peas if I wanted to as well.

“In my productions, I try to make it all come together. I've also been asked to do a lot of production work for other people too and I enjoy those projects as well. I recently did a remix of a Madonna track with David Guetta and that was one of the coolest projects I have ever done, I must say! As for my other production work, I have done some extra bits and pieces but I can't say what it is right now! I can say this though: if they accept it, it will be one of the biggest tracks in the world!

“In the studio as well, I hope to work with Green Velvet and do some more work like I already have done with Diplo, David Guetta and Steve Aoki. There is another remix for Benny Benassi called ‘Satisfaction’ too; so there is a lot going on; I'm working five days a week in the studio, so it is all keeping me really busy. As for my DJ sets, I like to keep them fresh; I don't play the same hits every set for a year. When I make a cool track I play it and then work on a few edits and things; then it turns into a whole new production.”

So folks, hang about because in January 2010, Ministry of Sound will plug you into the future of house music with the Jacked event. And along with the stellar line-up, Jacked will feature spectacular visuals, performances and décor. This is not just another average music festival: Jacked is where discerning clubbers will see three of the most important names in house up close and loud. Dancing shoes on feet, this is all about one thing - the party!

Afrojack headlines the Jacked tour, playing Family January 23.