Sied! Thanks for taking time out for this interview. Where are you currently and what’s been a recent highlight? 

No problem at all.. thanks for doing this with me ! I just returned home from a 3 day trip to Colombia. As always there’s no time to relax, it’s straight back to things as they go in the studio. Recent highlights… Well I’ve already traveled from Vietnam to Canada and from India to Colombia and European events in between so yeah.. past weeks have been 1 big highlight already.

Your new mix compilation Rielism has finally been released! What have been the reactions to date? 
I’m pretty amazed by all the positive reactions… the feedback has been absolutely stunning so far. Very exciting!

How does Rielism differ to your other mix series In Riel Time?
Well we are 2 years further now and Rielism portraits a different side of me. I didn’t want to make Rielism a club cd per se. It’s easy to take 14 or 15 banging tracks and mix them together on 2 discs… I want it to be enjoyed by people at any given time of the day. Whether they are at work, driving home from work or pre partying / after partying. That’s why I’ve used a variety of music on both discs and build it up.

Which are some of your favourite tracks from both of the Rielism CDs? 
Save The Robot, Allure, BT, M.E.M. Julius Beat, they are basically all my favorites otherwise I would have never used them haha.. I’m very picky when it comes to using tracks in my sets, radio and compilations. I think you should be very picky as it’s not an every day thing to mix your own compilation.

“Radiator” is your new track with Radion 6. Great remix from Rafael Frost! How did this collab come about? 
We released “Radiator” last year already but decided to have it remixed after somebody send me a remix of it through Facebook. We included their remix in the package and came up with a remix contest. While that was going on I asked Rafael if he wanted to remix it as well because I’m a big fan of his music. Spinnin’ Records hooked me and Radion 6 up and proposed a collaboration. We did 2 tracks together in 2010 and are now planning a new collaboration to be released after the summer. I’ve also asked him to remix my new single by the way.

We have to talk about “Stealing Time.” We understand you had some reservations about producing a vocal trance track, yet this was such an amazing record. Tell us all about the making of this song and how you met Nicole McKenna. 
Well that’s where a lot of people get it wrong. I am a big fan of vocal productions I just do not produce them a lot myself. I only did “Closer To You” 2.5 years ago before releasing “Stealing Time” this year. I love to work with vocals I just don’t want to over do it and release 10 of them each year. I did quite a few vocal remixes. I worked together with Raz Nitzan on “Stealing Time.” Raz is a well known songwriter and he gave me the opportunity to work with Nicole. I instantly said yes after hearing a preview of some of her work. I’ve never met her in person, but I do hope that will happen one day. “Stealing Time” was done over the Internet. That’s one of the advantages of Internet these days when you or the other has a busy schedule.

Which are some of your favourite record labels at the moment? 
So many good labels out there. Obviously Spinnin’ Records. They release a wide variety of music. Doorn Records releases bomb after bomb. Black Hole is pushing out a lot of quality. Musical Madness from Marcel Woods is also high on my list. Captivating as well.

What are your plans for the remainder of 2011? 
Besides traveling all over the place the coming 3 to 4 months I’m also very productive in the studio. It seems I’m forced to finish a few tracks on the road these coming weeks, but that’s all good. I’m also planning to enjoy all the traveling even more if that’s possible !

You’ll be playing here in Kuala Lumpur alongside Roger Shah, Arnej, and many more this 18th of June! What can your fans expect from your set? 
I will go all out in Kuala Lumpur. I’ve been waiting to play there for so long now.. and now it’s finally happening! I am really excited to come there and party with you all. Again, it’s taken so long … been all over the world but never did I do a gig in KL. Finally!!

Any message to your fans around the world reading this! 
Prepare yourself.. we are going to have a goooood time! See you soon!

Catch an exclusive guestmix from Sied van Riel on Radio KUL 180 with Simon Lee & Alvin. Sarah Howells will guesthost this episode. Available Friday, 24th June 2011 onwards athttp://www.radiokul.com/ and available as a podcast on iTunes and on Mugasha. Radio Hi-Tec Netherlands and 1Mix Radio UK will also stream the show live, see website for schedule.