Adam Freeland: Backstage @ Leeds 2003

Superstar DJ, Adam Freeland, is about to storm the charts with his band's debut single - We Want Your Soul. An electro-fused, beat assisted anti-capitalist rant that we've been shouting at people all weekend. Adam Freeland: I've been DJ-ing but have wanted to make a record for a long time. It took a while to get it off the ground, make the record and put the band together. But we've just done five gigs and yesterday was our first British festival. It was rocking, man!

Virtual Festivals: The single's receiving tons of radio play at the moment...

It's been a bit surprising actually - to get Sara Cox playing it as her tune of the week next to Robbie Williams and stuff. But it's a good thing. This is the first single from the album which is out two weeks later. The album's called 'Now and Then' and it's on the 15th.

They lyrics of the single are quite cynical and even angry, in a way. What made you write it?

When you write lyrics, you write what's on your mind. It's an angry rant about what's going on in the world. The force-fed, consumer culture. They're the lyrics that came out - it wasn't like a conscious thing. You know what it's like. I'm not the kind of guy who's gonna sit down and write a love ballad.

Did you have any reservations about bringing dance music to Reading/Leeds?

To be honest I've never been to these festivals. Reading or Leeds - I didn't really know what to expect. What we're doing live is quite rocky. We're certainly not a straight up, breakbeat dance band. We've got drums, bass, guitar and two vocalists so it is a live band. It's good - I wanna be playing at more rocky festivals 'cos it's taking it to a different audience.

How does being in a band compare to DJ-ing?

It's wicked! You're on a tour bus with a bunch of mates. Whereas if you're DJ-ing - it's like you and a box of records. I woke up this morning and we're here - it's fucking great man! Last night we had a fucking riot! We ended up surfing on top of the bus...just generally being loonies. Then I'm off to America tomorrow...

Is that with the band?

No. I'm going to that Burning Man festival. I've wanted to go for years. I've got loads of friends that have been and I've kept meaning to go. This year, my manager's going, "Your single's out on the week you're in Burning Man. You can't go!" I'm like, "I'm sorry but I'm going."I'll be with a whole crew of friends in the middle of the desert for a week.

Do you foresee a time in the future when you'd have to choose between DJ-ing or the band?

I think you can do both. My focus right now is definitely the band and I'm fuckin' loving it. This is great! It's not always going to be possible to take the band to different situations but I'm really hoping to tour the world with them.