.Of all the DJs present in the Top 100, few are as versatile as Eric Prydz. The Swedish jock might have burst on to the scene over a decade back with the Marmite chart invader that was ‘Call on Me’, but ever since then he’s cleverly straddled the mainstream and the underground; the latter most notably as a result of his well-trodden aliases, Cirez D and Pryda. What all this means is that he’s rapidly expanded his fan-base in the process, while a recent move to Los Angeles has only seen his popularity soar even further amongst the EDM elite. 

2014 has proved another notable scalp for the Mouseville boss. Indeed, if you need further proof of the ‘Pjanoo’ producer’s current appeal, then one need only look to his EPIC show, which he brought back recently to New York’s legendary Madison Square Garden.

Reputedly losing money as a result of the show’s grandiose production, EPIC has been touted in some circles as “a middle finger to lazy EDM”, and as you might imagine with Prydz, it wasn’t one for half measures. On the contrary, it featured the world’s biggest hologram, stunning stage production (including an impressive 32 lasers) and — of course — big room tracks that make the room rattle.

Yet while the show is undoubtedly a feast for the senses, Prydz is at pains to point out that it’s also an act of spontaneity, and unlike some of his Top 100 peers (who, for now, shall remain nameless), prerecorded sets don’t form a part of the spectacle. A true pioneer of his game, few others within his domain would even dare dream up a three-hour set on such a grand scale.

On a production note, it’s telling that Prydz is still so widely influential too. One quick glance at the Beatport Top 100 showcases the fact, as the likes of Martin Garrix and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike have both adopted similar song structures in their music. But then imitation is the greatest form of flattery, and Eric Prydz has always been a leader rather than a follower. Just don’t expect him to change any time soon.