So, you moved to Berlin there a few years ago. What spurred that, and what's it like, now that you're based there? 
I just fancied a change. I love London so much, but felt like Berlin had that extra chill factor that I kind of needed after ten, full-on years of work and play in London. I’m in Berlin about eight full weeks of the year, if you put all the days together, and I love it. You can walk home from the club without getting robbed by a crackhead. Not that I ever really do, I’m normally too drunk to walk...
 
Do you think living there has had an effect on your music and your sound? If so, what's it done?
This is a question I get asked all the time, and I suppose the answer has to be decided by the listener of my tunes, someone who bought the tracks I did with Switch as Induceve, or my early releases on Artform back in the day.
 
Am I overstating all of this? You must be on the road pretty much constantly. Can a local scene really impact a DJ who's as high-profile as you are? 
Yeah, I actually get sent music from all over the world and am on the internet checking out new music all the time. So I think my main influence are the countries I go to, the DJs and bands I hear when I’m on the road.
 
Do you think you'll move back to London someday? 
If I ever earn ten million pounds, I may buy a house in Holland Park and spend a week every month soaking up those West London vibes...but no, seriously I still go back all the time, but I don’t think I’ll move back.

Okay, music stuff now. Along with Dave Taylor and Trevor Loveys, you are basically credited with creating "fidget-house." Do you think there's something about the music you guys came up listening to that sowed the seeds for it? Because you guys have a lot in common, in terms of your careers. 
I think when friends hang around together they all get inspired by each other. We all come from slightly different sides of house, Trevor was into deep stuff, Dave more soul stuff like Masters at Work, and me, I liked the early Chicago house and Detroit techno. But actually, what happened was we were all getting a bit bored of what was going on in house and just started joking about with tracks. There was no intention of making a new genre or scene, we just made tracks with mad drops & basslines and one day Dave and myself decided to use the word ‘fidget house’ on two different press releases to see if the press would eat it up. They did, and we laughed about it for like a month and then just carried on making whatever tracks came about in the studio.  About a year later lots of kids starting sending us tracks that sounded like what we’d done the year before, but by that time we were into something else.
 
Are you guys competitive with one another at all? Over your labels or potential singles? Or just general success? 
NEVER! If it was about how many records sold Dave has won that one years ago. If it was about who could play the most clubs, I’d take that one cause I’ve always been the guy that loves playing. It’s all about support & having fun!
 
Do those old relationships impact business at all? For example, you're releasing Do What You Do If You Don't on Dubsided, Dave's label. 
Yeah it relates to my last answer, support! We all support each other's projects, Dave has released on all my labels, past and present, Trevor also. I’ve always released my solo stuff on Dubsided because Dave is a great A&R and always supports what I’m doing whether that be in words or actions.
 
Do you ever run into one of those guys - Loveys, Taylor, Jamie Anderson - at a festival or club or whatever and reminisce?
Jamie Anderson is an old school friend; we met when I was two. We holiday together, and Made to Play looks after his management and bookings. Trevor, I see sometimes, but it always feels like yesterday we were on the Ladbroke Grove getting drunk in the day. I make sure I see all my mates, I go out to LA and hang with Dave or we all meet up in Miami at the Winter Music Conference. You’ve got to work at these things, cause you are always on the move but friends are what matters in the end.
 
Very true. Let's talk about your album for a bit. This is an opportunity to expose a wider audience to some of your best work, too. Because probably only your die-hard fans have heard "A-Sided" and stuff. Is that exciting? 
It’s weird, because I just make tracks and don’t really think about who’s buying it, how big it will be, etc. Every time I release a solo single, I always think no one's gonna buy this, this is way too crazy or off-key whatever, and so far I’ve been wrong and done okay. So we’ll see what happens.
 
I guess, more generally, do you think this album could get you some mainstream success? Or do you think your music's only meant for the club? 
Again, I suppose that’s for the people to decide, I’ve listened to the whole album like once or twice at home and I think it works and I’ve played some of the tracks out at clubs & festivals & they’ve got good reactions.
 
How did you and Hot Chip become friendly? Are there any other bands you'd like to become friendly, or are they kind of an exception to the rule?  
Joe from Hot Chip came to a party I was doing on a boat, we were talking and he had lots of my records and was really into them. I hadn’t heard the first Hot Chip album but really liked the guy, so asked him to send me the new album, Made in the Dark, and I was blown away. I listened to the album about 100 times and then they sent me this demo they were going to add to the album. As soon  as I heard "Do it, do it, do it now," I was like, "I have to remix this!" They loved the mix, and we wanted to work together. Then one day Joe sent me this track, which turned out to become "Forget My Name."  I love working with others, I’m always getting inspired by people so working with bands and other artists is always cool with me.
 
Also, David E. Sugar. Tell us a bit about that because he's not someone I think of as being part of the fidget world. 
Well in Europe I’m also not really considered part of the fidget world. I think it works out cool for both of us. Once David gets his album out I think he’s be massive on both a dance and a pop level.
 
Who's going to sell more units the first week, the Count and Sinden or you?
Well I hope they do, cause their label has spent stoopid money promoting it and they’ve worked really hard to do it but you never know. Isn’t the question who’s album will you be listening to in two years time?
 
You're doing a New Years party in San Francisco, so I've got to ask: any new years resolutions? 
Yeah. I need to start doing all the things I gave up!
 
Would you rather own a nightclub or have a major label bankroll your label? 
I’d rather still be having sex when I’m 70.

Jesse Rose's full-length debut album, What Do You Do If You Don't, will be released in the UK on February 9 on Dubsided Records. He tours the U.S. about twice a year, and he'll be taking a quick spin around the country around the time of the WMC.