Junkie XL is the type of DJ that would fill up a huge warehouse in London or Buenos Aires and play an amazing dance set for thousands of people. But here in Toronto we have a chance to check him out in a much more intimate space.

On Sunday May 4th, he will playing at Tattoo in the latest installment of CLASH Sundays.

To me, Junkie XL is like Frankie Wile of It's all gone Pete Tong. He's a highly charismatic DJ notorious for his enthusiastic live performances. The first time I saw him was at last year's Decadence Party at the The Guvernment Complex where I very quickly realized he was without any doubt a club culture icon and mega star DJ.

But Tom Holkenborg aka Junkie XL is not just your avarage party DJ. He's also a very talented multi-instrumentalist and producer. He has composed soundtracks for movies and video games such as EA's Need for Speed and pieced together club anthems from remixed tracks for Madonna, Coldplay, Scissor Sisters, Sarah McLachlan, Avril Lavigne and the list goes on.

His latest album Booming Back at You comes close to capturing the energy of his notorious live performances. You can also clearly hear the influence in the sound from the new school of dance music.

Here's my favourite track from the album. It's probably the most downtempo of his new stuff but it's just crying to be on constant rotation on my iPod.

Junkie XL - Mad Pursuit

JUNKIE XL at CLASH SUNDAYS
PINK MAFIA presents:
JUNKIE XL with TOMMIE SUNSHINE and NASTY NAV
Sunday, May 4, 2008 at 10:00pm
TATTOO ROCK PARLOUR
567 Queen street West
$15 before midnight. $20 after
For reduced guestlist: Info [at] pinkmafia [dot] ca

Here is a little behind the scenes at Junkie XL's studio in LA:

Photography by Paul Blank and Jeaneen Blunt