If you remember the summer of 2003 you may well remember Musica Feliz - a gorgeous slice of latin-disco served up by Franco-Portuguese DJ-production trio, Rodamaal on Ben's Watt's then youthful Buzzin' Fly label. From early spins at some of the last Lazy Dog and first Buzzin’ Fly parties through to beach-front mix compilations throughout that summer and finally a berth on a Cameron Diaz movie, it was a highlight of the year for many on the house underground. It also fully realised a sound first hinted at on their under-exposed classic, Love Island (Jazz-Up Records), a record picked up on and supported almost single-handedly by Ben Watt back in 2001.

Since then the three members - Alex S, DJ Rocco and Manoo - have become cult figures, mainstays of Buzzin' Fly, and each talented producer-DJs in their own right. Alex S, Saturday night resident at Portugal's Studio Club in Leiria outside Lisbon, has provided a rich selection of tracks for the label from his deep golden remix of 'Musica Feliz' itself that opened Watt's Buzzin' Fly Vol 1 mix CD, through to his serene switchback mix of Unity's 'I Love You', and most recently his trailblazing electro-Afro cut 'Senti Sabi'. DJ Rocco, from Lyon, delivered a superb remix of Automagic's 'Do You Feel'? that became a radio hit in South Africa, and Manoo (with his studio partner Francois A) has defined a whole new sound with sweeping synthetic-orchestral cuts such as '6 In The Morning' and 'Five Seasons', leading to tangential work for celebrated underground labels Freerange (Jamie 'Jimpster' Odell's imprint) and Deeply Rooted House (DJ Deep's label). Watt has brought all three to London and Miami for regular DJ slots, building their reputation as cornerstones of the label.

Now they return with a superb low-slung piece of electro-latin entitled Insomnia featuring the voice of Portuguese singer, Claudia Franco. Miami was fizzing with talk of the track. Early CDRs have brought 10/10 reactions from underground luminaries such as DJ Deep, Chez Music's Neil Aline, Alix Alvarez and Louie Vega's stablemate, Mr V, who played the tune three times in one night at Cielo recently. A creeping Afro-groove with plaintive wailing acid synths gives way to bloodshot nocturnal pianos and strings and Claudia's tough whispered incantation and urgent refrains. Destined to be a true deep epic, it encapsulates perfectly Buzzin’ Fly's tender-tough ethos and is surely a highlight for the label so far. A Rodamaal album is now in the pipeline with a release pencilled in for early 2006.

'Insomnia' is released on 12 inch vinyl and CD single on June 6

'Musica Feliz' came out in 2003. Where have you been since then?
Rocco: I've been playing in different venues in England, Portugal, Italy, France, Polynesia and producing and remixing music.
Alex: Spinning, producing, remixing.

What is your favourite fruit?
Rocco: Mango
Alex: Grapefruit

Electro? What does it mean to you?
Alex: It means a lot. I really love producers like Steve Bug, Anders Trentmoller, John Tejada. Electro House sounds minimalist but also fresh, modern, innovative and we can have emotional electro too. But I really don't like dark electro or electro-clash.
Rocco: To me it means Art of Noise

How big is deep house?
Alex: I think Deep House is getting bigger with the advance of the electro sounds. At present I'm mixing many deep tracks with some electro in my DJ sets. Deep House isn't a very 'festival' music style. It's a more intimate, sentimental, lyrical one. In that sense I think that fusion is a good way to keep deep house fresher, more vivid and energetic.

Love Island is a cult classic. Was it the first record you recorded?
Alex: No. My first record was 'An Urban Dream of Love' in 1994. 11 years ago. It was a mixture of House, Techno and Trance!
Rocco: My first track was Sir James' 'Baby' on a Universal compilation in 1999.

Who wrote the lyrics to Insomnia? What is the translation?
Alex: Claudia Franco did. It is a Portuguese poem really. It roughly translates as 'Asleep but awake you prepare yourself for a dazzling moment. In the night you lose yourself. The wind gives way to your steps in your own rhythm and time. And if the lights go out that is because chance is over. Dazzling. Lost. Lost inside your sleepwalking.'

Coffee or tea?
Rocco: Coffee in morning, tea in afternoon, coffee in the evening, coffee and milk in the middle of the night

What was the last book you read?
Alex: Miguel Sousa Tavares' 'Equador.
Rocco: Yukio Mishima 'Dojoji & autre nouvelles'

Two members of Rodamaal come from Lyon. French house has become very influential. Tell me about its history.
Rocco: Wow, it's difficult to talk about it when you live it everyday. The thing I remember is that Daft Punk gave a new wave of sound in House production. Samples were used already, but they gave it a unqiue sound which been revolutionary. Cassius, Bob Sinclar, Alane Braxe and Trouble Men knew how to use this new wave of House. We weren't afraid of using Disco & Funky samples in a rough and unceremonious way... that gave a new breath of fresh air to all that 70's and 80's stuff. Thousands of copies and compilations followed. Actually, the French touch is still here, but in a different way. We are back in a more 'performed' less sample-based music, featuring musicians like classic American production. DJ Deep, Franck Roger, DJ Gregory, Martin Solveig and Julien Jabre always do those kind of productions. High quality.

Will CDs ever totally replace vinyl?
Alex: Unfortunately, yes. It will be a matter of time, I think. I'm using a lot of CDs right now. They're practical, cheap and weightless.
Rocco: Each piece of vinyl I have represents a part of my history. CDs for me are tools I am simply using a lot

Where next for Rodamaal?
Alex: Who knows?
Rocco: We are planning an album for Buzzin' Fly, maybe early next year.