Skrillex has become a household name over a relatively short period of time. From his origins as a pioneer of US dubstep, he’s now the Grammy-toting owner of OWSLA — one of the most influential labels in electronic music. OWSLA’s releases have diversified from dubstep over time, even to the point where Skrillex released an ambient, Burial-inspired EP under his own name. Needless to say, the man whose mum calls him Sonny Moore has built himself an increasingly diverse empire on thick, wubby foundations.

With such dizzying heights of popularity comes the inevitable backlash (oh hey Flume). Many are scratching their heads about the prospect of Skrillex – a producer often seen as the figurehead of the most all-encompassing fad genres in recent memory – being selected for an Essential Mix in 2013.

We’re thinking just the opposite. A guy that has done all that should in theory be able to put together a very interesting mix. So we compiled five reasons why Skrillex’s Essential Mix is important.

1. Tastemaker: In the relatively short time that Skrillex has been involved in dance music, he has led not followed. American tastes have changed since the height of dubstep’s popularity, and the Essential Mix’s immediate audience in the UK has certainly moved way past that fad. The breadth of Skrillex’s influence means that the sound of his mix could very well be labelled ‘commercial’ in 12 months.

2. Production: Someone that can produce their own music should be able to work their way around a mix fairly well, expect silky transitions and seamless track selection. No trainwrecks here folks!

3. Collaborations:  Skrillex has important friends. Lots of them. Two major collaborations spring to mind; Dog Blood, his acidy take on techno with leader of the pack Boys Noize, and Jack U, his relatively unknown project with the king of social media beats Diplo. Get ready for some unreleased gems from these two.

4. OWSLA: Running your own label means access to music, a whole lot of music. With artists like Skream, What So Not, Destructo, Dillon Francis and more, this mix is as eclectic as Skrilly on a bad hair day.

5. Personality: Skrillex is the kinda guy who believes it’s all in a day’s work to dive chaotically off a giant spaceship-esque stage into a sea of kids, hair whipping viciously into their pimple-ridden faces. Pus. Everywhere. So when approaching an Essential Mix where he is without a stage, it would make sense for Skrillex to carve out a visual-free spectacle that’s just as groin-thrustingly excellent as a live show.

Skrillex’s Essential Mix aired on BBC  Radio 1 on Friday night, UK time. Keep an eye on Stoney Roads for a stream of the mix as soon as it lands.

For now, listen to his Essential Mix from 2011. It’s a live set from when he supported Nero at Rockness Festival back in 2011.

Update: listen to his Essential Mix below