The world's largest floating dance party, the Groove Cruise, was back in L.A. on Sept. 27, ready to take a Carnival cruise ship full of electronic music fans decked out in their most creative costumes to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico for the next three days.

Internationally renowned DJ and producer Markus Schulz rocked the boat, literally, as the headliner that night, as the ship set sail for Catalina Island.

The next day, he sat down with Neon Tommy to discuss everything from a surprising iPod tune to his favorite sports teams:

NT: How are you liking the Groove Cruise so far?

MS: Instead of coming in and playing and then heading out like some of the other DJs did, it’s the end of the summer season with Ibiza (his residency) closing so I’m treating this like a mini vacation. So I’m actually having a great time.  Last night was a lot of fun, and today I didn’t do anything except just hang out all day.

NT: What other sets did you see?

MS: I hung out by the pool, and Chris Lake was doing a great job today. I’m having a good time!

NT: I’m sure you’re friends with a lot of the other DJs on the ship?

MS: The cool thing is, you know, you wind up becoming good friends with some of the people who play the kind of music you don’t play. Some of the people I’ve become friends with over the years, it’s like, “What? Those guys?”  So it’s an unlikely combination.

NT: Interesting! Who are some of the more surprising friends you've made in the business?

MS: Like Richie Hawtin. Richie is a big surprise. Richie and I are friends, but no one would expect that at all!

NT: Most unexpected music we’d find on your iPod?

MS: I have a lot of classic rock on there. I love the old Led Zeppelin, the old Pink Floyd. So there’s a lot of stuff like that. Probably the most surprising track on there is by an artist called Lulu, called "To Sir with Love," from the movie, “To Sir with Love.” It’s kind of an obscure track, but I’ve had it on my iPod.

NT: Do you watch a lot of movies, then? Or what do you do when you’re not working on your music?

MS: I don’t watch a lot of movies, but when I’m on the airplane I’ll watch a lot of movies, but what I love to do the most is to watch sports: basketball, football, baseball.  For me, that’s my escape.

NT: Wow! Really? Who are your teams?

MS: Miami Heat, Miami Dolphins, the University of Miami Hurricanes, and I’m also a Phoenix Suns fan and an Arizona  Cardinals fan, because I used to live there for a long time.

NT: What are your top cities to play in?

MS: I have a lot of love for Los Angeles, a lot of love for New York, Chicago, Miami, San Francisco, Washington DC. You know what, the thing is, right now the U.S. is the envy of the world. The scene here in the U.S. is amazing and I’m so proud to be from here in the U.S. There’s been so much love from all the cities here. So I can’t leave any of them out, really.

NT: Where do you see EDM going?

MS: It’s funny, because I’ve noticed that in the cities around the world where dance music used to always rule, it’s a little down right now. And places where dance music was not that popular, now it’s gotten popular. So I think it’s incredible, and I also think that whatever the last generation listened to, the following generation wants to be a rebel and listen to something different.

NT: Who has inspired you along your musical journey?

MS: I was standing next to Carl Cox and we were just on the dance floor together, listening to Danny Tenaglia and he was my hero. He’s turned out to be a good mentor and friend to me, so it’s really cool.

NT: What’s your favorite food?

MS: I’d eat sushi every day of the week!

NT: What projects are coming up for you?

MS: Just putting the finishing touches on Scream II. It’s almost done, and we hope to release it at the beginning part of 2014. We just released the Buenos Aires compilation, which I’m really proud of. Gotta give my props to Buenos Aires, Argentina. It’s one of the most amazing vibes in the world, so I had to dedicate this one to them.

NT: If you weren’t doing anything music-related, what would you be doing?

MS: I’ll give you an honest answer: I don’t think I’d be alive, because honestly, this is all I’ve ever known. My father was a musician, and this is what I’m on this planet for. I wish I could give you an answer, like, I would be a truck driver or something like that, but music is all I’ve known.

Reach Tanaya Ghosh here or follow her on Twitter.