Paul Oakenfold Interview

By Sam | Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:55 | 0 comments

2012 is shaping up to be a massive year for Paul Oakenfold. The Student Guide caught up with him.

Tell us about the 4 Seasons Tour?

It’s a tour and album concept that will span all of 2012 – evolving with the seasons. The sound is my Full on Fluoro sound and visually we have these really hot guys called Rebel Overlay putting together something totally unique that is going to be mind blowing.

And there is a 4 Seasons Album due out soon also?

Yeah – there will be four albums – each dedicated to a season, so we start with Winter – which is a single 80 min DJ mix will be released on February 17th. Spring comes out in May and Summer in July and then at the end of the year we’re going to do something release special with Autumn like a box set of visual and audio materials.

Tell us about Full on Fluoro concept?

I’m drawing influence from the Goa records I was into, but I would not say I was going backwards – the producers who are making this fresh sound today couldn’t be more cutting edge. For me Psy is just a new version of Goa trance and while the Full on Fluoro sound does include elements of Psy, it also includes breaks, electronica, techno and house – so it’s hard to be catagorised into one area. It’s melodic, it’s energetic and it’s full on. Because of the different sounds and styles I play – I’m involved with very different ends of the scene – the really underground at one end and the really overground at the other. I like both but this Four Seasons tour is certainly more about the underground.

How important have elements of staging and production become for electronic music?

Hugely important – the era of spotlight on the DJ is over. It’s about touring with a show that is just as amazing visually as it is sonically.

You are the first DJ to hold a Vegas residency, tell us how that came about and how that has developed?

I was thinking of a residency in LA, NY, or Vegas and after a couple shows there I knew Vegas was going to be an ideal party destination. With dozens of performances and fans visiting from all around the country to see the show, the Vegas residency became an inspiring role in the explosion of dance music in America.

Perfecto Vegas is much more than a musically experience, it is a full on show?

Yes – it was always about making a big dramatic experience from going there. Putting on a great show that had performers and fire breathers and all kinds of other stuff to generally pump up the crowd. The concept was always about ‘come and experience what goes on on Planet Perfecto’.

You had an amazing season this summer in Ibiza with Gatecrasher, tell us about that?

I’ve played for Gatecrasher now for many years so I’ve always had a close friendship with them so when the idea of the residency came up in Ibiza it felt right. I wanted to be part of the show they had planned and it was a great success.

Your next artist album Pop Killer is finally released this year, what can we expect?

My take on pop music – It’s a fusion of memorable songwriting, great singers, attitude, and really dope production. I can’t wait for it to be released.

Is the album is in response to the steady decline of pop music?

Not at all – I’m embracing pop culture and giving it my spin!

You’ve got some huge artists on the album including Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Gnarls Barkley and One-Republic did you work directly with them in the studio or was this done remotely?

It’s not just big artists, I am always looking to embrace new up-and-coming talent and great songwriters but yes, we worked together directly in the studio.

How did you go about selecting artists for the album?

I wanted to work with different artist in different genres, that have inspired and I am a fan of.

You’ve got so much going on – how do you fit it all in?

I’m up at the crack of dawn and work for 14 hours and I have a great team who help me. Also, it doesn’t hurt throwing in some hot tea, coffee, and an In Nʼ Out Burger once in a while!

Are there any other musical stars you’d like to work with?

Yes, Dr. Dre

According to the Guinness Book of Records you are the most successful DJ in the world, what attributes make you stand head and shoulders above the rest?

I’ve been very fortunate to be involved with everything I have. At the end of the day I love dance music so much so it has always been a pleasure to passionately push the sound to my peers and fans. From there, the rest is history!

Incredibly you’ve been DJing now for over 30 years, how has the scene changed since you started?

There are many things which are a day and night difference and other parts which will never change. The sound of 20,000 people roaring to a song will never tire. How the DJ presents the music, how the scene works – those things are changing continuously.

Paul Oakenfold plays at Gatecrasher Birmingham on 28 January.

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