Superstar DJ

By Kasperoo | Sat, 01 Oct 2011 10:27 | 0 comments

Interview with Paul Oakenfold

Paul Oakenfold has been off the radar for a few years. You might not know his name, but he is a dance music institution. He’s worked with everyone who’s worth working with, from Madonna and The Cure, to Snoop Dogg and U2, and been nominated for no less than three Grammies. Now he’s back, with a brand new album, and whole new outlook. The SG caught up with him to find out what he’s been up to, and his plans to reclaim his title as ‘The Superstar DJ’.

How are you today?

I’m good thank you. I’m in Amsterdam in my studio here. The weather’s terrible.

You’ve just released your latest album, Never Mind the Bollocks... here’s Paul Oakenfold. You’ve described this on your website as a “straight up two-fingered salute to all industry politics”. What exactly do you mean by this?

What it means is that it is all about the music. This compilation is very edgy, and quite dark in moments. It’s not the fluffy, commercial sound of trance that you hear, and you certainly won’t hear this record on radio. It showcases a lot of up-and-coming new producers and DJs who are challenging the new sound of what’s coming out of clubs.

The new record really just represents the new underground sound and what’s going on now in trance.

At this point in the interview, we are interrupted by the distinctive chime of an ice cream van outside the open window...

Paul: Can you get me an ice cream! A 99? With two flakes. Fuck the interview, let’s get ice cream.

A few years ago, Paul Oakenfold was a pretty big household name. Why are you suddenly so underground?

I took some time out of DJing. I moved to Los Angeles and started writing music for film, which is still what my main job really is. I decided that a lot of the music back then wasn’t for me – it didn’t really do much for me.

At the moment I really like what’s coming out of the underground. It’s fresh, it’s new, it’s exciting, and I love the energy of it – that’s where I am at the moment. That’s what I’m about in respect to this album. My next album may be completely different.

How was the making of the new album and are you looking forward to playing your new material?

In terms of Never Mind the Bollocks, a lot of the artists on it are new. There are a lot of exclusives on the record. I’ll be playing it at my residency in Gatecrasher, at Privilege every Wednesday in Ibiza, which I’m really looking forward to.

In contrast to this more underground sound, there are rumours of another new album to be released in 2012, with big name collaborations. What more can you tell us about that?

The rumours are true, yeah. That’s the great thing about music. I’ve been really lucky in the music industry during the many years that I’ve been in it. I work in different areas, I’ve taken from the urban world, I’ve worked with Pharrell and Snoop Dogg; and I’ve worked in the rock world – with U2 and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. I like to touch in different areas.

Never Mind the Bollocks is a compilation of cutting-edge music, whereas my artists album, which will come next year, is focused solely on song. The world doesn’t need another Paul Oakenfold album. I decided that if I’m going to do another artists album I really want to understand the craft of great songs and hopefully have the opportunity to have great singers. I’ve been very lucky to work with these people. Some are known, some are not.

It’s taken a while to get to this point for me, but it’s been part of my journey in terms of coming together and writing music. That is what the record is all about. I’ve brought cutting-edge beats to the table with song-writers and good singers.

Care to drop any names?

Yeah, there’s Cee Lo, and Ryan Tedder who wrote a couple of songs on the Adele album who is also in a band called One Republic – he wrote that song Apologise. He really is one of the best out there, and I was truly lucky to work with him. They’re two people who you’ll know, and there’s a couple you won’t.

There’s a guy I came across in Los Angeles whose name is Miguel. He’s just got this incredible voice, it really melts you.

Any ideas when the new album will be out?

Hopefully the first quarter of 2012.

You’ve spent a lot of time in recent years working on film soundtracks. Is there a film which you’re most proud of?

I think the movie I’m most proud of is actually on TV tonight – the John Travolta and Halle Berry movie called Swordfish. You should watch it.

Alright then, I will

Of course you won’t, you’re gonna go and have an ice cream and sit in the sun. The last thing you’re going to do is watch the movie that I wrote the music for, but it’s alright, you can tell me that you are.

Well, I’ve got to keep up appearances

Ha ha, exactly.

In around a month’s time you’re playing at Creamfields, an exclusive UK festival appearance. What is it about Creamfields which made you choose it over all the other massive events happening in the UK this summer?

I was resident at Cream, so I have a great relationship with them. It was an important part of my career, so I’m always up for doing things for them.

Anyone you’re looking forward to seeing as a punter?

Yeah there are a few DJs that I’m looking forward to seeing. I want to see Calvin Harris, Hernan Cattaneo, Sven Vath, and I’ll probably go and see Example.

Are there any other festivals you’ll be going to this year?

I’ve just played three, I’ve done one in the Black Sea, and I’ve just come back from Istanbul, so I’ve done a few interesting ones – a lot of beach festivals.

Earlier this month you played Gatecrasher in Birmingham. How was it?

It was great – really, really good. Gatecrasher, first and foremost is one of the best clubs in terms of the brand and promoters, they really know what they’re doing. I always love playing Birmingham. Being in the centre of the country, you get a lot of Northerners coming down and a lot of Londoners coming up, so there were people from Brighton and people from Glasgow. It was really enjoyable.

Do you like playing at student nights, are they a good crowd?

I really do, they’re a great crowd. They’re really up for it, that’s why I love doing them.

You’re a well-known advocate of new talent. Who are the names to watch out for over the coming months?

The new talent that I’m really keeping my eye on is a guy from Greece called Robert Vadney; a young guy – a 23 year old producer called Thomas Gold; and Mogwai – they’re my three top ones for the moment.

Recently newer acts such as Sub Focus and Nero have come along and brought a new flavour the tone of dance music in the UK. Have you been inspired by the new dance music scene or are you trying to move away from it?

I think it’s important to embrace anything that’s fresh – it doesn’t mean you have to like it! I’m always keeping my eye out for new stuff and checking out new music.

Sad news over the weekend with the tragic death of Amy Winehouse. How did you react to the story?

First of all, it’s a shame for anyone, whether they’re in music or not to go through what she went through. I didn’t know her, but it seems from the outside looking in that she’d been unhappy for a while, and no one wants to see anyone unhappy. Especially to have to live through it in the public eye in the way she did.

She was a unique talent, we all know that. She had this smoky, husky jazz voice that stood alone. We’re great at coming out with these singers. We’ve got some amazing talent in the UK, especially females, with the likes of Adele and Joss Stone, it’s exciting at the moment. It’s a shame for us to lose one of our pioneers, who had her own lane, and who brought a lot to the table. I think we were all waiting and waiting for her new album. That’s one record I think a lot of people were waiting for. It’s a shame that we never got to hear it.

People describe you as the ‘Superstar DJ’. How do you manage to keep a level head?

It’s all about getting a balance. You achieve that balance, you look for happiness. People look for happiness in different ways; it could just be hanging out with your friends, being with your mum or your family, or you might look at happiness in terms of success in your job or money that you make. It’s all about finding out more about yourself – what makes you tick and what you want and then going for it. Just fucking gloves-off and go for it.