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Warning really BIG Paul Oakenfold interview
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| TranceSeeker |
Pone: A lot has been written about you being 'burned out' or getting tired of DJing. What effect has this had on you or your DJing?
Paul: I have done less DJing this year than ever. I love Djing more now than ever though. I have never said that.
Jamie Styles: If you could choose any singing legend to work with at the moment who would it be?
Paul: I would like to work with Dr Dre and Eminem. I think lyrically Eminem is brilliant and very clever. I think he is misunderstood and Dre is a great producer, simple in his approach, but brilliant.
"I would like to work with Dr Dre and Eminem."
Trigger B1: Who else have you got lined up for the 'Perfecto Presents...' CD series?
Paul: The next one is Hernan Cattaneo from South America is just coming out shortly. We've also got one from Arthur Baker.
Excession: Your Perfecto label, where is that directed? It's gone 'slightly' overground hasn't it?
Paul: I suppose it is really. We have got a new team, we've got compilations, we've got a group called Flash, Hernan's new single. We just release them on the vans, ie. the distribution, and they go to underground shops only.
Leon Gallie: I remember a night in 96 when you crashed our after party after the Boardwalks 10th birthday party in Manchester. Does this happen often, or were we just very lucky?
Paul: I remember that! It was in a council flat and it was really good. I don't do it as much as I should!
Richard Groves: Where do you get your hair cut?
Paul: I get it cut at Adams in London. Right across the road from Radio 1.
Emma Graham: What's the most embarassing thing you've done in your whole life?
Paul: I can't remember. Probably too many things! I do remember in New Zealand I fell off the side of a stage. It was pitch black the stage and I was DJing, I had to pretend that I hadn't hurt myself though.
"I do remember in New Zealand I fell off the side of a stage"
Trigger B1: Why the 'Bited The Dust' remix!
Paul: James Holden did it and brought it to us and we thought we should release it.
Javier Suarez: Any advice when cueing up a track to make the mix last as long as possible?
Paul: The earlier you start the mix the longer it is going to last. Other tips would be to just be original, learn about keys, structure and arrangement, they are all really important in DJing.
Bruce Warren: How did you get a hold of the Robert Plant vocal sample for 'Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You'? Do you know the chaps from Led Zep?
Paul: Led Zepplin gave it to me. We were the only people to get permission to do a Led Zep mix. Their management had heard what I had done with U2 and the Stones, so they knew where I was coming from and they liked it.
Leigh McDaid: What's the most expensive record you have bought?
Paul: Japanese imports. They were about £22 a record 6 years ago.
KC: How much do you spend a week on records?
Paul: It varies really. This week I bought about £150 worth. I went to HMV and bought loads of CDs. I listen to them in the car and at home.
Colin Stevenson: How do you feel about going back to Cream on the 13th? It's bound to be an emotional night for you considering you are worshiped there!
Paul: I am really looking forward to it. It will be really good. I haven't been there in over a year. Times have changed so I won't be playing the old tracks. I'll just do what I do.
Phil Gibson: During your recent sets you have been playing a lot more breakbeat, how much of an influence is this now on your musical style?
Paul: I have always liked breakbeat, I play a lot more in America than in England...
"I have always liked breakbeat, I play a lot more in America than in England..."
Manos Kokkinis: Is it true you were DJing with 1 deck in Miami?
Paul: Yes. I played at the conference about 5 years ago and one of the turntables broke. I just decided to carry on. It was like playing to a bunch of people at home, it was difficult but it was good to carry on.
John Barnes: Is it true that Radiohead banned you from playing the Perfecto mix of 'Fade Out'?
Paul: No. I didn't do the mix. That has always been a misunderstanding. The mix was done by some lads in Scotland, it was a bootleg mix and I liked it.
Manoj Athi: What decks do you have? What would you recommend?
Paul: I think vestax is giving Technics a run for their money, so either of those really.
Jon Main: What original acid house rave ie. Biology etc, do you remember the most and why and where was it?
Paul: I remember Spectrum because we were told by people who were running clubs that it would never work and it did! We had 3,000 on Monday and in Legends 1,000 and it was a really successful night in both places.
"I remember Spectrum because we were told by people who were running clubs that it would never work and it did!"
Hugh: Do you ever wonder how different the club scene would be now if you hadn't made that trip to Ibiza?
Paul: No I don't... I don't know how different it would be. It probably wouldn't be as big as it is, especially globally...
Leigh McDaid: Paul, I DJ at home, but with very limited equipment, I'm worried if I tried at a club I would be overwhelmed, what should I do?
Paul: Take a Valium! You have got to start sooner or later so my advice is to play in a small club, do a warm up slot in order to get some confidence.
Colin: What do you think about 'hard house' music?
Paul: I haven't heard much of it really. What I have heard is okay.
Stephen Stewart: What kind of car do you drive?
Paul: I drive a Jag...
Rene Ruokonen1: If you had the chance to play back to back with anyone who would it be?
Paul: Daniele Davolli...
Rick Dawson1: What is the best way to get the BPM of a track?
Paul: There is only one way. Over the years you come to judge the pace of a record and usually you are roughly right.
Pone: What do you think of the movement by some DJs towards CDs and MP3s? Will vinyl live on?
Paul: Vinyl will certainly live on and I also use CDs.
Rando Knite: How often do you use 3 or 4 turntables at once as opposed to 2?
Paul: I like to use three as much as I can. It can get a bit hectic at times, sometimes I have taken the wrong record off which is really embarrassing!
GatecrasherKid: If you had to name your top 3 tunes of all time what would they be?
Paul: There are too many. Beatles 'Rubber Soul', Marvin Gaye 'What's Going On' and U2's 'Joshua Tree'...
Sal A: Where do you want to be in 5 years time?
Paul: I want to be what I am doing now. Enjoying myself. I love it and it never gets too much.
Punam: What were you called at school?
Paul: Oakey!
Osmann Zenuwah: Can I ask why you're so wired into the computer gaming scene?
Paul: Because I used to have my mates round and we used to stay up playing games. So I don't play them any more!
Small Paul: Do you feel the British crowd are enjoying your more progressive style? As the atmosphere on the floor isn't as manic as it used to be?
Paul: I always thought I was progressive, more so than anything else. As for the crowd not going as mad, they have been I thought...
"I always thought I was progressive, more so than anything else"
Craig Docherty: What went on with you and Darren Hughes?
Paul: Nothing really. I left Home because I wanted to get back out there and go up north and play to people around the country, so, nothing went on. We are still friends...
Essential Platinum: Where was the very first gig you played?
Paul: A place called Rumours in Covent Garden in 1985 and it was really scary! It's a wine bar and my mate was the DJ and one night he was sick and I used to carry his records and he asked me if I wanted to do it. I really enjoyed it, but I never wanted to be a DJ. I actually always wanted to sign a band, it is only in the last few years that I have resigned myself that that won't happen. So I now just focus on DJing. I played the guitar when I was young, but nobody wanted to be in a band. I used to go to see Pete Tong when I was young and can remember looking up and thinking 'I would like to do that!' I never wanted to be in a band but I liked to get musicians in to a studio and let them do what they want to do.
"I used to go to see Pete Tong when I was young and can remember looking up and thinking 'I would like to do that!"
Sam B1: Do you own any Evisu clothes?
Paul: I had a pair of jeans of theirs about 3 years ago.
Sean Keenan: How can we get Perfecto stuff, like clothing?
Paul: Go to our website... http://www.pauloakenfold.com and perfectofc.com
Excession: You must hear so many good tunes before everyone. Why can't you sign them all up to Perfecto and make loads of money?
Paul: Because they go for too much money. Rapture cost Ministry Of Sound £200,000 and I can't afford that! There's a track that Virgin has signed for £110,000. We are a small label and can't pay big money.
"Rapture' cost Ministry Of Sound £200,000 and I can't afford that!"
Will Bee: What do you think to Adam Freeland's recent comments on your breaks mixing?
Paul: I don't know what his comments were.
Jamie Styles: Congratulations on getting married! Are we expecting to see any mini-me Oakeys on the way? Would you want your child to be a DJ?
Paul: There are no plans at the moment. I don't mind what my kid would want to do.
Jared Cook: Hi Paul... Rumour has it that some time ago in Vancouver, Canada, after Max Graham opened for you and you saw the crowd's response to his style you whispered to someone that 'Trance was dead'. Did you say that? And if so, what did you mean by it ?
Paul: No I never said that. I didn't know it was dead. I have never played in Vancouver by the way!
Javier Suarez: Do you recommend rotary knobs ?
Paul: I like rotary knobs yes!
Pete: Every big DJ seems to say that Danny Tenaglia is the best. What do you think of him?
Paul: Danny is a DJ's DJ... I think he is very good but I think the whole idea of DJing is to play to the crowd, it is the most important thing.
GatecrasherKid: What do you think of Gatecrasher Kids/Cyber clubbers? Do you think it's O.T.T or not?
Paul: No I don't think about it. If they enjoy it then good on them!
Paul1: Which club is your favourite in the world, and why?
Paul: Zouk in Singapore. One of my best friends owns it but it's the crowd that is so good.
Urbane Mr P: Who were the bizarre onstage entourage who appeared at Creamfields?
Paul: I was with Pete Tong! I just came up and stood with him because he was on before me...
Andy Wilton: Would you ever consider retiring in Ibiza? Where it all started!
Paul: No I wouldn't.
Wil Bee: What has fuelled your part-transition to breakbeat?
Paul: I have always liked breakbeat. If you look back on 'Transport' which I did 4 years ago there is breakbeat on it. If you listen to Essential Mix 6 years ago there is breakbeat also.
"I have always liked breakbeat. If you look back on 'Transport' which I did 4 years ago there is breakbeat on it"
andy1: What's the most gruelling schedule you have had, ie. most gigs involving the most amount of miles without sleep?
Paul: Three countries in three days! Japan, Singapore and Thailand. It was very tiring. I have to try and look after myself in times like that. I take loads of vitamins and stuff... |
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| torontotrance |
| All the normal oakenfold answers......hehehehe......they always ask him the same questions. |
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| Lost |
this is an old interview i think. i recall reading something like this around four months ago.
lost |
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| TranceSeeker |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lost
this is an old interview i think. i recall reading something like this around four months ago.
lost |
yeah I know but for those who havent read it yet... |
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| trance[]control-fan |
| thanks its was very imformative |
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| Trance4Eternity |
| good read, thanx.:D |
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| sharpeye00 |
learn something new everyday!
Trance4Eternity your sig is some funny lol |
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| brunette |
he's kind of modest if you go by this.....
some stupid questions, though.. "where do you cut your hair" :rolleyes: |
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| biznology |
| quote: | Originally posted by brunette
he's kind of modest if you go by this.....
some stupid questions, though.. "where do you cut your hair" :rolleyes: |
hey but now you know...maybe the kid needed a haircut really bad...heh late/ |
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| shoXx |
| Informative interview. I really enjoyed it. |
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| Trancey Ash |
| Thanks man! Nice to see inside a DJ's life a bit more. What they do what drives them etc. Paul seems pretty cool. Cooler than I imagined |
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| ascension |
good read... he coulda expanded abit... but i guess he's short on time :p
^^^
my new hero :D |
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