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*INTERVIEW WITH TOOLROOM DJ, PAUL THOMAS* - 2009/04/16 18:03
As a Godskitchen Worldwide resident DJ, full time studio producer and remixer, Paul Thomas is already bringing some serious heat into the New Year with a host of remixes for a string of keynote labels including Steve Angello’s Size Records, Sander Kleinenberg’s Little Mountain imprint and the legendary Global Underground. With an eagerly awaited single releases including Mark Knight’s favorite record of last year’s ADE conference, ‘Rizer’, a super-hot EP with fellow Toolroom hero Richard Dinsdale, plus DJ tours of China, Australia and South America, it’s no wonder that Nic Fanciulli rates Paul as ‘one of the most consistent and freshest DJs around. And as the hype surrounding Paul escalates into an audible buzz, his role as a major player on the international house music scene is quickly cementing itself.
How was 2008 for you musically?
It was my best year so far, without a doubt. I stepped up the studio work a lot last year, which was really important. ‘Arena’, ‘Thrapp’ & ‘Will Do’ were all big tracks for me and I have been able to do some amazing gigs off the back of those releases.
What has been your greatest achievement to date, and what is your ultimate dream?
Playing all the Global Gatherings last year and mixing the Godskitchen Underground album were great achievements, as was writing ‘Arena’ with Mark Knight & Funkagenda. My ultimate dream would be to write a best selling album, but I’m quite a way off that right now!
Of all the DJs you’ve played alongside who has been most inspirational?
I would say Sasha, as I’ve never seen a DJ control a crowd or play music like he does. The first time I listened to his San Francisco Global Underground album I wanted to play the music he was playing. He has kept at the top of his game for so many years.
How did your Godskitchen residency come about and what’s been the highlight so far?
Godskitchen had changed their flagship venue from Code to Air in 2003 and the new Nitrogen Room had been built. Around the same time I was throwing my Dex In The City parties in Birmingham and I decided to send them a CD, as I played breaks back then, and new they would be looking for something different in the new room. Off the back of the CD they booked me to play the opening night, which went down a storm! Then they asked me to play a 6 hour set on NYE 2003 which was one of the best sets I’ve ever played. I smashed the system that much, that on my very last tune at 6am one of the speakers burst into flames! The next week the club rang me, and I was bricking it and thinking I was going to get billed for the speaker, but they offered me the residency and I haven’t looked back since.
What equipment do you favour when producing tracks?
Logic 8 all the way! Once you get your head around the programme it’s by far the best. It has the best plug ins, such as the ES1 & Trilogy, and it also has a cool beat programmer called Guru, which makes writing the whole groove of your track so much easier.
Your visiting America in March along with Toolroom nights, what’s the plan here? Are you looking forward to it?
I am really looking forward to it. I have only played in New York and Washington D.C. before so I’m looking forward to seeing a lot more of the country. The fine details are still to be made, but I’ll be touring with my friend Richard Dinsdale.
What has been your favourite moment in the studio so far?
Probably writing ‘Arena’. It was great to be in the studio with 2 guys who are so established and it was a great learning experience. Myself and Funkagenda are good friends and our studio sessions go way back and we’ve had some fun times. He has taught me so much too.
What kind of music do you listen to when mooching about in your pyjamas at home?
Pyjamas?! I’m more of a birthday suit man myself! I like to listen to a lot of chilled stuff at home. I’m a big fan of Jose Gonzalez and his music is perfect sunday morning material. Im also a big fan of Snow Patrol, MGMT & U2.
Do you get to spend much time in Ibiza? If so, where’s your favourite place to hang out there and your ultimate Ibiza memory?
I love Ibiza. I have been there almost every year for the past 10 years. I like to chill at Mambo or Kanya in the daytime. Cala Conte beach is a great alternative watch the sunset. Anyone who knows me know I like to eat, and the best restaurant on the island is Sa Capella. My best Ibiza memory has got to be the first time I went to Space. Sasha & Digweed did back to back and Lawler on the terrace was an amazing experience. The club has evolved now, with a roof on the old terrace, but the experience is just as good.
You have a release coming out soon on Toolroom, ‘Rizer’, can you tell us more about this?
It’s a collaboration between Kalva & myself. We started working together last year and we made this only the 2nd time we’d been in the studio together. It was originally inspired by Steve Lawler’s ‘21st Century Ketchup’ and we played it out a few times and went back in the studio and tweaked it a few times before we came up with the final version. It’s just a slab of peak time big room tech house which Mark Knight quoted as his biggest track of the ADE in November.
http://www.myspace.com/djpaulthomasuk
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