“Take a step back and help one another. Greed is becoming a big thing nowadays with everybody taking what they can and not helping each other. It feels good to smile and to help each other.”
– Paul Oakenfold
[Rewind 2016]
Paul Oakenfold
Australia Tour Interview 2017
One of the biggest legends in house and trance music, Paul Oakenfold has been with the club scene since the days of raves in fields around the M25 in London, Trance raves on the beaches of Goa and sunrise sets on the White Isle. In this interview from 2017, Oakenfold was heading to Australia for an NYE show and the Perfecto label had created “Perfecto Black which is progressive and Perfecto Fluoro which represents underground music.” says Oakenfold
Where Paul’s career went on from 2017 today is more than impressive. He’s exploring NFT’s, Tequila and a new project with interactive project with Apple TV. Launching a biography, and of course, still on the circuit and running the Perfecto Label.
It was exciting for us at the time to have secured an interview with Oakenfold, there’s always a buzz, even today when you secure an interview, meeting or any op to meet someone who’s work or personality, whatever it is, that you admire. Oakenfold’s an incredibly successful musician and inspirational human being.
His music and shows have brought happiness to millions, he’s unknowingly been behind countless connections made on nights where strangers met over their love for music. Meeting someone when you’re on a rave timeout in a toilet queue or cubical ;), staircase, car park or while being thrust together on a dance floor in a sweaty, hot field, we all remember the events we first met and to this day and we would all likely agree that you have a different kind of connection to people you meet on a dance floor or at the afters…
When Oakenfold plays it’s more than a ‘dj set’, he’s crafting a multi sensory experience with innovative tools that he has available to him, working with some of the most creative and capable minds in the perfectosphere. Oakenfold is a true craftsman and a pro, his ability to know his people better than they know themselves will keep him ahead of the game long into the future.
Commanding big crowds is more than a light show, when artists like Oakenfold, Carl Cox, The Rolling Stones, Black Coffee, Lil Sims, and the like perform, it’s the way they can control the room, captivating entire dance floors, taking away people’s ability to do anything other than embrace the experience. Creating this mad hype, the hysteria as people get ready, reminiscing on past raves and share ‘the good times’ with old and new friends who will be joining the next adventure is what these kinds of events and music bring to our communities and this is what it’s all about at the end of the day.
Artists who were already big in the 90’s who are still going today have been in around since before rave culture was even a thing, they know more about people and psychology behind making people happy than any doctor or even shaman. Artists like Oakenfold and this league of legends are people that know their capability and have found ways to express their creativity beyond boundaries by embracing technology and continuing to innovate, establishing their place in history, proving they can continue to connect with all generations long into the future.
Artists of this caliber are more like magicians, music is a tool they use to express themselves and they use sound, light and hype to frame and display their magic. Longevity in the music game begins when your art can speak for itself and when people find their own meaning for your art.
Where are you right now and how is it?
I am in LA in the sunshine.
What have you been up to the last week?
I have just been in the studio recording.
It’s been a busy year as usual for you, where’s been a highlight on your globetrotting and why?
I think this year I have done some wonderful shows and have been working with an orchestra which I have being doing for 15 years. Next year is a big year as it’s the 30 year anniversary of club culture, as it’s known today, so I’m excited for that.
You played at Dark Woods Festival in Mexico, tell me what was that like?
Yeah what a great festival that is! I always enjoy Mexico. It’s one of my favourite countries and they have always been into electronic music there.
There are so many big festivals coming out of Central and South America at the moment, what do you think has brought this on? What’s the festival vibe like out there?
There are always many festivals there, South Americans love to enjoy themselves and have a great time.
Having had such an extensive career, what other trend music/festival wise do you see emerging?
I think at the moment we are going to see a big upswing going back to where it all started. We have seen that already in the UK actually so we will see a lot more, I think.
You’re heading out to Australia for the New Year, what would you say is the best thing about visiting Australia?
Well I’ve been going to Australia for the past 25 years so I have lots of friends there. I really enjoy going there, good people, good food, good wine – it’s a good time to be in Australia!
How’s all at Perfecto Records?
Yeah we have Perfecto House now, with all the house music – Perfecto Black which is progressive and Perfecto Fluoro which represents underground music.
Do you get much downtime, and if so what do you like to do to unwind?
I watch a lot of movies!
Living in the US is there anything you really miss about the UK or anything you wish you could get in the US that you can’t?
Friends, family, and certain English ways of course!
Can you sum up LA life in 3 words for us?
Hot. Every. Day. (Groundhog Day!)
If someone’s visiting LA where’s the best place to check out for a night out?
Avalon Nightclub or Sound Nightclub.
What are you currently listening to?
New Little Nikki records – a UK artist.
Where do you look for new music?
How do you gather inspiration when producing? Anywhere, there is no certain place, it’s whatever suits you. You find it anyway you want and wherever you can. I listen to a lot of soundtracks.
What advice would you give to any DJ or producer trying to carve out a career nowadays in such a quick turn-around market?
Focus on yourself, don’t worry about anyone else, work really hard, learn your trade and you will become the best that you are and your time will come.
What’s been a major highlight for you in 2016? What’s been the most shocking thing to you in 2016?
I don’t think it’s been a good year for a lot of people, it’s been a really tough year for the world. Politically, what has been going on in the U.S., Brexit in the UK, the Middle East, situations with the refugees, iconic people dying, it’s not been a good year! The message here is to take a step back and help one another. Greed is becoming a big thing nowadays with everybody taking what they can and not helping each other. It feels good to smile and to help each other.
What’s on the cards for 2017?
Generations Tour – The 30 year anniversary of club culture as we know it today. It’s the big tour, I will be playing vinyl as well, it’s going to be an exciting year!
Paul Oakenfold Trance Legend – Perfecto Label Boss
Oakenfold’s career has seen him expand his portfolio of talents to business with investments and projects now including the multi award winning Perfectomundo Tequila range, Perfectoverse partnership with Apple TV which is streaming an immersive visual journey with backing track curated by the man himself. Oakenfold’s now stepped into the world of authors dropping his new book “Ready Steady Go”. All of this on top of producing, touring and running his legendary label Perfecto Records.
I remember seeing Paul Oakenfold at Creamfields and in London clubs Turnmills and Ministry back in the early 2000’s, he was already a legend that could command crowds who were insanely hyped up with butterflies in their bellies and warm up parties that would start two or three days before the gig… 20 years on and he’s has gone on to show what dedication to your craft an achieve, if you’re prepared to commit yourself and go the full distance, the world could be your oyster.
His technical knowledge of the craft, pure love and excitement for music, his attitude to life and his ability to connect and understand what millions of people want is enviable. Charismatic, genuine and a real deal pro who learned the business side of things early in his career which has enabled him to craft a lifestyle that allows him to keep delivering the magic to millions all over the world. Oakenfold’s one of the lucky few who managed to surround himself with extraordinary people who think differently and support out of the box ideas that help to create the environment creatives need to make music that connects with people.
A leader of the underground back in the UK, a leader of modern music culture globally, an innovator who has embraced technology, a spreader of happiness and wise words, a man who remains true to his craft as an analog vinyl DJ. With Oakenfold already being across the NFT game, TV and clean drinks movement, I would imagine he’s already playing with AI and blockchain and I’m excited to see what we see in the future brings from future collabs and partnerships. Perhaps even a Perfectozeel. What do you say @pauloakenfold?
Purchase Paul Oakenfold’s book Ready Steady Go here
Paul Oakenfold Music
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Paul Oakenfold Autobiography
