You want to talk about EPIC… this dude is one of the biggest and best DJs to ever live. I have been listening to his work for years, and I had the chance to see him live a couple of years ago. He is a resident at Rain in Las Vegas, and puts on one heck of a show. From dancers to lights, his performance is unbeatable. He also has one of the best podcasts out there. There was even talk of a Perfecto cruise ship a few months back. He is one of my all time favorites. (I think the best work he has ever done was Faster Kill Pussycat with Brittany Murphy.) Anyway, he was gracious enough to sit down with me… it is beyond my absolute pleasure to introduce you to Paul Oakenfold. We ARE Planet Perfecto.
It’s such a pleasure to sit down with you. I’ve been listening to your stuff for years! Where does your motivation come from? You are up there producing night after night… how do you keep going after all these years?
It’s not always easy, but I have found a new passion and energy for DJing over the last 10 months. It’s a great time for me right now.
The last time I saw you live was in Las Vegas at Rain. You have a residency there. How many times a month to you perform in Vegas?
I try and perform there as much as I can. My residency at Rain has been one of the best and most rewarding experiences I have had.
Perfecto… where did that come from? It seems to be an ongoing theme with you and your work. I love it, but just curious to learn more about where it came from.
Perfecto is a play on my initials. It’s what I wanted from the music and artists I produced.
You did a single with Brittany Murphy a few years ago. What was it like working with her? How did you react when you heard the news?
She (Brittany) was such a talent, a unique voice and a unique person. I was very upset to hear that she had died… it took a while to process the news since she’d became a good friend.
You have produced a TON of albums, mixes, singles… Is it possible in all you have produced to pick a favorite?
My own last album “A Lively Mind” was very special and personal to me; it remains so.
You have a ton of associated acts, or aliases. From Bunker to Virus, what’s the benefit of having an alias?
Having an alias or going under a pseudonym gives me a chance to try new music in different styles, and it can be fun.
“Pop Killer” is coming out soon. Tell me a little bit more about the release and what your expectations are with the album.
“Pop Killer” is made up of great songs with a mix of vocalists to big edgy beats. It’s a completely different direction for me.
When you remix a song for another artist, like Britney Spears, do you get to work with the artist directly or do they just send you the track?
When you remix you don’t actually work directly with the artist. If you however produce them – that’s when you do.
You have played all over the world. In all of the clubs you have played, and all of the festivals, is it possible to pick a favorite venue? Who has the best sound?
It’s not that I’m here now, but my favourite place to DJ is Buenos Aires. The best club sound system in the world is in Zouk, Singapore… It has an awesome sound!
Whatever happened to Perfeto at Sea… I wanted to sail with you on the high seas!
Perfecto at Sea will set sail in 2013.
I’m a big fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. How cool was it having a song you produced in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End?
It was a real pleasure to have worked on that film. It was a great success and with all films I have created music for it’s really interesting to see the images run along side your sounds on the big screen. I guess it’s a similar feeling you get to seeing a crowd react when you play one of your new tracks – but it’s a bit more subtle.
I haven’t been yet, but I hear it gets crazy down there. Tell me what it’s like being at Ibiza. Do you like playing down there?
Ibiza this year was the best it’s been for a while. It was so much fun and I can’t wait to come back in 2012.
Who designed the Perfecto logo?
It was part of an evolution of ideas put together by John Askew who is part of the Perfecto team.
You are all over Twitter and Facebook. How do you find time to update all of these social media sites?
Social media is so important and necessary… you have to keep with it and to be honest I see it as a fun way to interact with fans as opposed to a time consuming and a tedious job.
I’m not too happy with the new DJ Mag Top 100. What’s it mean being on that list? Do you get better shows? More money for appearances?
For me it’s never been about a list, it’s about the people coming to see you live and the people who buy and listen to your records.
Who is your favorite DJ?
Hernan Cattaneo… still as good as he ever was!
Thank you so much for taking the time to sit with me Paul. I know you are a busy man. In all of the interviews I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.
It’s been a pleasure talking with you and I hope to see you at one of my 2012 world tour dates. Check out my artist album “Pop Killer” which will finally see a release early next year.
Connect with Paul Oakenfold:
Website: http://pauloakenfold.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Oakenfold
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pauloakenfold
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/pauloakenfold
