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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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