Fresh from a tour of South America Club Connected caught up with the supremo Remixer/Producer/Dj Paul Woolford
First off I hear you have just returned from a tour of South and Central America, Where did you go and which places did you enjoy the most?
I went to Panama City, Lima in Peru, San Jose in Costa Rica and finished up in Buenos Aires in Argentina. On this tour I enjoyed Costa Rica the most. The place is quite extreme. The location was in between 3 active Volcanoes and was absolutely beautiful, nature all around. I spent about 4 days there and the club was fantastic. It's called Vertigo and is one of the few clubs where the owners are as into the music as the promoters and clubbers so it was ideal. I also always have a good time in Buenos Aires. It was my third trip there and I had a lot of fun.
You got your first set of decks at the early age of 12, which artists influenced you in those days?
Well I had always had the radio on and also been swapping tapes with friends for a couple of years around that time, particularly a guy called Nick Hart who's older brother had all the Street Sounds Electro compilations so it was a mish mash. I have always had very wide tastes, not just dance music. Also my Dad had been collecting records for years and was a hi-fi enthusiast with wide taste as well. He had everything from Joan Baez to Tom Browne and also a load of dodgy soft rock so I was exposed to all kinds of stuff. Probably the first time I was well and truly blown-away and had to keep rewinding something was hearing Jeff Young play A Guy Called Gerald's 'Voodoo Ray' on Radio 1 one Friday night. That was something else.
How would you describe your musical style?
Acid house in all shapes and sizes...
You're playing at the Space's 16th Birthday celebrations on Sunday, what's it like to be part of the team at Space?
Pretty amazing really, It's a good feeling knowing that I'm communicating through my sets because that's what I set out to do. It's one thing playing one record after another but what I try to do is build a constant atmosphere and I feel that Darren Hughes and his team understand what I do and they've given me an opportunity to do it on a larger scale.
When you started out did you ever imagine you would be a resident at Space or did you always know you were going to make it?
Well the first time I flirted with the idea of playing in Space regularly in my mind was when Layo and Bushwacka were residents a couple of years ago. Previously to that I always liked the club but musically it was on the more commercial side of things so it hadn't occurred to me. When I heard them there a few times my perception of what was possible changed and it crossed my mind but only in the way of day dreams really. I had played 3 gigs there on Sundays between 2001 - 2004 and built my understanding of what worked and what didn't and then last September I filled in for Lottie as her flight was delayed and did the 8-10pm Terrace slot and I think that was the turning point...
Has as the atmosphere changed at Space now they have a roof?
The atmosphere has changed for the better. The sound is awesome, there's plenty of room to move and bar space and it's pretty much ideal.
What tunes do you think have rocked Ibiza in 2005?
Tiga's remix of Thomas Andersson "Washing Up" on Bptich Control is probably the biggie at the moment.
So your record box has taken you around the globe, what has been highlight for you so far?
Right now probably, I feel that I'm getting the gigs that I've always wanted and the team around me is strong. It's very inspiring and feeds itself. I just have to focus on every gig and production.
If you could play in any location in the world, where would it be?
I have bee told about Cavo Paradiso in Mikonos, Greece - that sounds pretty amazing!
If you could work with any artist dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Well there's a few. Grace Jones has always been somebody that i think exudes the right attitude for an awesome dance record. DJ Hell remixed a track of hers recently which sounded great so I guess she's game. My plan is move into production for larger scale artists as well as the more dj-friendly things so there's a few targets. Wait and see...
When was the last time you were strutting you stuff on the dancefloor and who was playing?
It was in Space a few weeks back. Tiga taking no prisoners!
After experiencing the clubbing scene abroad, how do you think it compares to the UK?
I think it varies wildly. You can't make any generalisations really. Although I will say that Italy is fucking fantastic...
Many Dj's are saying the UK scene is getting smaller, do you think this is true? If so why do you think this is happening?
Well i think the UK is so trend orientated and can be incredibly fickle but this can be a good thing because it pushes things along and makes things change. There's a lot of warehouse style/free parties going on which is interesting but equally they can be nonsense as well - it seems there's a lot of people doing them because clubs aren't cool or whatever... It's a time of flux but I think the music has never been better.
What technologies do you prefer to use?
Vinyl and CDs and I'm looking into taking the new Pioneer EFX on the road. It's interesting seeing people use Ableton and Traktor etc for djing. I think if you use it then you need to justify not mixing by doing something that's so creative that it simply cannot be done with vinyl and cds. If you're just using it to play one track after another then it's a blatant cop-out. If you were a tennis player you wouldn't get a machine to hit the ball for you would you ?!?
You are a much respected producer/remixer and your Freeform Five remix has been very well received, so what's next on the cards for you?
More remixes:
Dylan Rhymes "Fashion Kills" for Kingsize
Porno "Music Power" for Data
Vicarious Bliss "Theme From Vicariuous Bliss" for Skint
and a few more things in the pipeline. I like to keep busy...
Where will you be playing for the rest of 2005?
I have 4 more dates at Space into September, SW4 festival in London, CoccoRico, Ostuni and then Teramo in Italy on Christmas Day, my monthly UK residency at Back To Basics in Leeds and various others.
Thanks for taking the time to speak with us Paul and all the best for the future.x
Thank you & take ca
