Gilles Peterson

Gilles Peterson Interview

DJ producer and record label owner from London, UK. Through his labels Acid Jazz, Talkin' Loud, and latterly Brownswood Recordings, he has been associated with the careers of countless well-known artists of the 1990s such as Erykah Badu and Tony Rich plus Jamiroquai. He is also well known as a radio DJ. After starting out on pirate radio, and having shows on various legal London-based radio stations, most noticeably including Kiss FM dance music station, he was recruited to the BBC's youth-oriented Radio 1 in 1998.

youtobe : Gilles Peterson Back in Brazil Podcasts Trailer

- For those readers who don’t already know you, please tell us little about yourself and your label.

G: DJ producer, radio presenter. living in north london. following previous labels that I set up like talkin loud and acid jazz now running brownswood records for 4 years - we have also got jose james signed to the label.

- What sort of sound are you influenced by the most, past & present?

G: It all goes back to classic jazz and soul all the way through to electro, folk and dub.

- For you, what takes more precedence, being a DJ or looking after the 'Brownswood Recordings' label?

G: Both things work off each other - I need to play out to bring that energy back into the label.

- You have been involved in the music industry for the past 20 years. How have you watched the UK music scene changed over the years?

G:Iit keeps changing thats why I need to stay in london - its the city with the most energy for music in the world.

youtube : Gilles Peterson DJ

- What are your feelings on the current UK music scene? And what do you expect for the future?

G: There's always interesting things going on - right now dubstep and tech dub are buzzing, but there's also a good live scene and areas like dalston coming through with loads of new venues and parties etc...

- Tell us about the 'Worldwide Winners Awards'. What made you start this competition?

G: It was just to celebrate the music I play on my radio 1 show - to motivate and acknowledge all the great artists that I get to play.

- You have been playing many times in Japan and your newest label 'Brownswood Recordings' has 6 releases with Japanese band 'Soil&Pimp Sessions', What’s your relationship with Japan?

G: I've been going for over 20 years now - I love it there - they like my music too! my wife is japanese and my kids even go to Japanese school!!

- How are you coping with the gradual change of vinyl to MP3? Any comments on "Analog vs Digital"?

G: I still prefer playing cd's or vinyls to mp3's - you're never sure about the quality of mp3's - sometimes they sound too thin - I need fatness!

- Who is your "Hero" or "Icon"?

G: Earl Zinger my MC

- Any future projects you care to share with the audience?

G: Watch out for my cuban project, havana cultura where I produced an album with roberto fonseca in havana - out in october.

myspace : gillespeterson

Written by Toshimi Takaishi