Paul Oakenfold Interview - Generations of Dance Music Culture

[@1djatwork]

Paul oakenfold the legend... This guy has done so much for club culture & dance music, he deserves a lot of respect for everything he has done.

[@scottmain-reade1892]

Can you imagine what we would have without him, Rampling et al?

[@priyonjoni]

Dance and hip hop. Remember, he was the A&R that first signed Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince

[@frankygers]

Mage. There was others there before him. He over exaggerates his position. Always has.

[@casabcn613]

When I was listening to Paul play in 97/98 in Cream L'pool we never stopped dancing, no phones insight, glad I lived through that period, instead of waiting for the drop and getting your phone out to take selfies.

[@hearmenow909]

The man is a pioneer. The music scene has a lot to thank Paul for.

[@rockinrich1499]

30:28 ‘Mixing vinyl is not easy’. Thank you Paul Oakenfold!!!

[@astralboy]

His clarity of thought and practicality is impressive. As a Dj he has lived thru the shift from vinyl to digital - he sees it as an erosion of musical experience, from magical art down to consumer culture.....I owned the Bunka CD when it was released. Was mostly into trance then and thought it was ok. Now a 12" collector, I own many Perfecto gems......The first time i listened to him was on torrents/napster 98 "essential mix millenium eve" and that was what boarded me on the Trance train......one attribute about Paul is the seamless mix of tracks which he does effortlessly with a dream like transition. He places importance on track selection and arrangement. The Great Wall CD is an example which I still listen to it on my hifi. Old schoolers will remember the Transport CD.......I'll finish by saying my most fav compilation of Paul is the Travelling CD, esp disc#2. Over Emotion, Diamondback, Flesh, Northsky - gem after gem,unbeatable tracks and this is why i became a trance lover4life.

[@ziggdog116]

Man, couldn't have said i t better myself. Traveling was phenomenal. I swear there was a 2 disc comp. 20 years ago called Trance Atlantic many of the same things as Traveling, absolutely epic operatic moments. Can't seem to find a listing for that Trance Atlantic anywhere though. The arrangements definitely were a major party back then.

[@lawrencemayfield9669]

The Godfather for sure. Hope he does more of these interviews because he has been around for so much.

[@mitachu]

Oakey's set at Gatecrasher Lotherton Hall 1999 gives me tingles each and every time I listen to it, as I was there on the night and it was absolutely unbelieveable. This is a great explanation of where club culture grew from and it just illustrates how pivotal this guy was in creating it all in the UK and eventually globally.

[@oh_rhythm]

Love how real he is about the way contemporary times are with the scenes, the music and just society and individuals. Can feel the frustration of a person who felt the organic side of it all mourning the dire state of things. Totally agree, the way things are these days ....... shiiiiiiiiet..... Forget about it

[@PaoloLery]

Always loved how Paul really thought about his mixes as a collection of the best music around at the time. You might not like everything he played, but he would ALWAYS play 2 or 3 absolute belters that you had never heard before that would blow you away on the dancefloor. That's what makes him great. Love the interview thanks!

[@remedy234]

Quite possibly the most influential DJ there’s ever been

[@bixizapatero8256]

I saw him in San Francisco 1999, crazy fun times! When clubbing was about dancing and experiencing. Today, it's nothing but Instagram ho's.

[@alfonsolizarazo9806]

What a legend.. it was him along with the guys from GU and their dj line up that got me into progressive back in the 90’s, which I still love in 2023.

[@tom_conaty]

Massive credit to Paul for his A&R work, the track selection. As many said already so many times would come away on an Oakenfold set going "what was that 1st track, 5th track etc.." shows how good. His compilations were class, I have many in my collection. Thank you Paul, your contribution to the scene, got many of us hooked.

[@grunge-mb9sb]

Best DJ EVER, guy has made the most memorable nights even better than I could imagine with his talent. Still have issues till this day controlling my speed in my car listening to your music Paul, amazing. Phones are a great way to destroy the vibe, put them away and enjoy the night and the people and the music

[@johneccles9051]

Love it Paul Oakenfold expired me to get into djing back in the late 90s the music scene back then was brilliant and if you wanted a track you had to wait for it I remember paying 20 pounds for bullet in a gun on vinyl a week earlier than it’s main release and I think I still have it in my vinyl collection

[@scottgraham5480]

Paul Oakenfold's track selection is simply the best from the best era of how it is to be a superstar DJ was I would say, he played outside the box music even when there was so much quality out there, and you just know he loves nothing more than entertaining the masses.

[@frankygers]

He’s cheesy.

[@trip2themoon]

Wasn't always. His 1994 Essential Mixes are sublime.

[@vileguile4]

Dragonfly A voyage into Trance

[@PaoloLery]

Dynamix - The Rezistor

[@4345ghee]

The Infinity Project - Superbooster

[@JacobAndJamal]

I'm 38 years old, and for me, Oakenfold is probably my biggest music influencer; I discovered Paul Oakenfold just browsing the CDs in the mall as a teenager. This was late 90s and I believe Tranceport was the 1st Album of his I bought, then purchased everything else of his I could get my hands on. I was getting into DJ culture and non-mainstream hip hop/trip-hop/big beat/etc. Oakenfold, DJ Shadow, Crystal Method, The Prodigy, Roni Size, Bjork, Fatboy Slim, and other similar artists. Before this, I listened to all the other top 40s 2Pac/Biggie and Nirvana Grunge type music. Without the internet, you really had to search for electronic artists and read about them in magazines like URB or Future Music. It's interesting to see "EDM" as it's now called, grow from underground raves and nobody outside the culture knowing what you're talking about to this huge festival corporate-sponsored phenomenon.

[@juankplaysmusic]

interesting = depressing

[@JohnHenrySheridan]

Fascinating guy! Lots of killer tracks in his repertoire!

[@juankplaysmusic]

Man, get me a Mitsubishi/Versace pill and take me back into my clubbing days with Paul Oakenfold on the decks! Such good memories (I think I only heard him once or twice, though, he hasn't been to Perú that many times).

[@renechang2406]

The reason the dj became important was partly because they were playing tracks that were both innovative and were not getting over cycled radio play The club dj became the taste maker punching new unheard sounds to the crowd

[@acadm]

His ability to mix tracks was admittedly an issue throughout his career, but Oakie was able to source some extremely amazing tracks (I'm still looking for Shades of Blue - So Much from his GU 004: Oslo comp from 1997). And his GU 007: New York comp basically got me into "dance music". Thank you, Paul, for being the guide leading me to the vast and beautiful (and still expanding) dance music multiverse

[@skerly917]

great interview and insight from denon and paul, was a great tour pleased to have caught the closing night at pikes

[@officialsimonharris]

Brilliant, his success is well deserved, nice guy and he has worked hard with total dedication to get to where he is now, he sums everything up really well in this video :)

[@PaulDakeyne]

Glad you enjoyed this interview Simon.

[@ashleystyles6888]

Great interview great guy. Gen X LEGEND.

[@atalaiamusic]

Unrivalled history. Always love to hear Paul's stories.

[@Ravinstomper]

28:54 word. my thoughts have been like this for past 10 years

[@justicewillprevail1106]

Wow… he’s a true LEGEND!

[@moomountain]

Responsible for some great tunes and nights. One of my favourite DJs.

[@Jard-z4i]

Had so many good night's watching him in the courtyard back in the cream days

[@lyndsaymsean]

Same here!

[@brandonwatkins9003]

This is why I’m in love with house music.

[@thephoenix3155]

My favourite Oakenfold remixes: 1. Rolling Stones - You Got Me Rocking (Perfecto Mix) - best one! Incredible drum break, smashing vocals from Jagger! smashing everything! 2. Moby - Natural Blues (Perfecto Remix) - makes you forget everything and you want to chill out on a tropical island! Smashing vocals! 3. Perfecto Allstarz - Reach Up (Pappa’s Got a Brand New PigBag) (Perfecto Mix) - great drum break again! Makes you happy! 4. Sneaker Pimps - 6 Underground (Perfecto Dub) - I love the intro on this one as it sounds as it sounds like a train from the 30’s or 40’s 5. New Order - World (The Price Of Love) (Perfecto Mix) - brilliant improved it from the band’s original! 6. New Order - True Faith (Perfecto Mix) - I love the piano on this one the best piano break on any song! 7. Duran Duran - Out of My Mind (Perfecto Mix) - made this more trippy and cool! With the vinyl scratches, intense melody and I would use this one on a action movie soundtrack! 8. The Cure - Close to Me (Closer Mix) - this is not your typical Oakenfold sound it is a very slow song with sampled breaks from the 70’s which is simply marvellous. He has slowed this song down! But it is better than the original! 9. Deacon Blue - Your Town (Perfecto Mix) - a beautiful early trance instrumental where you are in a lovely lost world, simply stunning! U2 - Numb (Perfecto Mix) - shame! This one is rare it is truly impeccable! With the Russian Brass intro and funky drums more trippy a lot better than the much easier to find “Even Better than the Real Thing” and “Lemon” Perfecto Mixes. U2 - Daddy’s Gonna Payed For Your Crashed Car (Perfecto Mix) Shame! It is so rare! Impeccable track, much better than the Perfecto Mixes for “Even Better than the Real Thing” and “Lemon” Virus - Sun sounds like Stella by Jam and Spoon a stunning track and keeps me calm! U2 - Beautiful Day (Perfecto Remix) - Which is fabulous and is a happy song! Skunk Anansie - Brazen (Weep) (Perfecto Mix) - Which is simply stunning to listen to! A shame there were no “Perfecto Mixes” of a Pet Shop Boys song U2 - Lemon (Perfecto Mix) - in some ways sounds like an early demo version of the Perfecto Mix of Natural Blues and absolutely lovely to listen to. Hurricane#1 - Step Into My World (Perfecto Mix) this is a hybrid cross over between Top Gear music and goes into a Nepali bingo drum break which I adore!

[@mrfatnuts]

His remix of Carl Cox - I want you was the best that tune still stands up today

[@localmo88]

That was bloody good, great vid, Oaks is a Legend.

[@danielbosci6177]

Legend

[@D1CE579]

They way he signifies Larry in this says it all about Paul’s respect for Levan.

[@NormanJaxx]

@28:56 that's wisdom and reality. 🙌👏👏👏

[@johnderwin2119]

some story Oakey legend you can feel his pain when he talks about phones yes paul they ruined everything

[@devoiddude]

What I wouldn't give to look through his record collection, imagine all the white labels and promo's of unknown tracks that were never released.

[@thephoenix3155]

Oakenfold was impeccable back in the day and by the mid 2000s he went crap and too commercial.

[@mrsleepyshow]

6:20 SUUPER interesting (im a history prof! in my 30s. dabble w music production)

[@Stechamppn]

Velvets n Dylan in the background....dude knows his tunezzzz .take influence from all angles I say

[@dmofOfficial]

Good story!

[@Tracks777]

amazing stuff

[@averilloanthony7527]

U2 LEMON "REMIX" 👌 and Massive attack "Blue lines "album is proper ,every track is proper 💪

[@superelodj]

We need live stream muisc Paul Oakenfold during these hardship X due 2 covid 19 ☣

[@rockinrich1499]

Whatever you do , don’t look at the flashing cue light on the CDJ!!! 😵😵😵 Great interview ❤️🎧❤️

[@the_duke5122]

Paul Oakenfold vinyl set 🔥🔥🔥

[@michaelclark6414]

Always been a huge Oakenfold fan since taping the Essential Mixes off Radio 1 in the mid-ninetees. Paricularly the '94 Goa mix and '96 mix (similar to the Fluoro CD album) blew my mind. Amazingly I got to meet Paul on his univerity tour in 1999 which he mentioned. I was working as sound crew at one uni, I won't mention which. Sadly, he turned out to be one of the biggest tw*ts I've met. Rude, egotistical, narcissistic. Outright disgusting behaviour to my team too. They say never meet your heros...

[@thephoenix3155]

He is (or was) still a good musician, record producer and DJ.

[@moomountain]

Global underground New York I love.

[@grunge-mb9sb]

Paul has weekly uploads on soundcloud

[@daveblue3733]

Nice

[@waynesilverman3048]

Glad he likes the guitar and velvet underground

[@Tracks777]

lovely content

[@alberto.ceccon]

What a legend

[@thephoenix3155]

Moby who is the other most influential DJ is not cut out to be on a plane and playing every night even before COVID!

[@flareplayerico]

Paul is a great DJ. Fcucking Brilliant.

[@ozdiaz1048]

Hey paul how are you have seen you back in the days in NYC club's lime light and sound factory and etc. Hope all is well with you and not sure things will ever be the same with this covid 19. But will see. I have been trying to get the name of this track you played at ( paulokenfold@creamfields buenos aries 2005 direct tv rip its on KZbin. Video starts from like where they pick u up from the airport and your in car talking about the soccer game and then the show begins with this first track which i love and would appreciate to get the name and the artist.

[@averilloanthony7527]

GOA mix 👌

[@basehead617]

nice Audemars Piguet watch

[@X_BILSON]

I would agree with everything except for where Dubstep came from, I'm not a Dubstep fan but I think it deffinitely came from Bristol.

[@cd78]

legend......

[@scorpius1672]

Does he still play on Denon these days?

[@renechang2406]

A true Residency

[@freshseeker]

fuckin OG

[@yusko3845]

3🚥🥁🚥🎸🚥🎹🚥🎤🚥 you are a legend paul altho trance hse is not my cup of tea ..i to expierience club heaven on both nights mon and wed.. shoom. Car wash. Clink street. they were great days .. keep pushing vinyl releases and I hope others from different genres will do the same still ..tis what decks are made for not to go digital on . 1❤and 🙏☝️

[@vinman3057]

Real dj,s play records. Period

[@DizzyVizion]

The man's a talking E tab!

[@jacobhill3302]

As an ignorant yank can someone enlighten me as to where his accent would place him in the British Isles?

[@thephoenix3155]

Jacob Hill he is a cockney meaning he’s from London.

[@lustforlow-end6022]

@Jacob Hill that’s a London accent!

[@virgilwilliams2378]

Rent comes first before anything else. Fun is Fun. Fool is Fool.

[@xxdevilx3]

Paul Cokenfold

[@bluex217]

wat r u mean his cock r perfecto n its been on tour since 97

[@dixieflatline1189]

1999 Hong Kong. I knew the promoter so had some backstage time. Paul had a Charlie pyramid under the decks. Weirdly, his mixes got better later into the night 😂

[@src3360]

He looks like Ozzy spat him out hinself!!

[@renechang2406]

We all buy stuff we don't have then we move on.

[@languageblock]

wish the person behind the camera would stop fidgeting

[@Dan-jg7zl]

You can see the effects of alcohol and drug abuse has had on him

[@hearmenow909]

For a man who is almost 60, he looks and speaks well. I think you're talking bollocks.

[@Dan-jg7zl]

​@@hearmenow909 Lol, 60 isn't an old age.

[@RuffneckBizniz]

The mobile phone has totally ruined the vibe everybody should throw them away for good!

[@thephoenix3155]

Oakenfold didn’t make remixes for Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Tricky or Portishead he has got that wrong!

[@ayslavdj7580]

Что с ним он под чем???