Paul2Paul Interview

NYC producer Paul2Paul returns to UM Records in 2020 with another emotionally charged, musically dreamy EP alongside Sumsuch and Danny Williams on remix duties. Whilst Paul2Paul has been a part of the UM family for a while now there’s much mystery around the producer - so why not ask a few questions and find out more about the producer that has been behind some of my personal favourite releases.

Thanks for taking the time out to catch up Paul - let’s start at the beginning - I think I first heard you on Acryl Music way back - how did you start out in music?

Hi, thanks for asking me. I appreciate that a lot. I started as a dj at the age of 14. I am a vinyl guy. I know the pitch control as my left hand. I am a lefty. After this great experience I decided, I want my life to be just about the music. I started back to 1996. The best club music era.

Are you from New York originally?

I was born and raised in Russian city, Moscow. I lived in Russia for a while and moved to the US back in 2008. Originally I am rather German than Russian. My father is a pure German guy. This can explain my huge passion to music. As for today, yeah, I am a New Yorker.

What’s the NYC scene like as a music fan?

As far as I can see and hear, it’s been changing to the better. You can hear lots of European music in many different genres. This is a real good thing. People love deep house and cinematic music in the states.

What’s your favourite places to listen to new music, dj’s…?

To be completely hones, which I 100% am… I don’t go to clubs any more, only as a performer. I can’t stand djs use any kind of digital stuff and don’t even know how to use and what is pitch control exactly, don’t get me started on the music selections :D. So, I have a circle of producers and djs I prefer to stick in and follow.

What are your greatest influences? DJ’s, people, labels…?

The reason I found myself in minimal techno back to 2007 is a track by Sasha - Who Kill Sparky. That track changed everything and now it reflects in my music production essentially. I opened to myself back then that electronic music is bigger than everybody thinks. It can be real emotional and angry at the same time. I use my musical knowledges real careful. Sometimes, when I spin my track or two in a roll I can see that a person or a few can cry, they can find a feeling or an emotion from their past in my music. This forces me to produce more and better.

How would you describe your musical style?

At first I though that this is the Deep House baby. But working along with some big names as GIOM, The Black 80s, Doza, Eric Redd … I came to realization that my music has a basis of the house music and cinematic movements. As for now many labels simply don’t know how to categorize it. :D This is actually cool thing to be uncategorized in the modern music world!

Which do you see yourself as most - a DJ or a producer?

I spin for over 23 years with my pleasure every time. Every time as the first time. If there is any contests … I won’t probably win but, people will know that this guy is the number one fan on the entire music world. It means that I am both. As I say, ‘if there is no night club to spin, there is always a studio to produce, no time to chill’.

Any tips for up and coming DJ’s?

To be honest to everyone! If you think that to be a DJ is a simple thing, then you are wrong. You can try it out, but this is real hard! As for me, I love unresolved things, I go crazy over things which have no explanations or ways how to resolve them. When you see a crowd on the dance floor you have to act fast. One second passed and you missed it. Stay at the top of your music collection. Always have 3 - 4 hours in advance!

As a producer - how do you find inspiration for new music, like where did the idea/feeling for I Caught A Glimpse come from?

There are lots of things in the music production. Sometimes I simply hear something in my mind and we have tracks like ‘Human Being’, ‘I Caught A Glimpse’, ‘Afternoon Naps’ … But, if I don’t have an idea for today (I have a joke, my morning tracks and evening ones), I stick with the production and sound geometry. Mostly, ))) mostly the second one is cooler than the first one.

What’s your production set up?

My set up is pretty rusty. Meaning, I still use all the analog sythns like ‘Prophet 12 and OB6’, also I have TR8 in my collection and any sort of Yamaha and Korg are always in my music arsenal. Some says that this kind of production is probably complicated, but for me the more complex the easier to get what I need. Thanks God to Ableton live and Logic. I think many will get what I mean by that. :D

Top tips for aspiring producers?

One and I think the most important one. Use your ears and you will get everything you want © Paul2Paul. I was a music teacher back in the days.

What’s your favorite tune of your own of all time - the one that never grows old?

Before I produced ‘I Caught A Glimpse’ it always was ‘A Human Being’. The second one does not have the production level I have now, but still, it is awesome tune. ‘I Caught A Glimpse’ will stick with me for a while.

You have a very stylish online look - especially great photography - is this something you find important to you brand?

Thank you very much for this one! I do modelling for some goods and a few years ago I concluded that, ‘damn! I need to use it as a promotion too'. ))) But, seriously, my look is a part of my music. Before to listen or to talk to anybody, we look at person and then making a conversation. I am a real nice guy but people don’t know it and this is where the pictures play their thing.

Do you think social media is crucial to promotion and embrace it or loath it a little?

I think everything which can bring music to more people is a greater good. But, only if it’s done right. Some social networks can kill the vibe and destroy an artist, some can do good.

Any goals for 2020 you want to share with us all?

This year is going to be bigger for me than the previous one. I plan to move to Miami and start another production studio. I also plan to go to Burning Man this year. I feel like something is coming my way, I don’t know what it is but I feel it, hope It will surprise me too.

Links

Soundcloud

Instagram

Paul2Paul Interview

NYC producer Paul2Paul returns to UM Records in 2020 with another emotionally charged, musically dreamy EP alongside Sumsuch and Danny Williams on remix duties. Whilst Paul2Paul has been a part of the UM family for a while now there’s much mystery around the producer - so why not ask a few questions and find out more about the producer that has been behind some of my personal favourite releases.

Thanks for taking the time out to catch up Paul - let’s start at the beginning - I think I first heard you on Acryl Music way back - how did you start out in music?

Hi, thanks for asking me. I appreciate that a lot. I started as a dj at the age of 14. I am a vinyl guy. I know the pitch control as my left hand. I am a lefty. After this great experience I decided, I want my life to be just about the music. I started back to 1996. The best club music era.

Are you from New York originally?

I was born and raised in Russian city, Moscow. I lived in Russia for a while and moved to the US back in 2008. Originally I am rather German than Russian. My father is a pure German guy. This can explain my huge passion to music. As for today, yeah, I am a New Yorker.

What’s the NYC scene like as a music fan?

As far as I can see and hear, it’s been changing to the better. You can hear lots of European music in many different genres. This is a real good thing. People love deep house and cinematic music in the states.

What’s your favourite places to listen to new music, dj’s…?

To be completely hones, which I 100% am… I don’t go to clubs any more, only as a performer. I can’t stand djs use any kind of digital stuff and don’t even know how to use and what is pitch control exactly, don’t get me started on the music selections :D. So, I have a circle of producers and djs I prefer to stick in and follow.

What are your greatest influences? DJ’s, people, labels…?

The reason I found myself in minimal techno back to 2007 is a track by Sasha - Who Kill Sparky. That track changed everything and now it reflects in my music production essentially. I opened to myself back then that electronic music is bigger than everybody thinks. It can be real emotional and angry at the same time. I use my musical knowledges real careful. Sometimes, when I spin my track or two in a roll I can see that a person or a few can cry, they can find a feeling or an emotion from their past in my music. This forces me to produce more and better.

How would you describe your musical style?

At first I though that this is the Deep House baby. But working along with some big names as GIOM, The Black 80s, Doza, Eric Redd … I came to realization that my music has a basis of the house music and cinematic movements. As for now many labels simply don’t know how to categorize it. :D This is actually cool thing to be uncategorized in the modern music world!

Which do you see yourself as most - a DJ or a producer?

I spin for over 23 years with my pleasure every time. Every time as the first time. If there is any contests … I won’t probably win but, people will know that this guy is the number one fan on the entire music world. It means that I am both. As I say, ‘if there is no night club to spin, there is always a studio to produce, no time to chill’.

Any tips for up and coming DJ’s?

To be honest to everyone! If you think that to be a DJ is a simple thing, then you are wrong. You can try it out, but this is real hard! As for me, I love unresolved things, I go crazy over things which have no explanations or ways how to resolve them. When you see a crowd on the dance floor you have to act fast. One second passed and you missed it. Stay at the top of your music collection. Always have 3 - 4 hours in advance!

As a producer - how do you find inspiration for new music, like where did the idea/feeling for I Caught A Glimpse come from?

There are lots of things in the music production. Sometimes I simply hear something in my mind and we have tracks like ‘Human Being’, ‘I Caught A Glimpse’, ‘Afternoon Naps’ … But, if I don’t have an idea for today (I have a joke, my morning tracks and evening ones), I stick with the production and sound geometry. Mostly, ))) mostly the second one is cooler than the first one.

What’s your production set up?

My set up is pretty rusty. Meaning, I still use all the analog sythns like ‘Prophet 12 and OB6’, also I have TR8 in my collection and any sort of Yamaha and Korg are always in my music arsenal. Some says that this kind of production is probably complicated, but for me the more complex the easier to get what I need. Thanks God to Ableton live and Logic. I think many will get what I mean by that. :D

Top tips for aspiring producers?

One and I think the most important one. Use your ears and you will get everything you want © Paul2Paul. I was a music teacher back in the days.

What’s your favorite tune of your own of all time - the one that never grows old?

Before I produced ‘I Caught A Glimpse’ it always was ‘A Human Being’. The second one does not have the production level I have now, but still, it is awesome tune. ‘I Caught A Glimpse’ will stick with me for a while.

You have a very stylish online look - especially great photography - is this something you find important to you brand?

Thank you very much for this one! I do modelling for some goods and a few years ago I concluded that, ‘damn! I need to use it as a promotion too'. ))) But, seriously, my look is a part of my music. Before to listen or to talk to anybody, we look at person and then making a conversation. I am a real nice guy but people don’t know it and this is where the pictures play their thing.

Do you think social media is crucial to promotion and embrace it or loath it a little?

I think everything which can bring music to more people is a greater good. But, only if it’s done right. Some social networks can kill the vibe and destroy an artist, some can do good.

Any goals for 2020 you want to share with us all?

This year is going to be bigger for me than the previous one. I plan to move to Miami and start another production studio. I also plan to go to Burning Man this year. I feel like something is coming my way, I don’t know what it is but I feel it, hope It will surprise me too.

Links

Soundcloud

Instagram