Paul B

As I’m attending to DNB Conference in Czech Republic this weekend, the local magazine www.poslouchej.net interviewed me the other day. Here’s an English translation of our talks.

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Paul B sees his future in bright colors. Lots of time spent in the studio, where he creates new tracks resulting from the new, rebuilt musical universe and the current year has contracted a number of performances, including the September DnB Conference. Read the interview.

Hi Paul, I assume that the question of “self-introduction” is absolutely unnecessary. Your bio speaks for itself. I was just going through your new stuff and say “Is this the Paul B who did Nuborn mix?” I could not stop to wonder what a musical change and what fresh sound you are bringing. What’s the reason for such change?
Well I guess it all started a couple of years ago when I suddenly felt “in prison” of cliche d&b sound everybody around used to make. Plus, I wasnt 19 year old anymore, like when I started. I discovered this whole new world of music I always liked subconsciosly but never was brave enough to “submerge” into. Besides quite coincidentally we were doing these amazing friday nights at Moscow club called Propaganda, where you can actually feel this amazing club atmosphere. It was different music: light, easy and melodic. We invited people like Lynx, Marcus Intalex, Calibre, even brought Goldie couple of times.

I guess I have already heard of that club. What is it like?
It’s not too big. Very cozy, one of Moscow’s oldest and most respected clubs. It was really amazing and even UK guys noticed this, saying they thought they never could feel this vibe with d&b anymore. And we felt the same way. I remember we actually had a line of DJs wanting to attend to that party.

A waiting list, huh? Well, thats impressive.
It all came to an end for several reasons. I was deeply into tech house and minimal techno at that time, so I sat in my studio and started digging into this sound for several months. When I was turning back to d&b time to time it all had its influence over my new tracks. It’s very interesting to work with. This minimalistic idea brings the production to a whole new dimension.

Minimal thechno influence is really noticible. To be honest I always thought you really cannot combine those two styles. But as I hear, this is it. What’s the feedback on your work?
Thank you. Feedback is good at the moment. The first offer came from Hospital Records. They wanted to release my track ‘First Picture’, but due to the vocals I used there, they couldnt clear it out completely.

Who’s the singer?
Nikolaj Grandjean, he’s a danish indy acoustic singer from indy label Music For Dreams. The track eventually will come out on this label and I will have to give to Hospital something else.

I guess you are listening a lot of different genres. Any names we should not missed? I personally enjoy Troels Abrahamsen who is also from Denmark. I really wonder how is that Scandinavians do have so many talented musicians.
What can I say. The independent music scene is full of talents from all the corners of the world, be it Denmark or Turkey. Remember how many new names we had from New Zealand? I listen to whole range of styles when I’m home. This new “indy-hippie” rock  thing is catching me. I’ll mention names like Empire Of The Sun, MGMT and so on. French pop singer Sebastien Tellier is in my list too. Who else… All those techno guys: Villalobos, Sis, Tiga, Jesse Rose, Loco Dice, Afrilounge, Radio Slave… I could talk for hours.

That’s enough I guess. New Zealand is a good example. If it comes to you are you trying to produce other styles too?
Yes, I have this great lounge music project called Surnuage with my good friend Anastasia Boguslavskaya who also plays saxophone in my live band. Aslo I use another name Framecontrol for my techno productions. Both of these have just started off and I’m very excited about where it all goes.

And what’s your band collaboration is like? Are these guys just instruments you need to perfrom your stuff life or you guys are the band where everybody are part of that creative process?
I did some recording sessions with the guys, but it’s not like we’re working on album or something. Though, I work tightly with Anastasia for Surnuage. Main purpose of the band itself so far is to perform my works live, would it be house or d&b.

Any page, where we can listen to your new production?
You can check my soundcloud where i keep my productions up to date: soundcloud.com/framecontrol and of course my official page www.paulb.ru.

Great. What’s the Moscow nightlife like? I can remember I have seen some video from dnb party where ladies were dressed in evening-dress and heels, champagne all around. On the other side there are event like Pirate Station with tens of thousands attendants, perhaps even the kids among them. Whats the scene like from the view of insider?
Haha, I have to say I’ve never seen such a video. But you know I don’t follow local rave scene as much as I used to. I know these huge events still happen as time to time I have to play there, but that’s as far as it gets. These promoters come up with all sorts of crazy ideas. To me scene is more focused in the clubs now. That’s where I think most of the exciting things take place. If you’re in Moscow, visit places like Arma or Dubclub if you like underground techno. If you like good d&b music go to the pary called “United Colors” in club “16 Tons”.

Well, I’m not going there soon but thanks for the tips. As a musician, if you could pick any place to live, where would it be?
Well, I was born here. Some can’t stand it, but to me Moscow is weirdly nice place to live. But speaking of music opportunities I’d rather be somewhere in Berlin now.

Really? I always thought that right place to be is London or New York.
London would be good also, Berlin is just a bit closer.

All right then. Panacea and Masheen are going to be others headliners in Pardubice. Is it going to have any impact on your selection?
Panacea and Masheen? Really? Well, as an artist I can’t really change the message I bring, but I’ll try to smooth the transition.

That’s probably all. Thank you for your time and looking gorward to see you in Czech. Any special wish?
I always loved czech sence of humor, beer and local food, so they all better be there when I arrive.

You got it.
Nice.

Interview by: Filip Vojta