Paul Oakenfold and Carl Cox unite to celebrate 30 years of Perfecto
Paul Oakenfold and Carl Cox have united for their first collaboration concentrate, released as part of Perfecto 30 – a huge celebration of the labels’s 30th anniversary.
Paul says; “I’m going back to doing straight club records – underground tracks that I love. Perfecto is now a 30- year old brand. There are generations that have grown up with the sound. They got into dance music and have grown up with the label. It’s turned into much more than a label.”
A seamless blend of Paul and Carl’s unique styles, Concentrate is a testament to their collective prowess showcasing a fusion of cutting-edge sounds and infectious rhythms, an exhilarating slice of techno from two giants of dance music doing what they do best. And what better way to mark 30 years of Paul’s iconic label.
Paul tells us; “Teaming up with Carl for ‘Concentrate’ was a natural evolution for us. It’s our way of paying homage to our history and to show where we’re at right now musically. Carl is a pioneering legend that was signed to the label so it marks a nice full circle moment. This is the first collaboration of many to come.”
Carl Cox adds, “Working with Paul on this track was an absolute blast. ‘Concentrate’ represents the perfect synergy between our styles, and we can’t wait for our everyone to hear it.”
Concentrate comes out as part of this year’s Perfecto 30 – a year of special releases, remixes, collaborations and live events to celebrate a huge milestone of one of dance music’s most iconic labels. There’s a documentary coming, Welcome to Perfecto (which features commentary from the legendary likes of Fatboy Slim, Carl Cox, Todd Terry and David Guetta and more) and Paul himself will make a series of special DJ appearances crisscrossing America and the UK to Ibiza and Australia –involving the parties, festivals, and superclubs like Cream where he made his name.
He’ll be revisiting Perfecto classics and deep cuts like PPK’s ResuRection, Planet Perfecto’s Bullet in a Gun, and his own smashes like Starry Eyed Surprise (the hit collaboration with Crazy Town’s Shifty Shellshock from Oakenfold’s platinum debut solo album, 2002’s Bunkka). And they’ll be releases from today’s most cutting-edge artists and producers including Velvet Cash, Danny Stubbs, Blink, Adam White, and Nat Monday.
For the next chapter of Perfecto, Oakenfold claims he’s returning to the roots of the label’s original mission. “I’m going back to doing straight club records – underground tracks that I love,” Oakenfold says.
We caught up with Paul to find out more this week and he very kindly recorded an exclusive mix for The Night Bazaar Sessions which you can listen to by clicking or tapping the image above.
Reflecting on the three decades since Perfecto’s inception, how do you feel the label has influenced the global dance music scene, and what does this milestone mean to you personally?
Perfecto Records is one of Britain’s longest independent dance labels with over 10 million records sold. We’ve flown the flag for British dance music around the world and pioneered some of Britain’s biggest dance acts. The milestone is a big personal achievement for me, and I think a lot of artists on the label and dance music in general, we are no longer seen as a small industry. Dance music is global now and massive.
You’ve been recognized by Pete Tong and even the British Empire for your contributions to dance music. Can you share a moment or decision in your career that you believe was pivotal in earning you the Pioneer of the Nation accolade?
It’s an absolute honour to be recognized by the British Empire as a Pioneer of the Nation by spreading dance music around the world. I’ve been making, releasing, and signing dance music for over 40 years now. Proud to be British.
I’d say some pivotal moments would be becoming a DJ opening for one of the biggest bands in the world, playing stadiums for two years, championing British music. And then playing at the special Olympic Games in Abu Dhabi to over a billion people worldwide.
With Perfecto 30 marking a return to your roots, what inspired you to focus on underground club records again, and how do you feel the current dance music landscape has evolved to embrace these sounds?
It certainly made me want to head back to my roots and make some great underground dance music I can share with a lot of people. We are starting off with my collabs with Franky Wah and Carl Cox.
The current landscape in dance music is incredibly healthy. It’s a worldwide industry that gets richer ever year.
Your last album, Shine On showcased an impressive array of collaborations. How do you choose your collaborators, and is there an artist or producer you’re particularly excited to be working with for the Perfecto 30 series?
I really enjoy collaborating with young new artists and established artists from different genres. I choose my collaborations based on talent and being a fan. There’s so many great young musicians out there. Barry Can’t Swim, Anyma, John Summit, Rebuke, Teddy Swims, Anne-Marie, Anunnakis, Velvet Cash, AP Dhillon, and LUM1NA.
You’ve performed at some of the world’s most unique venues, from Stonehenge to the Great Wall of China. Can you hint at any upcoming performances that might continue this tradition of groundbreaking shows?
After I DJ’d at Basecamp Mt. Everest, and then I went to DJ in Area 51 in Nevada, I’m being offered a lot of unique and wonderful locations, which I’m certainly looking at.
Looking back at the journey of Perfecto and your career, how do you want to be remembered in the dance music world, and what future ambitions do you have for both yourself and the label?
Perfecto will be doing festivals and signing new talent from around the world. It’s a very exciting time for the label. It’s been a wonderful achievement for Perfecto and the artists on the label. We have a documentary coming out toward the end of the year, where we interviewed lots of colleagues. And we are signing a lot of new young artists, helping them today and making them stars tomorrow.
In an unprecedented collaboration, you and Carl Cox have joined forces to create Concentrate marking the first time you two legends have produced a track together. Can you share the creative process behind this collaboration and what it was like to blend your distinct styles into a single track? Additionally, what do you hope listeners and fans of both your music will take away from Concentrate?
I loved working on this track with Carl. It’s a blend between techno, trance, and the old rave scene. It’s a really unique sounding record.
The process behind any collab is back and forth, whether you’re in the studio or not. It was the same working with Carl. Ideas flow and you share them. It was a great experience. I hope everyone likes the song!
Concentrate by Paul Oakenfold and Carl Cox is out now.