Up Close With Pete Tong

13-10-2006 17:25

You also recently launched your own compilation series with Universal. What is the idea behind the series and will there be another volume coming soon

I’d like to think that I can do 2 CD’s every year, one that reflects the more cuttings edge nature and what I do in the club and another one that used my reputation and goes on television and sells as many copies as a possible which is good for all the producers and musicians. It’s all very well being uber cool but then you only sell a couple of thousand copies. My current album is called the Essential Dance Hits, which is basically the biggest records I’ve played throughout the summer over the past six months hopefully put together quote tastefully.

You are always at the forefront of technology and have taken the world of podcasting by storm. Tell us more about the ‘Tongcast’

It’s been great fun especially being there at the start of things last year when it all blew up. I think the nature of what podcasts are is changing as we speak and I am er thinking it about right now. The last one I did was in conjuction with the album as a freebie and I’d like to think it could be an extension to my radio show and maybe a place that you hear more of the leftfield tracks that don’t make the radio show. I think the way big media organisations have jumped on it now has made it harder for the solo operators to get heard which I feel is an issue.

How did you feel when you reached #1 in the music podcast download chart

It was a good achievement but it harder and harder now as you have the BBC, Channel 4 the Guardian using them as a marketing tool for their other businesses.

What other new technology have you been involved with recently

Getting into djing off my laptop this year, it’s a monumental change in what we do and a much bigger leap from playing Vinyl to CD’s. But it’s very exciting, it’s very creative, it’s going to take some time to get totally on top of it and not overcook it when you’ve got all these extra options at your disposal. It’s been really enjoyable though, I started off using Serato then I used Ableton with Serato and now I just use Ableton with CD’s as a back up.

Last year you produced some of your own material under varies guises. Will you be making more of your own music this year and will you be doing any interesting collaborations

I recently did a track with Paul Harris and Jay P which should come out before the end of the year and I want to do more, but time is the biggest problem in the equation is time. I get asked all the time to do collaborations, but it’s something I’ve got to get more of a discipline in and force it into my agenda.

The scene has changed a lot since you started out. How have you been able to stay at the top of your profession

Plastic surgery! No seriously, I think enthusiasm as if you’ve got enthusiasm it keeps you going. I sometimes think you can be stuck is the addiction of djing as it is an instant gratification thing but I try and set new challenges every year and do different things so it doesn’t get stale as that is really, really important. A couple of years ago we did the movie, this year was doing my own club night in London, but hopefully in the next couple of years I’ll be doing even bigger leaps.

What else can we expect from Pete Tong in the future

You’ll have to wait and see.

Pete Tong’s Essential Dance Hits is out now on Mercury Records

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