Stockholm-based house music producer Per QX has been keeping very busy over the past few months. With his collaboration with Elias Bravo and the legendary Jocelyn Brown ‘It Ain’t Over’ currently at No.1 on Traxsource, Per QX has just launched the Walk Of Shame Records label with the first release ‘Hit Da Spot’. DMC chatted with Per QX about the label and what else he has coming up…
Hey Per, thanks for speaking with DMC! How are things with you and where are you currently based?
Hey guys, thanks for having me. I’m based in my home town Stockholm at the moment.
When the COVID-19 restrictions escalated, I had to leave Bali in July, where I been living for the past four years.
You have just launched your new label, Walk Of Shame Records with ‘Hit Da Spot’. What made you decide to launch a new label, especially in 2020?
Well, I think it’s super important to continue to stay positive and try to live life as it was before the epidemic, even if we all experiencing a really difficult time right now. A great way of doing that is to make more music. I’ve had this urge for a long time to release tracks that I believed in, without having to please a specific label.
To also have total creative freedom today I think is quiet a luxury. I’m super excited about the first release on the label ‘Hit Da Spot’, the DJ reactions have been amazing so far with support from Mark Knight, Stacey Pullen, Robert Owens, Birdee, Huxley, DJ RAE, Treasure Fingers, and many more.
What type of releases can we expect to hear on Walk Of Shame?
Sassy filtered disco and proper house tracks with attitude. I originate from the gay and queer scene so there will be a few tunes with bitch house vibes and diva talks that’s for sure.
I want people to feel something when listen or dance to the songs, excitement is really important I feel.
Are there any artists you’d like to release on the label?
I’d like to bring forward new talent, as well as producers that have been in the game for a very long time.
I feel quirky-ness is key. I don’t agree with the saying “it’s better to be safe than sorry” in dance music. To take risks is the only way to push music forward. There are heaps of talented house music producers out there that never get their breakthrough that they deserve, so I will try my best to make them heard.
I discovered Soul Bombs in the beginning of this year, and he’s the first act that I’ve signed. I heard his cheeky disco tracks on Instagram, and felt he was right for the label. His track that’s coming out on the label is called ‘Need U’, out in December.
Where did the name ‘Walk Of Shame’ come from?!
I used to run a club night in East London with my best friends Ralf, Nic and Elliott called GutterSlut, and in the early 2000s I ran a record label with my friend Dan called Nasty Habits. Walk Of Shame felt like the perfect name to compliment my earlier adventures.
We all have been doing the walk of shame at some point in our lives, crawling out of a club at 9am, and recognition is key to success I’ve heard.
Your recent collaboration with Elias Bravo and the legendary Jocelyn Brown has topped the charts. How did Jocelyn Brown come on board?
This collaboration happened a while ago. It was Lorraine Lucas, a lovely song writer in the UK, that I have known for many years who contacted me and asked if I was interested in working with Jocelyn Brown. For me, Jocelyn is one of my all-time favourite vocalists, so you can imagine how excited I was when we got together to make this track.
Are there any other vocalists you would love to work with?
I just came out of a vocal session yesterday here in Stockholm with one of the most amazing voices I’ve heard in a long time. Her name is May Yamani, she sounds almost as husky as Janis Joplin but at the same time as soulful as Loleatta Holloway, I got goosebumps straight away when she opened her mouth. Oh, and Venessa Jackson is really amazing as well, a super talented south African singer that I’m working with at the moment.
Other singers I would love to work with is De’Lacy, Candi Staton, Michelle Weeks, Lisa Millett, and Duane Harden.
What are you plans for the rest of 2020 and into 2021?
The plan is to finish off a collaboration I have coming out with DJ RAE. Rae is one of my favourite vocalists and DJs from the UK. It’s remixed by Birdee and Johan S and will come out on one of UK’s leading house labels, but that’s all I can say for now.
I’m gonna work really hard until February next year, then I’ll take some time off to go back to Bali for a month.
When not in the studio, how do you like to unwind?
I like to be in the archipelago of Stockholm, the scenery is beautiful there. I like to walk in the woods and when in Bali, walk on the beach, but I also like to binge watch Netflix way too much.
Which venue / party are you most looking forward to playing at, once things return to normal?
Somewhere outdoors, daytime parties are the best. I don’t have any special requests or dream venue, as long as the crowd is there for the music and knows how to party.
Per QX ‘Hit Da Spot’ is out now on his new label, Walk Of Shame Records. Buy at traxsource.com/title/1448925/hit-da-spot
