Trade’s 30 Birthday with Pagano

What was the first piece of music you heard this morning after rolling out of bed and have you been thinking about what you will be playing at the Trade 30th Birthday on Saturday?

Today I was actually locked in the studio since the early morning to work on follow up projects for my latest releases on Christian Smith’s label Tronic and Mark Knight’s Toolroom Trax. I hope to have these demos ready to debut at Trade. I’m planning to play all my latest releases and a few special bootlegs I prepared especially for the occasion. As usual at Trade it’s all about keeping the energy going and being cutting edge.

In the early days how wild was Trade when you first went along to the club, and how did it effect you ongoing in your musical career?

The nineties were pretty wild. Hedonism and sexuality were a big part of the clubbing experience. New music genres kept developing. Everything felt so fresh. Trade was at the forefront of all of this. Stepping down that staircase at Turnmills felt like you were entering a magic world of possibilities and freedom. The music selection was always so creative and varied. Trade always had some of the best DJs I’ve ever heard. DJ programming was spotless and Trade kinda invented music progression. So the first DJ would play a deeper US house sound then as the night progressed and the DJ changed music would increase in intensity and speed moving through different niches of House and Techno that would later develop into the genres we know today as Tech House, Hard House etc. This really influenced me as a DJ and to these days you can clearly hear in my DJ sets that there is a journey with a beginning, a middle and an end. 

Mr C once infamously said “Trade is a gay institution that has never been bettered”. What are some of the key factors that have made Trade so bloomin’ amazing all these years?

I have to agree with the legendary Mr C (I was a huge Shamen fan btw). Fundamentally Laurence Malice always took risks with his choices. The DJ bookings and music were always daring and ahead of the game. I think Turnmills as a venue played a big part as well. It was a venue made for dancing. A night at Trade felt adventurous and full of debaucheries. You wouldn’t want you mother to know you were there, if you know what I mean. I think the only gay club that has ever come close to Trade in terms of vibe and being cutting-edge is Berghain in Berlin. 

Do you still have fans and friends from the  early days of Trade?

I started going as a clubber in the mid 90s and became a resident in the 2000s. Naturally I’ve met so many people through the years. Some of the people I met on the Trade dancefloor have gone on to become my best friends and my chosen family. Still to this day we talk weekly and spend our free time together. The lovely Simon Patrick who used to manage Trade in the Turnmills days is one of them.

Can you talk us through your first gig and how you felt/the music you played?

The first time I played for Trade was at Fabric. It was a Bank Holiday event called Ruby that saw Trade and another legendary LGBTQ+ event called DTPM collaborating. It was the chance I had been waiting for years. It was my debut at Trade and at Fabric. I was excited and petrified at the same time. I remember making the conscious decision of playing from the heart, just slightly adapting my sound to the Trade vibe by keeping the energy level up throughout my whole set. I guess I did well because soon after Laurence Malice asked me to play at Turnmills. It all felt like a dream come true for that young man hailing from Sicily and making it in the best clubs of the English capital. 

How does it feel to be headlining Trade as it celebrates its 30th and why do you think Trade is so special to so many people?

It certainly feels like an honour and a privilege. The line-up is insane. But obviously for many of us it is also about the memories and a sense of nostalgia. Trade has always been one of the friendliest London clubs I’ve ever been at. There’s a sense of community among the clubbers who jokingly called themselves ‘Trade Babies’. It was a place where people would explore their sexuality and let their hair down without the fear of being judged. 

The Trade line up and production is always on point – do you think that’s why Trade keeps its reputation and continually evolves and appeals to younger clubbing fans as well as the Trade faithful?

Absolutely. Trade has always been cutting-edge and constantly evolving. For this 30th Anniversary Laurence Malice and the Trade collective have really pulled out all the stops once again and have put together a group of DJs who represent Trade’s past, present and future. There so many DJs I admire and it’s going to be hard to decide what room to spend the time after my DJ set. I DJed with Boris from Berghain several times in Europe and in the US and I’m curious to hear what he is playing now. I will certainly pop in the Classics room for a bit and I can’t wait to hear that special secret guest they have yet to announce. I heard a rumour and I can tell you that the Trade Babies are in for a treat. 

Can you pick a few of your favourite Trade moments for us from over the years either at its original home Turnmills or on tour around the world?

Playing in the main room at the last ever Trade at Turnmills is a memory that will always be very dear to me. The room got packed within minutes after we opened the doors and the energy was palpable. I once played a Trade event in Palermo, and being from Sicily myself that was really special. Taking over from big names like Monika Kruse or having Nicole Moudaber playing after me felt incredible. But if I have be honest, my favourite memories are from the days when I used to be just one of the clubbers. Dancing on the Turnmills floor, reaching for the lasers while Tony De Vit or Pete Wardman played some new bangers or when Alan Thompson and DJ Gonzalo (both I barely knew at the time) would unexpectedly play one of my productions in their sets. If I close my eyes I can relive those feelings of surprise and joy: my favourite DJs playing my tracks at my favourite club without even knowing I was among the crowd…

Trade’s original home Turnmills in Clerkenwell has now been given a Blue Plaque from Islington Pride marking its contribution to LGBTQ life in the capital. What do you think Trade’s impact and legacy is and do you think its family values are what endure?

Trade started at a time before dating apps, when it wasn’t exactly easy for members of the LGBTQ+ scene to hang around openly. Being the only club opened at those hours back then created a safe space for people to meet and explore their sexuality. The AIDS epidemic had been rampant for several years by then. Trade became a sanctuary to dance and feel free, to be yourself among like minded people. We take these things for granted nowadays, but for many people Trade was more than just a night out…

And what 3 tracks are Trade for you…

‘Passion’ – Gat Decor and Marmion’s ‘Schöneberg’ for sure but I want to indulge a little and have to say that the lyrics of my track with Stewart Who? titled ‘Back To The Future’ was one that meant a lot to many Trade Babies in the 2000s when we were all nostalgic after Turnmills shut down…

Lastly what’s new for you in terms of your label, remixes and podcast mixes…

I have a new guest mix coming soon on Christian Smith’s Tronic radio show to support my latest release on the label titled ‘Carpe Diem’. I have also just finished a remix for Techno and Trance Italian legend Mauro Picotto that will come out soon on my label KISM Recordings. There’s more exciting projects being signed to some really cool labels but I can’y say more right now so you’ll have to follow me on my social medias to know more…

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DJ Pagano is one of the headliners at the Trade 30th Birthday this Saturday 12 February at Egg London. Kicking off from 6pm and running through till 6pm Sunday February 13th. Check out this marathon DJ line up:

DJs: Trade Modern: Boris – Cassie Raptor – Fidelity Kastrow – Frankel & Harper – Kyle E – Pagano – Remco Beekwilder – Tafkanik – VCL – Warboy – Wax Wings

Trade Lite: Fat Tony – Guy Williams – Hilit Kolet – Jeffrey Hinton – Maze & Masters – Sugarbear –Smokin Jo – The Sharp Boys 

Trade Classic: Andy Farley – BK – Daz Saund & Trevor Rockcliffe – Knuckleheadz – Lisa German – Paul Heron – Paul King –  Tall Paul – The Blonde Spirit – Blu Peter – Carl Nicholson

++ ADONIS will be joining us taking over the Middle Floor from 10am Sunday February 13th

ADONIS DJs Grace Sands, Marie Malarie, Michelle Manetti & Shay Malt. Plus Hosts & Club Kids galore..

Tickets: https://store.ticketing.cm.com/120222

+ 1 Very Special Guest DJ TBA on the day of the event

 Tickets:  https://ra.co/events/1482357

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TradeLondon

 

You can find Pagano on instagram under @djpagano

On Facebook at www.facebook.com/djpaganofanpage 

And on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/pagano

Check out Carl Cox plays KISM Recordings release ‘I’m Free’: https://youtu.be/iHm0ZJPhF_4 

Adam Beyer playing ‘Panta Rhei’ on Tronic at Printworks https://www.instagram.com/p/CUpNC7sgdMx/

Adam Beyer & Ida Engberg plays KISM Recordings release ‘RISE’:  https://youtu.be/lPESGmMKGhw