Influenced by his years as a resident DJ at the legendary London After-Hours club, Trade, Pagano has cemented his reputation as one of Europe’s most driven and creative DJs to come out of the London club scene with residencies at Belgium’s La Demence (Fuse, Brussels), Spain’s Matinee parties (Barcelona & Ibiza) and London’s XXL club. Steeped in the groove and not sticking to one sound whilst referencing that 90s House, Hard House and Nu-Energy vibes that have helped shape the sound of London’s gay club scene, Pagano is pushing the sound via his KISM label which celebrated their debut compilation, ‘Evolution Vol 1’ earlier this year featuring artists like Ben Remember, Paride Saraceni, Filterheadz, Skober, Chris Bekker, Tuff London and Agent Orange. The compilation managed to climb 5 Beatport charts simultaneously, hitting the #1 slot in one of them. Featured in a recent DJ Magazine interview (March 2018) and with his Toolroom release ‘The Rebel’ still rocking floors, Pagano continues to prove why his productions have crossed over – gaining support from A List DJs in the mainstream and underground scene including Carl Cox, Adam Beyer, Nicole Moudaber, Paco Osuna, Joseph Capriati, Monika Kruse, Mark Knight, Format:B, Danny Tenaglia, Chris Lake and Tiesto.
Hi Pagano, where in the world are you right now and congratulations on the recent achievements of your label KISM. You must be proud of your recent #1 album and forthcoming single with legendary Sweet Female Attitude and Reza. Tell us how these all came together?
https://www.beatport.com/release/pagano-presents-evolution-vol-1/2175821
I just came back from a gig in Washington DC – a really interesting city. I am so happy that all the hard work I’m putting into my label KISM is getting good results. My recent mix compilation ‘Evolution Vol. 1’ went on to hit 5 Beatport charts simultaneously and reached the number 1 in one of them! The first single from the compilation we’re releasing is ‘Give It To Me’, a collaboration with UK Garage legends Sweet Female Attitude and Reza. It includes mixes from Tech House master Dale Howard (Suara, ElRow, Toolroom), newcomer Dukat and a new vocal version of my mix from the album. With the album I simply wanted to put out a new DJ set to showcase the evolution of my sound including artists I liked. The track with Reza and SFA was a work in progress so we decided to include the Dub as a preview while we were finalizing the vocal version. 
On your ‘Evolution Vol 1’ album, you’ve enlisted a top flight set of producers to remix and produce exclusive tracks and how did you come to work with them? Do you have any personal favourite tracks and what makes them so stand out?
I simply contacted some of the producers that I champion the most during my DJ sets. Some I knew already and I either worked with before or DJ-ed alongside. Others I simply got in touch and explained my vision. I was really honoured by the amount of support I received because some of them are very established Techno and Tech House artists. Agent Orange, Filterheadz, Paride Saraceni, Tuff London, Skober all delivered great standout tracks.
2017 was a landmark year for year with KISM reaching its 10th release with ‘Music Is Moving’ and I hear there’s a great story behind this record?
https://www.beatport.com/label/kism-recordings/49614
What was born as a bootleg to be used exclusively during my DJ sets was receiving such great feedback that we decided to license the original vocals from ZYX / Media Records and to make an official release out of it. BK’s version of the ‘Music Is Moving’ was a huge Trade anthem and one of the biggest Hard House tracks ever so this new Tech infused update I put together really became an instant floorfiller during my DJ sets.
DJ peers including DJ Adam Beyer, Steve Lawler, Mark Knight, Carl Cox, Danny Tenaglia, Format: B are just some of the A List DJs who’ve been supporting your tracks and Kism releases and have you had any goose bump moments seeing or hearing such DJs play your tracks or getting their feedback?
There is a video of Adam Beyer playing one of my tunes during his back to back DJ sets with Ida Engberg in Ibiza and that is certainly one for the book. I recently received positive feedback from US House music legend Tony Humphries on ‘Give It To Me’ and that was a jaw-dropping moment for sure. Even though I have been supported by many big names throughout the years, it never gets old and it is the type of validation that keeps me going.
Mark Knight also went on to sign some of your tracks to his Toolroom label recently such as ’The Rebel’ and ‘Ipanema’ and what’s the story here?
I’m very honoured to collaborate with Toolroom for the last few years now and I first met Mark Knight when I opened for him at Ministry Of Sound a few years back. Toolroom is one of the biggest House and Techno labels to come out of the UK during the last 15 years and to be asked to participate to their Toolroom Anniversary compilation with an original track is another highlight of my career.
It’s been one exciting moment after another recently and your ‘Pure Groove EP’ lifted the Beatport No 1 for its ‘Pure Groove’ and ‘Greater Life’ tracks on Mauro Picotto’s Alchemy label. Was that your first Beatport No 1 and how much importance do you place on chart positions?
It wasn’t the first release actually that I’ve reached the number one with – there’s been a few throughout the years. The most memorable is hitting No 1 in the Techno chart with ’Trade – The Dark Side by Pagano’ compilation or the time I was knocked off the #1 spot by an EP from Vince Clarke and Martin Gore and I remember the music nerd in me thinking “well if someone had to knock me off the top spot at least it is the legendary producers behind some of Depeche Mode, Erasure and Yazoo’s most iconic moments”! 🙂
Something not a lot of people might know is that you remixed Yoko Ono’s classic track ‘Hell In Paradise’ and how did you feel about working with such a legend and did she like your remix?
https://www.beatport.com/artist/pagano/18177/tracks?artists=417
Following on the success of my official remixes of Danny Tenaglia’s anthem ‘Music Is The Answer’, I was asked by Rob at Twisted Records if I wanted to have a go with some classics from Yoko Ono’s catalogue. I am a huge fan of the avant-garde vibes that Yoko Ono has always been a pioneer of. I was sent so many vocals and long accappellas and it was a bit of a challenge to adapt the vocals of her 60’s track ‘Woman Power’ to a House beat. Once we got a handle on it though it was so much fun and then second single I was remixing ‘Hell in Paradise’ was even more creative. The feedback from the management was very positive and that’s always very rewarding.
As one of the original DJs at the legendary after hours club, Trade, did you ever go as just a clubber and how did getting involved in this hugely popular night shape your musical career? And can you tell us about some of your favourite and wildest moments there
I was a clubber at Trade for years before becoming one of their resident DJs. Trade at Turnmills is without any doubt my favourite clubbing experience ever. The music, the crowd, the hedonism, the sexual energy is still unmatched. Only Berghain comes close to it. I am not talking about the actual venue but about the vibe and experience. I’ve been DJing since I was a teenager but going to Trade and DJ-ing at Trade has helped take my set programming skills and career to the next level. I feel very humbled that I played a part in the history of such an iconic London institution. Wildest memories: resident Malcolm Duffy’s shenanigans in the DJ booth at Turnmills such as jumping up and down to try to get my vinyl records to skip half a way through a transition every single time I took over from him! Another good one is of a clubber trying to have sex with me while I DJ-ed on the main floor at a sold out event, “No one will notice”, he kept saying! My favourite moment has to be DJ-ing alongside Nina Kravitz, Nicole Moudaber and Christian Smith at the last ever Trade: The Final at Egg LDN celebrating 25 years in 2015.
As well as your residency at Trade, what or who has inspired you in your musical career and can you tell us about some of the pivotal game-changing moments, records, people etc.?
To be honest it’s hard for me to pick one specific moment or record. From a young age I experienced all sort of DJs and music from Frankie Knuckles and Masters At Work to Carl Cox and Laurent Garnier and this is why my music taste is so eclectic. I used to go to listen to industrial Techno at illegal raves in the middle of recently dried lava fields on Sicily’s volcano Mount Etna and it looked like a Martian landscape! A few years later I was attending the glamorous Monday nights at Echoes Club in Riccione where I heard David Morales and Armand Van Helden. They were all quality events with credible DJs and they shaped my vision and inspired me tremendously. Perhaps that is why I was never able to get into the whole EDM mainstream phenomenon.
Name some of the artists/producers that are on your radar and why should we be listening?
Agent Orange, Skober, Filterheadz, Skiver and Paride Saraceni when it comes to Techno. Frederick & Kusse, Tuff London and Solardo on the Tech House side of things. These artists all keep it fresh and interesting for me at present and I champion many of their productions.
Current Top 5 tracks
Pagano – The Rebel (Toolroom)
Percussive Tech that will take you back
Skober – Paranoid (Kism Recordings)
Techno from Ukrainian master of Drumcode and Terminal M fame
Mauro Picotto presents Sonique – Melody – Pagano Remix (Alchemy)
Really honoured to be asked to remix the new single of such legends
KlangKuenstler – Mortalis (Filth On Acid)
Trance is finding its way into Techno more and more
Pagano & Reza & Sweet Female Attitude – Give It To Me (Kism Recordings)
My anthem for summer 2018 and already a Cool Cuts Top 20. Also featuring a remix by Dale Howard
‘Give It To Me’ is the new single from Pagano & Reza & Sweet Female Attitude featuring mixes from Dale Howard, Pagano and Dukat and out on KISM Recordings now. Check KISM out at Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/kismrecordings // Facebook: www.facebook.com/kismrecordings and Instagram/Twitter: @kismrecordings
