DJ Paulette’s 20 Minute Tea-Break kicks off with the man in the mask
Words by DMCWORLD’s very own chah lady DJ Paulette
Claptone – the Berlin man with the golden mask and the possessor of possibly the most poetic DJ biog in the world , welcome to DMC World magazine.
Kind words and a pleasure to bring you such entertainment. I can imagine that a lot of people you interview wouldn’t have the word poetic in their introduction!
Very true. Firstly – why the long face? No seriously – why this particular style of mask? Your biog refers to some mythical being – can you explain please?
Claptone is physical and there to touch, but the character has a broader narrative. One that weaves mystery and magic both on and offline. For centuries the gold mask has been revered and also used as a device to conceal and I enjoy playing with these ideas and so it seems do many others who come to dance.
Having seen the mask up close in the DJ Booth at Pacha in Ibiza – I thought it had a worryingly sexual, Eyes Wide Shut appeal or was that just the hierbas? What exactly does it represent to you?
The mask is a devise that allows one to step outside of our reality. On one hand we might hide behind a mask but on the other we might find liberation that allows us to be a truer version of ourselves. This is a recipe for fun whatever way you look at it. From the outside one may also project parts of our subconscious and psyche onto those obscured by the mask and it’s very interesting to hear that you found it phallic. People see different things and hopefully that engages the imagination which is often sadly buried in these fast-paced technological times.
Did you have any other choices for the mask before you landed on this particular style? What happened to those ideas?
I have worn many masks physically and metaphorically over the ages. Some experiences were uncomfortable and some pleasurable. But all have been essential to my journey.
Can you eat or drink wearing the mask when you are in the club? Or do you prefer to take off the mask and stand at the bar incognito?
Luckily I am able to drink my champagne but I have had to change from my preferred coupe to a flute but these things are set to test us, I’m sure you understand.
Has it ever got in the way – caused a mishap when you are DJing?
There have sometimes been cases of mistaken identity but these have always ended up being pleasurable.
Why hide at all when you make such marvellous music? Could it be a possible solution to stage fright?
Quite simply it’s about the music. The magic of souls coming together to enjoy the dance doesn’t need to be diluted by faux-celebrity and so I choose to be a character that doesn’t demand centre-stage. For millennia we as people have enjoyed the dance without the need to worship false idols and perhaps that need is greater now than it has been for a long time hence.
The Claptone ascent has been phoenix mythical. From 2012’s ‘Cream’ to 2013 ‘No Eyes’ and ‘Wrong’ – each were pivotal points in your career, and for me this year, the now Beatport topping Gregory Porter ‘Liquid Spirit’ remix and your own ‘Music’s Got Me’ release mark another jet boost. How do you feel about this and did you expect this popularity when you chose these projects?
It’s a blessing when ideas take a shape that brings so much happiness to other people and help us to connect across the planet. This year I had a feeling that this would be strong as I spent so much time travelling the world to see how it’s possible to join the dots that when these songs came I know that it was a result of this desire to create physical harmony through musical harmony. And there’s a lot more to come too!
What sounds, shapes, people, animals and / or situations inspire your sound and influence the way in which you make your tracks?
Good question! As a foundation it’s always the primal energy of the beat and the rhythm that help to create that global groove. From there I am picking inspiration from my surroundings and my travels and as I am constantly moving from country to country I absorb on a global level which helps make the connection between people and cultures ad infinitum.
From feel good to melancholia, from funk to punk and rock, the tracks you make and the artists you have remixed are often very different in genre so what is the common thread?. How do you go about reconciling these disparate styles and giving it the Claptone royal seal?
It’s simply authenticity that is the bedrock of my very being. No matter what the source or the background of a song or a collaborator I feed on the power that comes with it being real. That’s hard to do as we live in an era where much is fake and manufactured even when it’s cleverly packaged as 100% pure.
You have one of the busiest international schedules playing everywhere from the Ministry of Sound, to Air in Amsterdam, Watergate in Berlin, Ultra Festival and Basement Club Miami Beach, Marquee in New York, Mysteryland and Tomorrowland, which has been your favourite event so far. And do you prefer doing it indoors with your eyes wide shut or outdoors with your mask on?
Indoors, outdoors, Europe, Asia, Americas are all the same when the energy of the drum weaves a magical spell across the dancefloor.
You bagged Pete Tong’s ‘Essential New Tune’ for ‘Music’s Got Me’ and your Essential Mix is coming up on the 25th of April – what surprises do you have in store for us? And while we’re on the subject of radio, please tell us a little bit about your Clapcasts?
The surprises are happening to Claptone not the other way round! I work tirelessly to create and present my creations and the pleasure I receive when I see smiling faces or hear my music on the radio is untold. The support from influential people and the opportunities to present Claptone on a broader platform are humbling. I have a lot to share with the intention of bringing some respite from the travails of life and my monthly Clapcast radio mix show is there to help lift spirits worldwide. Seek it out and turn down the lights – actually and metaphorically!
Ibiza opening of Blue Marlin 5th of May – where else can we expect to see the man in the Golden Mask on Ibiza for 2015? and where / which is your dream Ibiza dancefloor?
Ibiza is a spiritual place for Claptone and this year I will be doing some very interesting things where the magical lines converge… watch this space!
You’re no stranger to the Beatport Charts – but which producers inspire your and get the loudest clap? Which producers depress you and get the slow clap? And which producers impress you so much you give them the afterclap (the clap you hear after everyone has stopped?
As per my previous question, those who bring their song with passion and conviction and have striven to plough the often rocky road of authenticity have my ear and my clap – I am there to cheer them on as I know it’s easy to stray from that path. Luckily there are always many to choose from and I salute them in my Clapcasts.
Back to your mask – do you consider yourself more Alexandre Dumas or Hannibal Lecter?
We understand how dangerous a mask can be. We all become what we pretend to be. – Patrick Rothfuss.
The original of ‘Music’s Got Me’ was by Visual on Prelude (thanks Dave Lambert for the heads up there) and on first listen and review I immediately heard influences like D-Train, Peech Boys, Parliament / Funkadelic – how important is the sound of 80s funk and soul to your production style?
That hallowed era when royals ran with rogues in the wet streets of New York City will always stay in my bones and shape no small part of what I do. It was a magical time.
Is Claptone a noun or a pronoun to you? A thing or a person? A feeling or a thought?
Claptone is a magical and otherworldly being it is all of the above and it is the release. Try not to overthink Claptone or you’ll dull the magic.
Which five records get you high fives in your set at the moment?
– Claptone – The Music Got Me
– Dauwd – Jupiter George
– Chuva Speaks Arab – Reckless Girl
– Paul C & Paolo Martini ft Roland Clark – Take Some House (Riva Starr Edit)
– Gregory Porter – Liquid Spirit (Claptone Remix)
Which five records give you a head massage when you need to chill out?
With the music in my veins when I need to chill I turn inwards and feel the rhythm of my heart. It’s the best groove.
I and DMC World Magazine give you, Claptone, a huge round of applause and many thank you’s for shining your golden light on our hallowed pages; All the best for the summer. Paulette x
Thank you Paulette, I know that you understand the power of fantasy.
*****
The Gallery presents Claptone – The Masquerade at Ministry of Sound on Friday April 24th.
Ticket link: http://www.ministryofsound.com/events/calendar/club/2015/02/20/15/29/150424-claptone
For further information on Claptone check…
http://www.facebook.com/claptone.official
