Made By Pete

One of London’s hottest producers right now live and direct at DMCWORLD

Interview : Dan Prince


Dude welcome to DMCWORLD…where in the world are you right now?

“Hi Dan. I’m at home in London at the moment gearing up for the Grin Recordings label party at Electric Social in Brixton on the 4th October. I’m heading to the Ministry Of Sound Radio studios tonight on the 2nd October for an interview and guestmix, then on the 9th I’m playing at The London Twisted Masquerade with Mark Brickman and my good friend Stimpy from Concrete Promo.”

I live over in Ibiza and one of the biggest records of the summer has undoubtedly been your ‘Our Story’. Please talk us through the sound, mixes and history of the track…

“Yeah a few people have told me that they heard ‘Our Story’ out in Ibiza this year. It’s had a great reaction. Hannah Wants got in touch with me via Soundcloud asking for a copy, which was nice. The Original mix is quite a slow album style track with a stunning vocal from Penny F. It’s the first real ‘song’ that I have written so I’m really happy with the outcome. I wrote the dub mix so I could have a version to play in the clubs and when Toolroom asked to sign it, it was a no brainer. I love the label and everything they represent. The Original Mix is coming out on Grin Recordings this Autumn with remixes from Ben Remember, Long & Harris and Electronic Youth.”

When I told Guy Garret at Buzz Chart HQ I was interviewing you today, he asked “please ask him if there are any plans for an official release on your MJ Cole ‘Sincere’ rework? It’s the dogs down belows” So…?

“Tell Guy that I’m working on it. When I was 19 I was promoting a party at a club in Kingston. We booked MJ Cole to headline and that’s when I first met him. At the time I had just started producing and my sound was very amateur. When I sent Mat some of my tracks he took the time to give me a paragraph of advice on each track which was really kind. 9 years on and I came out with this remix. It’s one of my favorite tracks from my youth so I’m really pleased with the response.”

It’s about time that London had a new club to celebrate…and here it is! You’ll be getting involved with The Qube Project next week, what have you heard about the venue?

“I have heard great things about Qube. I know the team behind it and I have every confidence that it will do well. They have really gone to town on the line-ups booking the likes of Weiss, Sonny Fodera, Robosonic, Tube & Berger & Cyril Hahn, who I’m supporting on the 10th October alongside my friend August Five.”

What are the big 5 tunes in your box this weekend?

  1. 1.Weiss – I Believe [Toolroom]
  2. 2.Sydney Charles & Sante – All Night Long [Hot Creations]
  3. 3.Metodi Hristov – Step Outside [Glasgow Underground]
  4. 4.Oliver Giacomoto – Dusk [Great Stuff]
  5. 5.Made By Pete – Our Story (Ben Remember Remix) [Grin Recordings]

You are a self confessed house head with a string of releases under Grin Recordings, Skint, Subliminal and MOS…how old were you when you first encountered dance music and who were the early producers that grabbed your attention?

“My first experience of dance music was in Ibiza. I used to go on family holidays with my mum and best friend starting when I was 14. We would stay in Cala Llonga and each year we went back. When we got to 16 we ventured out to Pacha and saw Erick Morillo. It was pure luck, I didn’t even know what house music was really but after that night I was hooked. I have never been solely influenced by one single producer, there are plenty I admire, but my influences change all the time depending on what I’m listening too.”

Early clubs you hit?

“Ministry Of Sound, The End, Fabric…”

First big break into the music industry…

“The first ‘big’ thing to happen for me was getting a track signed to Subliminal Records. I was working under a different name at the time but it will always stay with me. Erick Morillo had such a big influence on my early years as a DJ so when I found out that he was playing the track and wanted it for his label I was blown away. I have the CD on the wall of my studio.”

How would you say your sound has changed / developed over the last 12 months?

“My sound changes and develops every day. You only have to listen to the original and dub mixes of ‘Our Story’ to see that. I don’t like to constrain myself to a specific sound, it’s all based around house music, but as we know that’s quite broad these days.”

There are a new breed of UK house producers currently ripping it up. Who really impress you?

“Weiss is killing it right now. His sound is different to everyone else’s at the moment and it’s so refreshing. I’m also really into Doorly at the moment, plus all the artists in the Grin Recordings family.. Tim Cullen, Ben Remember, Long & Harris & Dirty Secretz.”

A recent quote from a certain superstar DJ…“I believe true DJing is actually an art, but it’s a dying art, as everyone is pushing the sync button…it’s a real shame when you see a ‘DJ’ plug his laptop in and call this DJing. Music will always evolve but sometimes not in the best way.” What are your thoughts on that?

“In some ways I agree. I have the Traktor S4 controller at home and use it for podcasts and radio shows but it would never replace the Pioneer CDJs I use in the club. I started on Vinyl but moved to CDJs because the loop function gave a third dimension to my sets. It’s the same thing with laptops these days. If the DJ is using it to be more creative then I’m all for it, but there is nothing more annoying than seeing a DJ stuck behind a screen ‘checking his emails’ so to speak. For me it’s important to engage with the crowd and have fun.”

Worst job you have ever had?

“I did one day at French Connection. The manager followed me around the shop all day teaching me how to fold cloches. . . I never went back.”

So we head over to yours on a Sunday afternoon…who are some of the artists you spin us to mellow the vibe…

“Zero 7, A Tribe Called Quest, Kevin Yost, Dubtribe Soundsystem…”

What is the record that…

…reminds you of your childhood?

Fleetwood Mac – Dreams

…always get you dancing?

Groove Armada – Superstylin

…reminds you of being broken hearted?

Otis Redding – These Arms Of Mine

…you wish you would have made?

Crazy P – Heartbreaker

You have had a monumental 2014 with your own releases, remixes and collabs. Let’s skip 12 months forward…what do you want to have achieved this time next year?

“I haven’t really set any specific goals for this project. I find that it puts extra pressure on my shoulders, which in turn causes me to rush. I’m just going to go with the flow and see what happens. It’s a much more enjoyable way of doing things. I would rather release 4 quality records that I truly believe in each year, than ‘mass produce’ content just to keep up with the speed of the digital age.”

Tell us about your studio set up…

“My studio set up is very simple. I use Logic Pro with my Macbook. I have an M-Audio soundcard and midi controller. My monitors are KRK Rockets. That’s it! I have never been a tech-head. Some people like to work with lot’s of kit but for me I like to keep things simple and let my ears do the work. I add plug-ins and VST’s to my collection as and when I come across them, this gives me time to learn them properly and get the most out of them.”

And finally, what is coming out next on the studio front…

“Well as I mentioned earlier, ‘Our Story’ is due out this Autumn on Grin Recordings. I have also signed new track called ‘Jungle Funk’ to 303 Lovers, that’s out at the beginning of November. I have 2 collaborations with Tim Cullen and Hauser that have been finished so they should follow up shortly after.”

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