The most exciting new house producer of the year. What a talent
Interview by Dan Prince
Philip a huge welcome back to DMCWORLD young man – where on planet earth can we find you today?
At home, got a week off so I’m treating myself to studio time hahaha! Actually it’s really good though because I can also see family at the moment!
What was the first piece of music you heard this morning after crawling out of bed?
I haven’t actually heard any music today. Only my new productions. wahay!
Well dude, what a friggin’ year you have had! Gotta kick off by asking you this, are you sick and bloody tired of journalists asking you about you working at clothing chain Next and behind a bar in a golf club this time last year and now sitting pretty as one of the most exciting new producers on the planet?!?!?
Actually Dan, I ain’t. To be fair I like to talk about it because it’s an organic story. I couldn’t count how many times I’ve answered it though.
Fair play. Well your year has of course been dominated by your record ‘Wish You Were Mine’, the biggest selling dance record of 2015 went Platinum. Next month sees the release of ‘Alone No More’…talk us through the sound and history of the track…
It’s been quite a slow process of getting the second track in place. One thing being I never have time to produce music, it’s kind of sad but when I get the opportunity I’m really focused. I find it hard to produce and tour at the same time you see. But yeah, Alone No More came around really quickly, Anton Powers, coming up with the initial idea giving me the ideas and melodies etc. – then I just put the Philip George sound to it, and produced the track. Was really cool.
The life of a superstar DJ and Producer can sometimes be a strange one. Take the start of August for example. Thursday night rocking Amnesia in Ibiza, Friday Creamfields in Liverpool and Saturday, er, errm, Oceania in Watford!!! Was Herefordshire’s finest a little like coming down with a bump?
Hahaha! Yes, I hate to say it. It’s a good crack but it’s just a crack in the perfect weekend of great events. You can 100% tell the difference between a professional venue to a mainstream club. The passion for the music isn’t there, but the passion for cheap vodka and drunk idiots is totally there. I actually felt like a Saturday night local DJ. Good times.
I spoke to you earlier this year and the whole Amnesia residency sort of caught you by surprise – you didn’t see it coming. How was the season for you…I hear one drunk night you took over the lighting guy’s job??
Haha news is getting around. Oh I can’t explain the opportunity I was given. It’s Cream at Amnesia! How thankful am I? Pure madness! Basically my dream came true this summer, it’s one of the best clubs in the world so it’s been such a shock and such an honour. And with the lighting thing, it’s just one of my many talents…when I’m Foooooked. Actually, I can’t even remember half of that night. Blame Danny Howard and his mates. Cheers boys! Haha PARTY!
What has a season in Ibiza taught you about the island?
I’ve been going for the last few years and my god, it gets better every year for me. I’ve learnt so much though, what paths to be taking and what the crowds want. It’s brilliant and such a buzz for me. One thing I would say is stay out of the workers apartments unless you don’t want to come back from Ibiza. Hahaha! Them guys are mental, in a good way of course.
What night and maybe 1 particular DJ in Ibiza stood out this summer?
I went to HYTE at Amnesia and Mano Le Tough was there. His set took me to other places. What a DJ and Producer that guy is.
Apart from your own music, what has been your anthem of the summer?
Haha I never choose my own music, I’m not one of them. Definitely Camelphat’s Constellations! Pure euphoric moments!
Okay let’s rewind for a moment. You started to play music at an early age, most 7 year olds are on their computer games at that age, music drew you in though?
That’s true. My sister had an electric keyboard – one of those 90s ones with about 5 octaves and 100 present sounds. I can remember trying to imitate Stevie Wonder’s I Just Called To Say I Love You chorus on it, my mum overheard me and the next thing she’d booked in a load of piano lessons for me. That’s where my musical journey began I suppose.
Good old mum! So what age did dance music enter your world, what tunes can you remember?
It’s a little hard to say, I remember the whole time when Eric Prydz and Call Me was everywhere. Back then one of my all time favourites was United Nations Out Of Touch, I would have been about 12 then so it is just about acceptable…hahaha!
Can you remember the first time you went into a club, heard a tune and thought YES! This is what I want to do!
Well I was actually making records before going clubbing, I had already checked out the scene via TouTube etc. So I knew what was going on. One of my favourite producer/DJ figures will always be NETSKY, who influenced me surprisingly a lot. I loved his direction of Drum & Bass, the sounds he used and I thought he really took the genre in a great direction. I’m also a huge fan pf Kerri Chandler.
And finally what is coming out next from you studio wise?
Decided to pack in house now, been there done that. Now I’m making Happy Hardcore! No I’m kidding, I’m actually making loads of house music that I can’t wait to show everyone! If you wanna hear previews check out my instagram – philipgeorgeuk
Philip George & Anton Powers ‘Alone No More’ is out 2nd October on 3beat
