Supported by many of the Electronic Music industries finest from Damian Lazarus, Pete Tong to Black Coffee, Made by Pete is the London based DJ and producer who is stepping into a new chapter with ‘Rosebank’, his debut album due this summer. This new body of work is a deeply personal record named after the road he lives on, written over five years and brought to life through fan-backed crowdfunding. Following the breakthrough impact of ‘Horizon Red’, he now unveils ‘I Remember’, the third single from the album, as this interview finds him reflecting on the long road to the record, the independence it took to make it happen, and the momentum that continues to carry him forward. DMCWorld checks in with Made By Pete.
Who is Made By Pete? Where are you based?
I’m James. My dad was called Pete so that’s where the name comes from. I grew up in London but now I live in Surrey just outside of the city.
How would you describe your sound as a DJ as opposed to your studio productions?
Right now quite similar because about 70% of my DJ sets are my own productions. I like to be quite flexible as a DJ, constantly pulling and manipulating the energy. If it were a bike ride it would be a series of hills rather than a steady incline to a plateau.
Which artists you most respect and enjoy that are similar in texture and sound to your style either djing or producing?
That’s tough because it’s always changing. I could name hundreds of artists who have inspired me but I would say I respect anyone who makes original human art. Even if it’s not to my taste I admire the dedication and creativity of people who are original in what they do. Sampling, when done properly, is an artform. There’s no denying that. But taking a Bob Marley acapella and throwing it over a generic splice drum loop isn’t the same thing. The DJ charts are full of re-hashed, reworked, re-sung things from the past. It’s very safe and predictable. I’ve done my fair share of bootlegs too that I play in my DJ sets…. but nothing beats creating something new that came from within you. I wish Beatport had and ‘Original’s Only’ chart for each genre, that’s where I’d dig.
You are well known for your single Horizon Red which had some great radio support. How well did this single do overall, did the success of this single open doors for you as an artist?
It changed my life. I was always a DJ/Producer in London. I had played a few gigs abroad over my twenties but once Horizon Red came out the whole thing changed. I was able to quit my job as a motion graphics designer and within three months of release I had a manager, an agent and an international tour schedule.
You are about to self release your debut album ‘Rosebank’. What prompted you to record Rosebank entirely at home on the road you live on, how long did it take to complete and how did that environment shape the album’s sound and themes?
My studio has always been at home. From my mum’s kitchen as a teen to side bedrooms and garages shared with spiders. Now it’s in my back garden at home. I love being able to create any time of the day or night and not having a space that I have to pay rent on keeps me free of any pressure. The oldest track on the album was made in 2019 ‘Stories From TV’. Up till then I had always made club focussed music but listening to an album called ‘Full Circle’ by the band Haelos inspired me to so start experimenting outside my normal comfort zone. I collected a few other similar ideas over the next few years and wrote ‘Go’ with Zoe Kypri in 2023. That was the catalyst for the album. I decided to go for it and continue writing outside of club music.
Tell me about some of the moments and tracks in the album you are most proud of?
So many. And that feels great to say. I’m so happy I decided to do it and the whole thing feels like me without any compromise. One moment does stand out. I was recording a vocal loop for the track ‘Call On Me’. Unbeknown to me my 8yr old daughter had just got back from school and had come down to the studio to say hi. I had my headphones on so I didn’t notice her standing behind me, repeating the lines I was signing. Later when I came back to the recording, I had her voice printed on the take and I ended up using it at the end of the record. That was a beautiful feeling.
After label rejections you chose to self-release via Life In Colour and a Kickstarter — what did that independence mean for you artistically and practically? Tell Me about the process of raising the money and what did that allow you to do?
I had run labels before and have 20 year’s experience releasing music on indie labels. My background in design means that I can make my own content quickly at no cost. I realised the only thing a label would provide was a budget, so if I could generate that and hold onto my IP that would be the best scenario. Crowdfunding the album was hard work. I learnt a lot in a short time and really busted a gut to get it over the line but it generated over £10,000. I had no costs for recording, art working or videos I could use that entire budget for marketing, pressing vinyl and merch.70% of that went on meta ads. That’s where the audience is. If you have a great record, a great piece of content that conveys you authentically… and a small budget, you can go far.
Its been quoted in one of your press releases about I remember “It’s by far the ‘happiest’ sounding record on the album and that’s not usually an adjective I would use to describe my music. What mood does your music convey in general?
Only last week I was exporting stems for the album and realised that every track is in a minor key. That was a complete accident, but it tells you where my ear naturally goes. I like beauty in music, but it has to be balanced with some tension. I think that comes from making club music with vocals. I rarely make instrumental music… but on a club dancefloor you need some bite and mystery. I’ve always tried to engineer my tracks in a way that gives me both.
Where can we see you play in 2026 and where can find out more information about you?
So far this year I’ve been to Asia, North America, Africa and Europe! It’s a wild life. My tour dates are always listed on my website https://www.madebypete.uk/tour
Whilst you’re there, head to https://www.madebypete.uk/backstage-pass and become a backstage member. It’s free. I send monthly emails to my members and always include something exclusive. A behind the scenes video from tour, early access to a new song, a studio jam…. Something just for them. It’s real and I put effort into it. I’m close to 2,000 subscribers now and it’s become a really important part of my process. As independent artists we have to be in close contact with the fans who facilitate what we do. A small dedicated fanbase that grows constantly over time is far more valuable than millions of monthly listeners on Spotify. The idea of mass appeal is dead to me. I want to connect with my fans on a deeper level and the backstage pass is how I’m doing that. I’m also planning to take the alum live in 2027 so if you want to know more about that, backstage is where it’s at.
‘I Remember’ is released on June 19th 2026.
