Pete Tong’s ‘Tong Factor’ and Top 10 DJ chart

Pete Tong’s ‘Tong Factor’ and Top 10 DJ chart

15 October, 2008 | 8.57AM

• Section: Music News Topics: Beatport Blog, Pete Tong's tour diary
• Written by: Terry Church

As Britain’s long serving ambassador to dance music, Pete Tong has helped the careers of countless DJs and artists by breaking them on his influential BBC Radio 1 show, the Essential Selection.

Now Pete Tong is taking his role as a tastemaker more seriously than ever - during his upcoming North American tour, the DJ will host his very own Simon Cowell-inspired talent search called the ‘Tong Factor’.

Over the course of his two week tour (October 21st - November 1st) Mr. Tong is asking aspiring North American producers to hand him demos on CDs or USB sticks at his club gigs.

“It’s a hands on talent search,” Pete Tong told Beatportal. “I always get given lots of music when I tour USA and Canada so I thought this time we would make it more official.”

“We’ll not only have some fun with it but we’ll also try and help up coming DJs and producers in a more productive way.

“I have found in the past when people go out of their way to come to a show and actually hand you a CD or a memory stick, a lot more thought has gone into it and the standard is usually much higher than the random links I get sent via email.”

New digital label on Beatport

In between gigs, Pete will listen to every single demo that he has been given and will play the best ones out during the tour. Once the tour is over, Pete will release the best productions on a brand new digital label, which will be available on Beatport.

For up and coming producers, the Tong Factor is a great opportunity to have their music heard and supported by one of the most influential DJs in the business.

What’s Pete looking for?

“Originality, musicality and a certain x factor ingredient, with some defining aspect that’s unique,” he said.

“Even the presentation can count - you can tell a lot about an artist and DJ from the way they go about making and handing out their music. 

“I think the technology exists today to make it easier for those without a budget to make tunes. I would also be just as happy to discover a brilliant leftfield underground tune as a peak time bomb.”

The Tong Factor

The Tong Factor is the embodiment of Pete Tong’s obsession for new music, something that every DJ has.

But Tong said, “It has always been a fast turn-over business.”

“Artists and DJs are inspired by their favourite club and DJs, and they want to make new music.

“Technological advances have made it easier for more people to make more music, so the volume has increased although not necessarily the quality.

“In my position you have to constantly be on top of the changes and that is where the creativity usually is, people trying hard to be noticed and to be different.

“Often there will be a new club scene or a DJ behind the best music that’s fresh and exciting.”

Pete Tong & Dave Spoon ‘Gas Face’

Pete Tong’s North American tour also coincides with the release of a brand new production by Tong and Dave Spoon, called ‘Gas Face’.

Tong has charted the track at No.1 in his tour Top 10 (see below).

Pete said, “I made the track for a movie called Beyond The Rave, a new Hammer production. I worked on the soundtrack and we didn’t have a theme for the titles so we made one and the director loved it.”

Pete Tong’s Top 10 tracks

What tracks is Pete Tong feeling right now? Listen to his Top 10 chart in the player below:

01. Pete Tong & Dave Spoon ‘Gas Face’
02. Steve Mac ‘Gotta Have Some Fun’
03. Deadmau5 ‘Slip’
04. Matt Nordstrum ‘Lucky Drawls’
05. Radio Slave ‘Eyes Wide Open’
06. Sebo K ‘Diva’
07. Minilogue ‘Jamaica’ (Dubfire Remix)
08. Robert Babicz ‘Dark Flower’ (Joris Voorn Magnolia Mix)
09. Johnny D ‘Requiem of a Dream’
10. Kevin Saunderson ‘Good Love’ (Luciano Mix)

Pete Tong Tour dates

If you’re an aspiring producer and want to hand Pete Tong your demo, you can do so at the following venues.

Visit: www.wantickets.com/petetong for tickets.

Pete Tong’s tour diary on Beatportal

As part of Pete Tong’s tour, Beatportal will be publishing an exclusive daily tour diary from Pete which will contain feedback on the best tracks that he has been given plus reports on his tour as it unfolds.

Tour coverage starts: October 21st

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• Get Pete Tong's Top 10 Tour tracks