Taste Test: Paul White

Taste Test: Paul White

11 January, 2011 | 5.10AM

• Written by: Dan Cole
• Filed under: Music News: now and again records, one handed music, paul white, stones throw records

Paul White’s status as a uniquely talented UK hip-hop producer has been on the up and up, winning accolades from artists across the board including Diplo, Mary Anne Hobbs, and Gilles Peterson.

So much so that his latest album, Paul White & The Purple Brain, was co-released on LA based Now Again Records label, a sister of Stones Throw Records, along with his own One-Handed Music imprint.

For those not already in the know, check out his leftfield hip-hop stylings, which reflect his taste in psychedelic rock and reggae, and peruse the One-Handed Music catalog, home also to the talented and soulful Bullion, championed by Flying Lotus.

What was the first record you remember having as a child?

Of my own, probably Michael Jackson’s Bad LP, or a Dr. Who soundtrack 7”. I spent more time listening to Bad! I had my first musical dreams with that album!

What was the first record you bought with your own money?

Maybe Bad! Can’t remember whether I bought the Dr. Who 7"… Pretty sure it was Bad! I’ve just started listening to Thriller loads again, actually, because I’m reading a book by his engineer, Bruce Swedien.

Which style or genre of music was your first great love?

Pop probably as a young kid, again, good old Michael Jackson, his music was definitely my first love! I used to listen to the Beach Boys a lot when I was really young too because I loved surfing!

How have your musical tastes changed since you were a teenager?

I’ve gone all over the place, really. From Michael I went to rock; I loved Nirvana, that’s what got me playing guitar and singing and songwriting, then some heavy metal, bands like Sepultura and Metallica. But at the same time I got into hip-hop, listened to loads of Wu, The Alcoholics, The Pharcyde, Xibit. Skateboarding videos was the big one really—I was a skate nut for years. American videos like 411, Real, and Zoo York had everything on them from rock to hip-hop to soul to jazz to reggae to metal, everything really, and I loved it all! Then college came along and some drugs crept in for a while, so I started listening to techno, trance, happy hardcore, dub, chill out, ambient, drum ‘n’ bass. Started making that kind of stuff instead of guitar, then Uni was all about hip-hop.....now it’s anything, I guess.

What was the last record (or MP3) you bought?

Kraan, “Wiederhoren”......ILL!! “Silky Way” and “Rendezvous In Blue,” beautiful songs!!

How many tracks/records do you typically acquire every week—both promos & purchases?

Used to be loads! Recently zero! Haven’t really had the dough! It’s cool, though, that’s got me more into playing live.

What format do you DJ with – vinyl, CD, Traktor/Serato, Ableton, etc…?

Vinyl and CDs (for beats). I just love using vinyl too much to ever change. Maybe one day I’ll try Serato?

Name your three favorite tracks at the moment:

I’ve been listening to these three a lot recently:
Michael Jackson, “Human Nature”
Miroslav Vituos, “Watching the Sunset Run”
Kraan, “Silky Way”

Can’t really say anything about them, they’re all too good to even begin to try to describe them!

Three favorite classic tracks:

There’s kinda so much music out there, that’s an amazingly hard question… But if I had to guess, Id say:

Michael Jackson, “Human Nature” again!!!
Herbie Hancock, “Watermelon Man”
Miles Davis, “In a Silent Way”

Which track (by another musician) do you wish that you had made?

Leon Ware’s “Tamed to Be Wild.” Powerful. Well, I love it, I wanna try and do a cover one day!

What’s your favorite record from this year that isn’t electronic dance music?

Madlib, “Medicine Show No 4.” The dub mix.....WOW! The music on that will blow your mind! I wanna find it all!!! I’m listening to it now!

Current reading or last good book read?

In The Studio with Michael Jackson by Bruce Swedien (his engineer) and Quincy Jones’ autobiography. Both amazing musical stories, enlightening stuff, both make me smile and laugh all the time! The passion involved also is so inspiring. Some people bring it on a whole other level!

Favorite piece of gear:

At the moment my MPC3000! Its just so loooooooooose!!!

Preferred headphones:

Any, I’ve always used £12 Sony headphones from Argos, but recently I got some AKG K702s too, it’s good to have both! But I quite like blaring it out the speakers! I keep fucking up my ears with headphones, can’t resist pumping it too loud!

Favorite city/country/club to perform in?

DJing at Soundwave in Croatia, pretty much on the beach, watching the sunset was a pretty amazing venue to play at. So Croatia/On the beach!

What country would you be thrilled to play in, just for the food?

Anywhere in Africa.

Strangest thing you’ve ever eaten while on tour:

Weird melted cheese and rice dish in Switzerland, was probably lovely but the drink the night before made it the weirdest, craziest thing that morning, it was alive! I couldn’t do it! I was hungry all day!

Strangest thing a fan has said to you:

Eerrrr, probably cant really mention that! Maybe bit too rude!

Strangest thing a fan has ever given you:

A glass dragonfly! It was amazing!

Frequent flyer survival tip

BOOKS!! Study on the road! The only time I really read is travelling, even in London! Or just smoke a phatty before the flight… only joking, obviously!

Weirdest rumor you’ve ever heard about yourself:

I don’t really read anything or look at anything to do with myself, to be honest, and I think that’s a good thing

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