WMC interview: David Penn

WMC interview: David Penn

26 March, 2009 | 5.29PM

• Written by: Terry Church
• Filed under: Music News: david penn, wmc 2009

Anyone remember that tune from around 1995 that went “All aboard…the NIGHT TRAIN!”?

Well, everybody knows that Kadoc was behind that house classic, but few will know know that Spanish DJ and producer David Penn was partly responsible for it too.

“Haha yeah, it’s one of my most successful tunes,” says David Penn.

I grabbed this house legend at the Beatport Pool Party, the man who mixed one of the CDs on Defected’s new Miami compilation, a few moments ago to get some tips about DJing and production.

How’s Miami treating you so far?
I played at the Defected party at Set on Tuesday and I guess I did a good job because everyone is talking about it, which is nice. I’m playing for Chus & Ceballos party tonight, and then the MN2S party tomorrow.

I come to Miami normally every year, but I didn’t come last year because I feel I should only come when I have something to say.

This year I have something to say as all my productions are working really really well at the moment. I feel like my profile is bigger than it’s been and I felt like I needed to come.

Everything is going really fast to be honest.

My track with Rober Gaez ‘Our Darkness’ made it to No.2 on the Beatport house chart recently and No.3 on Beatport overall.

You’ve been in the business for quite a few years.

Yeah about 17 years in the business. I released my first record when I was 19 and then in 1995/1996 I made Kadoc ‘The NightTrain’.

But recently I’ve discovered a new lease of life. I think my daughter, who was born about a year and half ago, has given me more energy.

My ideas are more clearer than ever these days. For instance I don’t make music unless I like it anymore – like I have many requests for remixes at the moment, but I only remix tracks I like. I never make tracks for money. I guess it’s quality over quantity.

Also, I know what works because I’ve been in the industry for many years and I have many solid ideas now about good production and what to play as a DJ.

Speaking of DJing – with so much experience behind you have you got any tips to share?

I think it’s important to believe in what you do. I’m very open about what I play, for instance I play many different sounds. You need to feel the music. Sometimes I might be tired from flights, but when I play I find the energy and I feel the music. I have to do my best.

And now I feel like anything could happen if I do it the right way. If I play a main set or an afterhours my set will never be the same.

You have to feel the atmosphere then anything is possible. You have to make a journey with your sets, not just stick to one sound. Most people in the crowd don’t care if you play a new track or an old track, they just want to feel the party and dance. Sometimes I might go techy, and sometimes soulful.

The DJ should be there for the people. You have to make the people enjoy their night and give them all of your energy. Even if you don’t have the energy.

Sometimes when I’m tired, I go to the club and suddenly I get the energy and start dancing. Photographers hate me for always dancing but I used to be in the crowd, so I know what people want because I used to be one of them on the ‘floor.

I know what people like and what they don’t like. Now I do what I need. I always imagine I’m on the ‘floor and some DJs forget about the people on the ‘floor. They’re scared of going commercial, but if it’s a good track it’s a good track, who cares if it’s commercial?

Lastly for all the geeks, what’s your studio like?

I have many synths from the ‘90s. But to be honest I don’t use them so much anymore, except maybe to rescue an old sound I like. I mainly use a Mac G5 and Logic.

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• Check out David Penn on Beatport