LIFE LESSONS
DJ Pagano
In the internet- less age of my childhood, music became a way for me to discover quirky, creative, flamboyant artists. It helped me realise I wasn’t an alien and helped me dream of a better future
I hacked my parents’ old record player to add a special transistor in to create a speed pitch bender to help me mix with vinyl. However, I only had one turntable, so I had to mix between that and a tape player. Mixing between those two mediums wasn’t easy. And my parents weren’t thrilled that I messed up their treasured record player
TO THIS DAY, I CANNOT LISTEN TO BRONSKI BEAT’S
SMALLTOWN BOY WITHOUT BECOMING EMOTIONAL
Italy is a divided country, mostly full of bigoted and provincial people, but it has welcoming and open- minded people as well. Then again, isn’t that the same in the
UK, and, to a certain extent, all over the western world these days... If you spent your Saturday nights in London’s Heaven during the Noughties, there’s a good chance you were dancing and trying to catch the eye of the cute boy across the dancefloor, while DJ Pagano was laying down the beats. Francesco Pagano started DJing in clubs in his native Italy when he was 16. Since moving to London in 2002, he has produced chart- topping dance tracks and crisscrossed the globe playing clubs. Listen out for his new music coming out on his label, KISM Recordings, including collaborations with techno veterans
Filterheadz and Agent Orange. When I headlined my first DJ gig in Brazil in front of nearly 5,000 people, I remember thinking, “How did this happen?” All I ever did was play the music I liked
The best audiences happen where the locals are joined by punters flying in to party. That’s why clubs in Ibiza, Berlin and London often have such a special atmosphere
Club rule Numero Uno: Requests. Don’t do it!
A good DJ cares more about their music selection than being onstage and can get a crowd reaction without relying on any well- known tracks
MY BEST DJ MEMORY IS PROBABLY PLAYING THE MAIN ROOM AT THE LAST DANCE OF TRADE AT TURNMILLS IN LONDON. AND I ALSO GET GOOSEBUMPS THINKING ABOUT ALL THE TIMES I PLAYED THE LEGENDARY TERRACE, AT AMNESIA IN IBIZA
The craziest thing I have seen on the dancefloor was an extremely tall drag queen walking around a club in Milan pushing a big shopping cart full of glammed- up Barbies
For a music collaboration to be successful, you have to pick likeminded people, communicate honestly and check your ego at the door
I firmly believe that the vibe of an event reflects the personality and attitude of the people behind it
TRAVELLING THE WORLD IS A DOUBLE- EDGED SWORD. DISCOVERING NEW PLACES AND MEETING PEOPLE CAN BE FUN, BUT TRAVELLING ON MY OWN CAN LEAVE ME HOMESICK AND MISSING MY FRIENDS, PARTNER AND FAMILY, NOT TO MENTION THE LACK OF ROUTINE OR SLEEP
I prefer playing clubs where people are there for the music and the experience. Both as a DJ or a clubber, it really does not matter to me if the punters are straight or gay, young or old, fat or slim