DJ, producer, manager, label owner, party host....French workaholic Busy P (Pedro Winter) sure lives up to his title. We spoke to him about how he balances running a record label, discovering Justice and exactly what he'll be doing as "host" of Parklife in October.
Hey Pedro, Nick here from the Vine. How are you doing?
Hello Nick how are you? I am doing super-dooper fine.
How are the interviews going?
Yeah, so far so good you know. It's 10:15. I have been up for 45 minutes now.
I'll try not to keep you for too long.
Oh, no no, it's fine! I'm not doing this every day so you know I take interviews as an experience!
You're the owner and founder of Ed Banger records - you're also a producer, a manager and a touring DJ. Is it a challenge to divide up your time each day?
I don't really divide it, it's more like a mix of all those jobs that I like to do that make me happy and force me to wake up in the morning. If I was only a DJ I would be sad - if I was only a label manager I would be sad - and not to be able to party hard at night would make me sad, so the whole mix of all those activities keeps me awake and happy, you know?
What's keeping you the busiest right now?
Of course my label. Ed Banger records is definitely the main thing at the moment. I've been working on some important albums for us. For the last couple of years Ed Banger has been only about Justice and the success of this band and now I'm focusing on some other artists that I signed a long time ago which are Uffie and Sebastian who are both going to release their first albums soon I hope. Lately I've been spending time with them in the studio, working on their videos and art work which is really exciting. We've also just finished a project yesterday which is a remix compilation that we're going to put out in September. So yeah, Ed Banger Records is definitely the thing that keeps me the most busy right now, and of course my DJ sets all around the world and every weekend are keeping me really busy, but I don't really take them as a job.
The label is 6 and half years old now. What are the most significant hi and low points in this time?
There's been a lot of high points to be honest - a band like Justice who I found in their bedrooms, eating cheese and being nerds on computers then becoming rockstars is definitely the highlight of this adventure. Me being invited back to Australia is a highlight of my personal life, it means that people are following us and this is exactly what I dreamed about. The lows would be more like on the business side of things, but you know, I'm still running my label like the good old days. We aren't selling millions of records yet, but I'm still dreaming about it and doing my best to spread out music to the masses.
You mentioned Justice as a high point, who had phenomenal success with the "Cross" album - did that immediate success surprise you?
Of course it surprised me! Of course, of course, of couse, I mean no one can predict that. My dream for me, after we recorded the album , I told the boys I'm going to do my best to sell 100,000 albums - we sold 400, 000. It was the same with Daft Punk - a surprise.
You have 14 acts signed to the label now.
You know what, it's silly because I never really counted them - some are working out, some are being a bit more lazy. What I am happy with lately is a new guy I've signed called Break Bot from Paris, his most amazing stuff lately is a Metronomy remix. He going to add a more poppy vibe to Ed Banger. I'd like to try and present a more middle sound now, for the last couple of years we've been a noisy electro and crazy stuff and now I think it's a time to clamp down a little bit.
Your Ed Banger parties have received a lot of attention since their conception - how important do you feel these parties are as a medium for your brand of music?
I think our parties are as important as any live show. They're a way for our fans to come and see us and experience a crazy moment. For me, I'm pushing myself and all my bands to give the best they can on stage. I hate boring DJ's, I like it when something is happening in the DJ booth.
I find with a lot of electronic music the DJs take themselves too seriously, but Ed Banger parties seem like they're a whole lot of fun?
Exactly. This is the idea you know, kids have tickets to get in, to get drunk and to party - if they were just watching boring DJ's it would not work. My plan when hosting Parklife is to create a link between the audience and the stage. Partying is not only on the dance floor, it's on the stage too.
A petition was started on Facebook after your last Australian tour to get you back for the 2009 Parklife. Not only were you asked back, but like you said, you are also the host - that must be a great feeling?
Yeah absolutely. When they sent me the link I signed it, now more than 1000 kids have signed it, you know, it's pretty sexy. Im really happy, it's going to be my fourth time in Australia, something is happening between Ed Banger and Australians, and I'm really happy to be coming back.
Is there anyone in particular you're looking forward to checking out at Parklife?
I'm excited to see the Cool Kids, also I'm excited to see Empire of the Sun, as I understand it's their first live shows down there - I want to see what Claud Von Stroke is doing lately, I really like his label, even though it is very different from Ed Banger I like his sound. Metronomy are also amazing live.
And what can we expect from Busy P?
Definitely something different from what I've been doing lately, I'm trying to go a bit more deep in sound, a bit more techno - it will still be banging, I'm hoping to go a bit more mental
Nick Holt
PARKLIFE 2009
Saturday 26th September: Botanic Gardens and Riverstage, BRISBANE
Sunday 27th September (Long Weekend): Wellington Square, PERTH
Saturday 3rd October Birrarung Marr, MELBOURNE
Sunday 4th October (Long Weekend) Kippax Lake, Moore Park, SYDNEY
Monday 5th October (Long Weekend) Botanic Park, ADELAIDE
www.parklife.com.au