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 “I have never had any confidence crisis or wanted to quit being a DJ. You don’t become a great DJ if you are not confident.
You need to believe in yourself and be positive and confident to succeed in DJing- as with anything you do in life.”
Tech/ house DJ Anthony Pappa started his musical career learning classical drums before winning Australia's DMC Mixing championships aged 15 and 15 years on remains one of the most popular travelling international DJs. Chatting to Skrufff several years ago the London based spinner admitted he yearned to return to Australia one day to start a family with his girlfriend though four years on, he admits his circumstances have changed. “I still want to eventually move back to Australia and have a family because in my opinion Australia is the greatest country in the world. My family and friends are in Australia so l will eventually settle there as well,” says Anthony, “But as far as the girlfriend is concerned l am currently single and have no kids. I have no wife and no girlfriend and, therefore, no problems.” Relationship issues aside, he’s chatting to Skrufff today to promote his new label Red Light Recordings, named by his partner Neil Evans he points out, rather than as some cheeky homage to worldwide hooker zones he’s visited. “Sorry to disappoint you, but l have never been to Pat Pong’ he laughs, “I have been to the Red Light District in Amsterdam but it was only a brief walk through it to see what it is like, as a tourist would do when visiting Amsterdam.” He’s also carrying out interviews to promote his upcoming compilation Moments, his first for several years following earlier massively successful compilations for Global Underground and Renaissance. Moments (coming out on Hi-Note on April 7) is a triple CD of sorts, including physical discs and access to an online third mix for purchasers only. “The idea of the album being a triple CD is that the release in the shop is a double CD and the third disc is a free download bonus disc,” he explains. “These days so many people get their music from the internet or sometimes just copy the album from someone who has the album. For the people who like what l do and make the effort to buy the release then they get an extra disc for free. It’s my way of saying ‘thank you’ and giving them something back.”
Skrufff (Jonty Skrufff): You've released quite a few compilations over the years: do you have a formula, or a tried and tested method nowadays for doing them?
Anthony Pappa: “I don’t have a formula for each album because l want every album l do to be as original and different as it can be based on the sounds and music at that time. For me the actual physical process of mixing the CD and creating the journey is something that comes to me quite naturally. The most important and very time consuming aspect is the research of the music that you need to listen to for the album. You get sent so much music when the word gets out the you are compiling a mix CD which is great but it does become a chore at some point when you spend days and days sifting through the crap to find the gems. But that’s what it’s all about and it’s all worth it when you find that special tune that stands out from the others.” Skrufff: When you did the Global Underground CD it catapulted you to a different level: how much do compilations still have the same potential power? Anthony Pappa: “They will always help the DJ to either make it into the scene and for the DJs that are already established it helps them to continue their name in the public eyes (and ears) which keeps it all going. If people do not see your name or hear you they may start to either forget or not know what you are up.” Skrufff: How much has the music business game changed in the last 12 months: how much are record releases now about getting gigs? Anthony Pappa: “The main thing that has changed and is still changing all the time is the way we receive music. Downloading your music from the internet is pretty much taking over the way people purchase and receive music. The I-pod has become the way that most people choose to use. It will not be long before all DJs will eend up playing mp3 or WAV files at gigs.” Skrufff: How much is it now about promoting 'Anthony Pappa': the brand? Anthony Pappa: “It is very important these days to promote your name as a DJ in as many ways as possible. Just playing DJ sets is not enough to keep a strong name. The more that you can do on and off the decks the better it will be for your name and career.” Skrufff: Has that translated to how you present yourself when DJing? Anthony Pappa: “You need to be able to be a great performer. If people are watching you DJ or looking up to you it is important that you are professional in every way. You need to do well in all aspects as a person and as an artist mixing tunes and DJing. I think that it is equally important that you are approachable and that you can talk to people and have no attitude or ego. You have to have the time for them because they are the reason that you have a job and that you can be earning a living as a DJ.” Skrufff: I never knew you were a classically trained drummer: what did classical drum training entail exactly; are there different grades like for learning piano? Anthony Pappa: “I worked extremely hard as a young kid to learn how to be a great drummer. Before l started DJing my goal in life was to become a top drummer and play with the best bands and tour the world doing concerts with the band. I had already decided what l wanted to be right from the start and l was very dedicated and focussed on my dreams. My parents never pushed me to work on my goal it was something that l was going for myself and l was extremely focused without being told what to do. There is no grading system with the drums as there is with pianos. I studied how to read and write drum music as well as playing it.” Skrufff: Writing about the 'whingeing pom' 5 years ago the Sydney Morning Herald said 'Increasingly, the English do not like themselves much. Long used to decrying their weather as appalling, they now see themselves as drab, a country of naysayers and jobsworths who can barely screw in a lightbulb': now that you've been here a few years, how much do you think there are elements of truth in that? Anthony Pappa: “There is some truth to the way the English do go on and moan about things but l don’t think that it is as bad today as it used to be.” Skrufff: It also said in the same article 'Australians by contrast, seem so positive. Even our grating accent is acceptable... ": how much has being an Australian been an advantage? Or a hindrance: have you ever encountered prejudice?) Anthony Pappa: “Australians definitely have a stronger and more positive energy compared to the English and l believe that the reason for this is due to Australia having a great way of life and sunny climate. Ozzies are generally happier people because of the way we live and the fact that our country is so great. I think that Australians try harder than other countries because we feel that we need to put ourselves on the international map and compete with the bigger named cities for example; Milan, London, New York, Paris and Tokyo are seen to be the movers and shakers of fashion, music, food movies or whatever it may be and Australians want to be able to compete or live up too the reputations of these places when in fact most of the times we are a lot better then the lot of them. I have never encountered any prejudice as an Australian.” Skrufff: Have you spent much time in Italy? Do you feel a connection or special empathy with Italians? Anthony Pappa: “I go to Italy to DJ on a regular basis. I have played in most of the major cities and the club scene in Italy is excellent. I do feel a special connection with Italy because both of my parents are Italian and l have Italian blood. I also have an Italian passport along side my Australian passport. I am an Ozzie with Italian blood and influence and that is great as far as l am concerned. I also speak Italian and it is nice to be able to speak another language. It has helped me communicate with Italians and even Spanish people when l travel.” Skrufff: Does it get easier to live the life of an international DJ as years go by (or harder)? Anthony Pappa: “It doesn’t really get easier or harder. You learn to adapt to the lifestyle and you start to get used to it. All of the travelling is the most difficult part of DJing. I take over 200 flights a year travelling to gigs but its all part of the job and thank God l love my job because it can get very tiring if you let it get to you. When l get to whatever country l am playing in it is all rewarding when you play to the crowd and make them all happy with your music.” Skrufff: What have been some of your peak moments? Anthony Pappa: “The peak moment for me is doing what l love doing on a weekly basis. I am living my dream and that for me is 100% rewarding. I know that l am very fortunate to be able to DJ around the world and make a living out of it and l don’t take it for granted. Skrufff: And the worst moments? Anthony Pappa: “The worst moments for me is when your luggage goes missing or does not make it your destination and then it can be a hassle having to play when you have no music with you and you need to borrow tunes from the local DJ or if you have enough time before the gig start burning CDs to play at the gig. At least these days with laptops and mp3’s and technology being so advanced its not such a major issue. Back in the vinyl days when your record box went missing it was a real nightmare.” Anthony Pappa: Moments: is out on Hi-Note April 7. http://www.myspace.com/anthonypappa Article by Jonty Skrufff (Skrufff.com) Subscribe to Skrufff music newsletter at www.Skrufff.com |
