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Steven Paul: My Mr. Clean Wet Dream

Matty Slick-Haxx

 

I have a new favorite person and his name is Steven Paul. Besides being my personal Mr. Clean fantasy incarnate, this guy is also one of the sickest pop DJs on the scene right now. When you first see Steven’s setup, it is nothing short of intimidating. Aside from his massive NI Traktor Kontrol S4, he is rocking a midi-controller to the right of his decks. This, ladies and faggots, is nothing short of pure S-E-X. 

Steven and I had the chance to grab lunch recently and I got to see a whole new side of the man behind the decks. Here is what he had to say about a variety of topics, including his new podcast (CHECK IT OUT HERE! IT'S ILL!!!), the Black Eyed Peas and even a little pillow talk about his downtime:

 

 

Antitwink: I am in love with the intro to your podcast and I have a feeling that was all you. How the hell did you do that?

 

DJ Steven Paul: Thank you, Matty. A few years back I worked for a sound design studio so I thought it would be cool to sound design an intro. Recently, I watched one of my favorite films It's All Gone Pete Tong and it reminded me of the time that I spent in Ibiza, dancing on the Terrace at Space while the planes pass overhead. I thought it would be kind of nice to try and recreate that feeling that I felt for the listeners.

 

What made you want to start a podcast? Are these going to be strictly mixes or will we get a little DJSP commentary every now and then?

 

I really wanted to be able to give people something different with my podcast. For me, it's a fine line between trying to give the boys what they want to hear, which tends to be mainstream pop remixes, and what I think they would really appreciate and grow to love if they gave it a chance. So although a lot of my podcast steers more towards mainstream, I try and drop in artists like Avicii, Swedish House Mafia, Armand Van Helden or Basement Jaxx to really spark up some interest. If you listen with honest ears and not just insist on listening to Britney or Gaga in my podcast, you might just find your musical tastes widening a bit and really grow to love good electronic dance music. I probably won't add commentary anytime soon but will just focus on a set that makes you want to dance and, above all, have fun!

 

What made you start DJing in the first place?

 

I've always had an extreme passion for music. Back in 2000, I decided that one day I would like to DJ so I went out and bought a couple of Technis 1200's (which I sold when I moved into a shoebox apartment and recently bought again in trying to teach myself how to scratch) and started to teach myself how to DJ. It wasn't until I switched over to digital that I started playing out live. The thought of bringing 30-40 records to a gig is crazy to me. Granted having 24,000 songs to a gig is overkill but I do love having options.

 

LMFAO is continuing to stay high on the mainstream charts. What do you think this says about the general population’s feelings towards electronic dance music (EDM) and electronic music in general?

 

I think it's groups like LMFAO that are really changing peoples attitudes towards EDM for the better or for worse I suppose. Now it seems like every other track you hear dropping is an Auto-Tuned pop star jumping on the dance wagon because they know that's what is selling right now. Then you have people like David Guetta who really know how to produce great dance music. Over the past few years, he has jumped into the mainstream by working with artists like Kelly Rowland and the Black Eyed Peas. Blurring the lines between pop and dance music is really what Guetta does best - and it seems to be working for him!

 

I have always thought the Black Eyed Peas’ work tends to be able to stand on its own, it doesn’t need a rework or remix. What are your thoughts?

 

Although the Peas are super commercial, I think will.i.am is a brilliant producer. If you ever listen to his solo album that he dropped a few years back, Songs About Girls, you will find a lot of brilliantly produced records on that album. The Peas' tracks really do tend to stand on their own. Take, for instance, "Don't Stop the Party," which is on my Fusion Podcast Episode 2 - it's the straight track that I decided to mix in because there was no need for a remix. When there are 50-100 both official and unofficial remixes that tend to surface with pop dance songs today, so long as the original is strong, that is what I tend to stick to. But that rarely happens. So in the end, I would say that I agree with you.

 

Of all the divas that have had an album come out this year, which is the best?

 

I don't know if you would consider either one of these gals divas, but I certainly do: I would say that Robyn's Body Talk Trilogy runs a close race with Janelle Monáe's The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III). Both artists are just incredible, bringing something new to the scene, innovative music that is full of heart and soul.  The ArchAndroid, I gotta say, has to be my favorite. Monáe manages to bring together so many musical styles that seamlessly meld into one cohesive brilliant album that you have to listen to it in one sitting from start to finish.

 

Katy Perry is currently tied with Michael Jackson for having five #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 all from the same album. Will she make it six and, if so, with what song?

 

Wow! I didn't know that. I gotta say that I am a bit shocked. I'm not a huge Katy fan but I suppose if I did have to pick one song to make it to #1 it would be "I Kissed a Girl."  Kidding! I don't know. I guess I would say "Circle the Drain"? I don't think that has been out as a single yet, has it?

 

It is already August and there have been no real claims to the Song of the Summer 2011. Who gets your bid, and why?

 

A few weeks ago I called Leona Lewis' "Collide" (a rumored steal of Avicii's "Penguin") the Song of the Summer. But two days ago, I heard a new track from David Guetta that will be on his upcoming album that will surely give "Collide" a run for its money.  "Titanium" featuring Sia is one of the best tracks of Guetta's that I've heard since our beloved ganthem "When Loves Takes Over.” It seems he asked both Mary J. (Blige) and Sia to take a stab at this feel-good beauty. I've heard both and, although Sia's nasal growling tends to get on my nerves a bit, it's absent from this song and her vocals really suit this track. This anthem-worthy song is skillfully produced by Guetta. DJ's can't do it all, so if it gets some radio play soon it could be the Song of Summer 2011.

 

When you aren’t rocking to dance music in your undies around your apartment, what are you listening to? Shock us!

 

When I'm playing out 5-6 nights a week, unless I'm going out the last thing that I want to listen to is dance music. It's usually chill downtempo artists like Zero 7, Janelle Monáe, Federico Aubele, Gorillaz or Radiohead that I gravitate towards. I guess the shocker is that this is not the music that you would think a gay DJ would listen to, but I really appreciate good talented artists, not just mainstream monkeys! I certainly don't want to leave off my favorite duo of all time - the Basement Jaxx - they truly are everything to me!

 

 

You can find Steven Paul spinning Calypso Wednesdays at XVI Lounge, Thursdays at Vlada Bar, Fridays at Bartini, Saturdays at Industry or, if you need a little gay brunch, he tears it up at Elmo Sunday afternoons. Agent Glitterati, over and out!