Paul Chambers: The Interview

Paul Chambers: The Interview

03 September, 2010
by: Robertswaine86

Rob Swaine catches up with Soulwax tour DJ Paul Chambers.

Fast-emerging Belgian techno talent Paul Chambers has been on tour with Soulwax for the past two years and is certainly no stranger to a massive party. Having played alongside some massive dance titans including Justice, Tiga, Erol Alkan, Boys Noize, Mixhell, and of course 2 Many DJs, his sets ooze with experience and panache. His latest single ‘Yeah Techno’, is a real dancefloor masterpiece. It’s been doing the rounds on YouTube since the end of last year, stirring up some serious support before its final release at the end of May not so long ago.

Paul ever so kindly took some time out of his tour preparation to answer a few overbearing questions that we just had to get off our chests:
 
So 'Yeah, Techno!' has finally been released. When you were writing the track, did you know you were onto such a big tune?
 
I knew I was on to something which had potential. But I didn’t realise it was going to be this big. Before I finished it I must have made 10 different versions until I got it right.

The remix package is also very impressive, with remixes from Beatacue and Soulwax. In an ideal world, who would you get to remix one of your songs?

LFO is very high on my list. But this is a long list, and my track list is very long too. I should probably make a connect the dots puzzle for myself to get a visual representation of this monster.

You're most well known for your live sets as well as your DJ sets – what's involved in a Paul Chambers 'live' set?

My goal is to get as much sweet sounding equipment on stage that I can
control with two hands and one brain to create the sound that I love. The set constantly changes as I get bored of playing the same thing over and over again, but I designed it that way so it works really well.

Do you prefer DJing or performing live?

I love both equally but a live set feels more unique. DJing is easier to do for me because you play other people’s music. My live set requires a lot more work because I have to keep it up to date with new music. And of course traveling with all the equipment is more work too. But in the end I think a balance between the two is what I like best.

You've spent the last two years on tour with Soulwax as their support DJ. Has it been fun? Are there any highlights that stick out?

One thing I?ll never forget is playing in Paris in a smaller room. It was a bit empty when I started but after 15 minutes it got so packed that when I had finished my set I couldn?t get out of the room to get backstage. I had to stand there and wait until the bouncers could get to me and help me carry my equipment above their heads through the crowd. Really crazy.

How did you get involved with Soulwax?

We met when they were working on ?Part of the Weekend Never Dies?. As they were moving their project to Belgium to do the editing and post-production we got introduced by the production house. I did all the post-production and colour grading of the movie at their studio in Ghent and at my house, so that?s how we became friends. I never really gave them any music until I made ?Yeah, Techno!?. It just felt right.

How does it feel to have support from some of the biggest names in the business, Erol Alkan, Boys Noize and the 2 Many DJs brothers?

I couldn?t ask for more. They are all really nice people and it feels good to be able to get advice from people who really know what they are talking about.

What's in the pipeline for Paul Chambers?

So many things I can only hope they will all get done in time. A couple of remixes, a release in the UK, a release in Japan, a guest mix for the upcoming online Radio Soulwax, then some top secret stuff and of course a lot of gigs.

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Robertswaine86