Gold Panda follows up You with dates across the globe this summer, we chat with the elusive character who is fast becoming a rising star
Gold Panda a.k.a. Derwin is a 28-year-old from Chelmsford who last year was able to quit his job (in a sex shop) after being paid £500 to remix Bloc Party. Since then he’s built a name for himself remixing the likes of Telepathe, HEALTH and Lemonade alongside hit tracks on the global blogosphere, with last year's ‘Quitter’s Raga’ instantly springing to mind. Last year's success looks to turn into this year’s world domination as he plays a string of global dates throughout 2010. He's currently promoting subliminal 7”, ‘You’, a track which blends The Fields' blissed-out glitch beats with Four Tet's off-kilter electronic timing. We caught up with him in the midst of it all.
Check out You below if you don't believe us.
You by Gold Panda
What is Gold Panda’s musical history?
I started sampling my dad's record collection after my uncle gave me an Akai sampler when I was 15. I've stuck with using Akais ever since and I've just become more interested in making melodies with the samples.
You’ve already been out touring with Caribou this year. How was that?
It was pretty amazing – sold out shows pretty much every night around Europe. The response I got opening the shows was great, especially from a crowd who probably didn't even know who I was. Plus I got to see Caribou! Seeing them recreate 'Swim' live is incredible.
And you’re just about to head over to the US with HEALTH.
Yeah, I've never been to the States. I really want to see a yellow school bus and buy a big gulp. I want to order free refills of coffee in a diner served by a blonde waitress chewing gum and calling me 'honey'. I'm a big fan of HEALTH so it’s going to be great hanging out.
What music do you listen to in your spare time?
I listen to lots of hip hop and R&B. Anything on Raster-Noton or 12K. I'm really into this guy called 'Actress' at the moment; everything he does is just incredible.
And what's your ideal night out?
Hmmm, ideal night out? Going across the road to buy a bar of chocolate, coming home and making a track and drinking tea. Playing Street Fighter or watching films.
It seems obvious you don’t sit down and string a few chords together. How do you approach sculpting your tracks?
I usually sample a sound off a record or maybe mess around on a Casio until I get a nice loop going and then I build around that. It’s those first 5 minutes where you can usually tell if a track is going to work or not. Once I've got a nice loop I usually listen to it on repeat for a couple of hours. Drink a few cups of tea and slowly add bits.
Rumour has it you’re quite taken with Japanese culture. What’s the draw?
I saw Akira when I was maybe 15 or 16 and just got more and more interested in all things Japanese.
How do you feel it affects you?
When I visit Japan I just feel really inspired. It sounds cheesy but maybe it’s this spiritual feeling or something. Tokyo is a lonely place, like London. I try to put that feeling of loneliness that I feel in cities into my music somehow.
You once sold your entire record collection to go out there. That must have been difficult given the sample-based nature of your music?
I sold it to pay for a Japanese diploma. Now I speak, read and write Japanese at a fairly OK level, I guess. The records I sample are all cheap or from charity shops / bargain bins so they were worthless. I sold my proper collection of vinyl. There was no choice – I really wanted to learn Japanese.
So, Jackie Chan or Pikachu?
Steven Seagal.
Tamagotchi or Game Boy?
Game Boy.
Instrument of choice?
The Hawaiian Nose Flute.
You’re self releasing your 'Companion' LP in Japan – what’s the thoughts behind self-releasing out there?
Actually it’s being released through Avex Trax, probably the biggest label in Japan. I'm label mates with Ayumi Hamasaki which is pretty cool.
Oops, my bad! You’ve been busy releasing a plethora of EPs over the last year. That’s quite a back catalogue already.
The best tracks are usually made in a day or two, stuff that I slave over turns out shit. But then I guess it takes time to build up the good tracks and filter out the shit ones. I'm making tracks all the time – it’s my hobby.
A lot of electronica acts can seem a little hidden behind a laptop as a live show. How have you adapted yours to gain such rapturous reviews?
I have no idea. I have an MPC triggering sounds in a laptop. I have FX and a loop pedal. I don't really like playing live to be honest, I find it really tough being up there with all these people looking at me. I want to get rid of the laptop simply because I'm worried that I will break it on tour. As an audience member though, I don't see the problem with laptop sets. If I like the music and I like the artist then I'll go to see them live. It's loud, it sounds great, you see them there playing away. It’s good. Get over it, mate!
Gold Panda plays this weekends The Great Escape festival in Brighton, before returning from the US to play the Blogger's Delight Stage at Field Day in July. He is also set to play this years Underage Festival and has just been added to the bill for Delicatessen at Matter.
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