Q&A: PATRICE SCOTT

One man ready to tackle a dance music album is Patrice Scott. While many producers prefer to take refuge within the safer, more compact realm of the EP, the Detroit producer relishes the challenge on 'Euphonium, The Album'. Obviously, he's picked his moment. 

Eight years since he set up Sistrum Recordings and 11 EPs later, we finally have his first album, and it's been well worth the wait. An indigo planet washed with deep, cosmic shades and astral textures, it's an absorbing listen throughout and there is a genuine sense he feels totally at ease with the LP formula. After all, he is a man of immense experience, so we wanted to hear a few stories...

Remember your first club experience? Tell us about it...
“My first club experience was actually not a club but a party in someone's backyard that was given by a local Detroit organization by the name of Charivari. The DJs were local Detroit guys who played electronic music and they called themselves Direct Drive.

They were playing music, which was considered the beginning of the house music era. At this time I wanted to be a DJ but I was not familiar with this kind of music. This experience made me want to play electronic dance music, not the common everyday music that was being played on the radio.”

What's the most crucial record of all-time?
“The most crucial dance record of all time is Lil Louis' 'French Kiss'. Not only because it was a well-produced, amazing piece of work but also because of the fact that this track was a crossover pop hit as well. To have an underground track get charted on the Billboard charts is an amazing accomplishment.”

Three tunes that never leave your bag...
“I have to be honest and say that there are never three tunes that always stay in my bag. There are a lot of great tracks that I love, but because of the fact that there are so many I always feel that I have to rotate my records for DJ sets.

If the same records stay in my bag for too long I get bored and that is not fair to my audience. I like to feel excited and enthused when I play, and part of that happens by not playing the same records all the time.”

What's your lights-up, end-of-the-night tune?
“I have many lights-up, end-of-the-night tunes but one of my favourites is a track by Larry Heard titled 'Changes'. This is the perfect come down after reaching many peaks and valleys for three or more hours.”

If you could meet anyone — alive or dead — who would it be?
“If I could meet anyone it would be Ron Hardy. Ron Hardy is one of my musical idols and I would love to pick his brain about what made him tick and why he chose to do what he did when he DJed and produced music. I am curious to know what influenced him and made him want to contribute to the music scene.”

Imagine the world's gonna end tomorrow, what you gonna do tonight?
“If the world were going to end tomorrow I would go sky-diving. That is a sport I always wanted to try but I have never had the guts and nerves to do it. If the world was going to end then it would not matter much if I was safe or not after taking that dive (laughs).”

Describe what you imagine clubbing to be like in the year 3000...
“Clubbing in the year 3000 will be on other planets and DJs will perform from their homes or some other remote places. DJs will not have to be flown into a city to perform.

They will perform via Skype or some other type of media service. DJs will then be able to perform at more than one venue at the same time and because of that DJing will be more lucrative than being a professional athlete.”