A respected figure in the music community, Pete Tong has been hard at work to bring dance music to the masses since he first began working in radio during the early 80s. Over 20 years on and he’s still at the top of his game, presenting the top rating Essential Selection program on BBC’s Radio 1. Fresh from the Miami Winter Music Conference, Tong has a swag of new music that he’s decided to profile on his brand new CD Essential Selection. ITM’s i_have_ADD tracked him down for a quick chat.
From past interviews and press I’ve read you are very open about playing ‘big tracks’, as DJing for you is about entertaining the crowd and listener. How important do you think it is to keep the audience as your first priority?
My point isn’t so much about playing big tracks as pointing out that as a DJ we are meant to entertain!
Do you think some of the problems faced by the dance scene and club land stem from DJs not keeping their listeners in mind and maybe becoming a little too self indulgent?
To a certain extent, but the same goes for the record labels and the clubs. Everyone became a little complacent and the size of the business put huge pressure on the labels to go for the lowest common denominator.
Do you have a personal favourite Essential Mix from 2002?
I liked too many – choosing one would be unfair!
Is there any one quality or aspect that you look for when listening to new music?
Originality and the ability to move me, to make me stop in my tracks and go FUCK! Blur’s new single did that!
Having so many good quality tunes to choose from, how hard was it to narrow down what tracks featured on your Essential Selection CD?
A lot of searching but the cream generally rises to the top in my opinion!
Did you approach the Essential Selection CD any differently to past mixes or releases?
Certainly, I had total freedom on this one and no responsibility to a TV advertising campaign. It won’t sell as many as past CDs, but it will be more cherished by those that do find it!
You would have recently returned from the Winter Music Conference, how was it and what did you see and hear that sparked your interest?
Had a great time, the nightlife and daylife on offer was remarkable, almost too much going on. I respect Deisel for having the balls to put Metro Area on live at their party!
In hindsight are there any Essential New Tunes that you regret selecting?
None come to mind right now but there will always be a few every year that are not exactly ‘classics’!
You’ve been working within the industry for quite some time. How have you seen the music industry as a whole change its attitude to dance music over your time involved?
The record business has changed beyond recognition from the one I joined as a kid in 1983… A new era beckons but nobody yet has quite worked out the formula. Right now it’s difficult to run any sort of label.
There is no denying that there are worthwhile benefits that come with the commercialisation of dance music. What do you personally see as the positive and negative aspects of this commercialisation?
Commercialisation bought the music to the masses but it also burnt it out fast. You are then left with an infrastructure that needs feeding… That’s when the creativity and the sexiness goes out the window. We are heading into a new era now.
As someone who holds a somewhat powerful position within the music scene, where do you see dance music heading in 2003 and beyond?
I don’t think about power – you said that not me – I just want to play great music and help those that make it to get a little further down life’s road with a smile on their face! I’d also like to be involved in some quality club nights – that’s why I’m doing Pure Pacha every Friday in Ibiza this season.
Pete Tong’s Essential Selection CD is out now through Stomp.
