Pedro Winter is perhaps better known to most as Busy P – a man who most definitely lives up to his name (the ‘Busy’ part that is). He created Ed Banger Records, manages its artists, DJs, dabbles with production and for the better part of the last 12 years managed Daft Punk.

A couple of weeks ago on a cold and grey Paris morning, ITM caught up with an upbeat Pedro ahead of his Australian tour, to talk heavy metal, Chinese massages and quitting his role as the manager of Daft Punk.

How are things in the world of Busy P?

Well I’m here in Paris, the weather, it’s grey and miserable – its not very sexy but you know, I don’t mind, I’m only here until Christmas which is nice because I get to spend time with family and at the office and then – off course – me and Mehdi are off to Australia which is going to be a lot of fun with a lot of sunshine.

You got the name Busy P because you’re always on the go – Managing Ed Banger Records, its artists, international DJ slots and until just recently, you managed Daft Punk. What’s a relaxing day for Busy P?

As I’m traveling all the time and most of my life is on planes they’re the only place I get to chill out – I put my chair back, my iPod on and I just enjoy the gentle rocking. This is where I get my timeout! But also, I get a lot of massages – I live in a Chinese neighbourhood so you can get really nice massages. Sometimes you have to take care of yourself.

Juggling Ed Banger and Daft Punk must’ve been difficult and you recently gave up the role as Daft Punk’s manager. It must have been a big decision – how was that for you and what prompted it?

It was tough decision, but a natural decision. It’s like growing up with you parents – you know – eventually you have to leave home and I had to make that decision; it was time to move on. Ed Banger was starting to move faster and faster and getting bigger and bigger and I had to make a choice. There’s only 24 hour in the day and also you grow and you develop new excitements and passions. But you know, the guys (Daft Punk) wanted some time off – they weren’t touring or doing any music – they wanted to relax a little and they didn’t really need me around either.

With Ed Banger one of the big things that have made it so recognisable other than the music is the artwork. How did you meet and establish your connection with Ed Banger’s visual mastermind SO ME?

Oh you know, actually, I met him about 2 years before I’d created Ed Banger; I met him for some other business I was doing. At the time I was working on an internet site, I bumped into him at a party and he had some little drawings in his bag – he showed them to me and I was like ‘wow man, I like this’, so I invited him to the office the next day, he showed me some more stuff. I said ‘OK I want to work with you’ and we worked on this website.

Was this for the original Ed Banger site?

No, this was in 2001 it was for my management company – before I had the label I had a management company for Daft Punk and others artists. He helped me to do this website and when I was starting the label I said ‘lets work on something’. When I put out the first record I said ‘you are going tot be the art director of the label… you will control the design’; I don’t want to get involved until the end. And I’m supper happy – again a really natural way to make a decision. Since the beginning I’ve being saying the visual stuff will be as important as the music.

Ed Banger’s aesthetic – although dance music – sort of has elements of punk and hip hop as well. Do either of these have an influence over the label and if so, which have had more of an influence on you?

You know, both of these are very strong influences, but if I had to choose I really feel that it’s hip hop. When I play, I’ve always put a lot of hip hop in my sets.

Who’s your favourite rap artist?

If I had to choose one, it would be Ludacris.

Because of the southern thing?

No, I’m so much into southern stuff – I like him because he manages to do dirty south but in a more straightforward rap style; but actually, I’m more into metal. My background is metal and rock – my passion is heavy metal.

Yeah, like Metalica and Pantera?

Yeah, of course, I love Metalica; Pantera as well, but I’m a Metalica head – they are my favourite band.

OK. What about Sepultura?

Oh, you know, its funny, I’m not that into Sepultura but I was lucky enough to meet them. I was in Brazil and I met the band and Igor Cavelara. They’re brilliant – really great guys and its funny you know, because they’re really big into the Ed Banger sound, electro and stuff like this.

Catch Busy P getting loud with DJ Mehdi at the following shows…

December 31st – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
January 1st – Field Day, Sydney
January 1st – Summadayze, Melbourne
January 3rd – Summafieldayze, Brisbane
January 4th – Summadayze, Perth
January 9th – Lot 33, Canberra

For more info on all the party action happening over summer, check out ITM’s Festival Pages for more news, features, clips and DJ mixes that you could possibly ever hope for!