Hot Since 82 Speaks On His Long History with Ibiza and the Growth of His Label

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Hot Since 82 Speaks On His Long History with Ibiza and the Growth of His Label

For anyone with an ear in the tech house scene, Hot Since 82 would be a name that is consistently being thrown around.

The British native has continuously made a name for himself, releasing huge track after huge track, and throwing some of the best parties at some of the world’s best clubs. There really is no ceiling for Daley Padley and his musical talents. Stoney Roads were lucky to have an insight into his packed life, learning more about the future of Knee Deep in Sound in 2017 and his own experiences in Ibiza which shaped who he is today. Full interview below:

SR: Hey there Daley it’s Henry from Stoney Roads. How are you doing today?

Hot Since 82 (HS): Very well mate, and yourself?

SR: I’m very well! What’s been on your agenda as of late?

HS: Well last couple of weeks I took a break after I just got back from BPM, and I’m in the studio right now as I’m talking to you. So yeah, just trying to crack on and make some music!

SR: Fantastic. How was BPM? 

HS: Yeah I mean apart from the final day with the shootings and stuff, it was a great festival, but I think it’s going to be gone for good now. Yeah, well, I heard they were going to do something in Portugal as well so, yeah, we’ll see what happens then.

SR: So what day did you end up playing again at BPM?

HS: Well I was meant to be playing on the 5th of January but I had the flu over Christmas so I had to cancel that. But unfortunately I made it out to the closing party, and I played in the jungle. I was just playing some records and then the terror alert came on and told us we “had to get out of there, there’s been an intrusion” so yeah, wasn’t the best BPM that I’ve been to. It was just so unfortunate really.

SR: Jeez, I’m really sorry to hear that. 

HS: Yeah man.

SR: Well let’s look at a positive note then, and crack on with the interview. 

HS: Yeah let’s go man! I’m ready

SR: So in 2015 you made your Cocoon debut at Amnesia, what was that like for you and how do you think that’s impacted your career up until this point?

HS: Yeah well I’ve been a big fan of Sven and Cocoon for however long. I’ve been going to Ibiza for nearly 17 years, I’ve spent many nights in Cocoon on the dancefloor watching Ricardo, Sven, you know Luciano and all those people. So yeah it was a pretty big highlight in my career really, I was a bit surprised that the show came in because sometimes my music is on the fence between underground and a little bit more accessible I guess. But yeah it’s been a nice place where I’ve always been, I can play Cocoon and then go and play another party somewhere else, so yeah it’s always been a really nice environment like that.

SR: So do you think that in terms of being “on the fence”, do you think that’s impacted how you’ve made your music? Or do you think you’ve stuck with the same formula?

HS: Ah nah I mean I’ve always just kind of stuck to my formula. Listen, at the end of the day when you get to the studio it’s just how you’re feeling on that particular time. Generally whenever I’m making some music, it’s kind of for the dancefloor and that kind of stuff so yeah. I think when I start to slow down a little bit and start making an album, that’s when I put a bit more soul into it, but generally it’s just made for dancefloors.

SR: For sure. So with your residency at Pacha last year, did you find it difficult with the controversy and drama that was around Ibiza throughout the year? What were your thoughts on it, if you had any at all?

HS: Do you mean the drama with Space closing and things?

SR: That, and also the raids the occurred throughout the year. 

HS: Oh the raids! Yeah, yeah. I mean listen, I was a bit too far removed from that to see really, but Space, I absolutely love Space. I love playing on the Terrace, it’s where I’ve always felt really comfortable as a DJ. So yeah I was very sad to see it go, I know it’s still gonna be there but the new owners… y’know? I don’t really know about them. And the raids and things like that, every year you go to Ibiza things change, the government are really clamping down on it. It’s a little bit corrupt as well, I don’t want to say too much because I don’t really know too much about it, but that’s something I’ve always enjoyed about Pacha – Pacha has always stayed true to its roots, it’s a great club, they have a certain policy and it’s never changed. And Pacha has come back around in the past few years, it may have dipped a little bit a few years ago, but it’s really really on the up now. We played like three exclusive dates there, and I’ve been given every single week, every Friday, for 5 weeks this year so I’m busy curating that. So I’m looking forward to getting stuck into that. I’m booking the lineups now so, yeah we’ve got a lot of days to fill.

SR: That’s crazy.

HS: Yeah, 21 days in all.

SR: That’s insane – any sneak previews on what you’re booking or is that completely lips sealed at the moment?

HS: Ah, no. Haha, that’s completely private for now. I wish I could tell you but we’ve got 21 days to fill, so booking people that you wanna book is going to be a bit hesitant this time. You know, is it going to be successful, or is it going to be a failure. So yeah gotta get stuck into that before people can start saying they can play three or four shows. But we have pulled a few sneaky ones out of the bag, so that’s exciting. It’s going to take some time to deliver the full two months, so yeah, it’s just taking so much time up (laughs), but it’s going to be worth it.

SR: Fantastic. Well that’s really exciting to hear actually. Especially as you said with Space closing, the government clamping down…

HS: Yeah exactly. So I think there’s quite a bit of a market there at the moment, who don’t quite know what they’re gonna get. Pacha is a beautiful place, and yeah it’s doing well!

SR: So going back to Space, what did you think made it so special?

HS: You need to go way, way back for me. When I first started going, Space was all about a Sunday. So wherever you were on a Saturday you’d go straight through, Space would open at 9am. You’d dance on the open terrace, with all the planes flying over you, the sun was beating down on you, Jumping Ulysses and stuff would be playing. And then you stay there until like lunchtime, and you get a stamp at the door, which lets you go in and out, you go across the road to Bora Bora, then you party on the beach all day until like 9 or 10 o’clock, then with that stamp you go back to Space and stay there until like 6 or 7am. So that’s what it was all about. It was the only place in the world where you could go and just rave until the sun goes up and the sun goes down. And then that got taken away by the new laws in 2007, but it still maintained that original hedonistic kind of Ibiza vibe, and it was one of the oldest clubs as well. So Pepe leaving, kind of, you know, it was one of the few clubs left that had that Ibiza kind of buzz. I’ve played there so many times, and some of my Essential Mixes are from there, and Pepe really was what that vibe was about. So it really is a shame and a big loss to Ibiza but, you know things have to change and things need to move on.

SR: So it literally made clubbing a lifestyle, through that back and forth?

HS: Yeah exactly, people knew exactly what they were getting themselves into. Every vacation that you had to Ibiza you’d always make sure you go to Space, and you’d have the best time, so… yeah. The sound system was good, the DJ’s were good, the door policy was good. It was just a great experience, so yeah it’s a huge loss.

SR: So when you started your label Knee Deep did you expect it to come to the point where it had its own nights at Pacha and in Ibiza? And what first prompted you to create the label?

HS: The emphasis of the label was just to put good music out. I seem to have a good connection with my fans, where people just feel really relaxed as I’m quite a humble person. So people just kept giving me USBs and would say “You know if it’s not good for the label, could you just give me a few tips on production” and those sorts of things. And that’s kind of the emphasis of the label, it’s just grown and grown, until as you said it’s got its name above the door at Pacha now, and I never expected that, nor did I aim for that, it’s just something that’s happened quite naturally. That’s the same with my DJ career as well, it’s all just happened quite naturally, I’ve never forced anything. It’s just been a really really great experience you know, I’ve really enjoyed it.

SR: Well it’s definitely payed off – doing showcases down here in Australia as well. It’s totally worldwide from something that is essentially so humble.

HS: Yeah, it’s been a good few years (laughs).

SR: So for someone who frequents Ibiza so much, what’s some of the craziest things you’ve seen on the island, or some of the best parties you’ve attended?

HS: Back in the day when DC10 first opened, and it was literally just a little hut, we’re talking 2003 here. And phwoar, I was a house DJ when I first went and it was during the ‘minimal explosion’ and I remember thinking, “What it is this music?” And it was Sven and Matthew Dear, and those sorts of guys, yeah it just completely changed my perception on music, I had never heard anything like it. It was just mad. And I kind of just changed my style of music I guess then. I just got really into techno as well. There was nothing like it back in the day especially in Ibiza as well. It’s not the same now, when I go there now I don’t enjoy it anywhere near as much as I used to, it’s still fun, the music’s still amazing, but the sound system has changed now and it isn’t as good, and yeah it’s just not what it used to be. I think things need to change and all, but I think the highlight from Ibiza for me was dancing in the sunshine at Bora Bora, going to Space, and then going to DC on a Monday, you’d be out for three to four days! (laughs).

SR: So going on that notion of the sound not being as loud anymore, do you think that’s a trending theme that’s going around the world at the moment? Seeing as Sankeys closed in Manchester, fabric closed for an extended period of time, the Sydney lockout laws as well. Do you think that’s a trend across the world or do you think it’s just a coincidence at the moment?

HS: I mean it’s just greed at the end of the day. With the growing population there ends up with not enough places for people to live, we have the same problem here in the UK. There’s just so many people around at the moment, and people need real estate to invest and house and build apartments, and that’s what it’s about. They’re trying to suppress our right to enjoy ourselves and have fun on the weekend, and they’re suppressing that in order for them to make money and to build houses and stuff, it’s just the way it is. It’s a really sad story to take away really. To live in a society where people can’t go to express themselves and get away from their daily strifes and all. But that’s what it’s all about, it’s just greed isn’t it, and real estate and money and everything else. It’s a sad story man, but I guess money talks doesn’t it? I mean obviously fabric, they didn’t want to close, but I think government’s really are trying to take away our freedom, but I don’t think they understand the power that societies like fabric and those kinds of places give back to the community I guess.

SR: For sure, I think it’s a bit of a wall, or more the bureaucratic red tape, between government’s and the freedom of culture that dance music can create. 

HS: Yeah and it’s people’s livelihoods. I mean if they shut down a club, it’s something for people to do and to express themselves. There’s a lot of social anxiety I guess around it all. But I mean, fabric is re-opening which is excellent, but Sankeys… The owner of Sankeys is absolutely fuckin’ insane, but that’s a different story altogether. But you know, we should really try and fight to keep these clubs alive,

SR: So can you give us any hints towards the future of Knee Deep and your own career throughout 2017? Will there be many new releases, any kind of tours in place? You already mentioned your new residency at Pacha.

HS: Well yeah with Pacha, we just signed a two-year deal. So I think the next summer is going to be heavily invested in that, I mean Ibiza is the clubbing capital of the world, so it’s very important that I have a very strong presence there – it’s very good for my career as well, and that kind of ricochets worldwide. I’m around a studio a lot at the moment working on music and stuff. But yeah for the next two years it’s sort of heavily focused on the brand and moving things forward, you know fresh new music out and stuff. I’m trying to work with a lot more singers now to evolve my music a little bit more, rather than just continuously putting club records out. I want to make some music that has a bit more longevity rather than a few months up on Beatport or whatever, it does get a bit stale after a while. So yeah I’m just looking for new singers and writers now so, we’ll see how that evolves. But you know generally just taking it as it comes.

SR: Yeah it’s interesting you say that as I feel artists definitely are starting to branch away from the club tools to really give a dynamic approach and showcase their ability to experiment within their own genre. As in, creating listening tracks as opposed to dancefloor ready tracks. And I think that’s what you were explaining there with the addition of new singers, and moving away from the more stale kind of music that you described. 

HS: Yeah exactly. I mean, if you listen to the early 90s sort of dance music, they’re super simple records but the vocals last an entire lifetime don’t they? If you played them on the radio now it would still be popular. So I do like to take that element from there and add it to my music – do something with a bit more soul, and something that can ricochet among crowds a little bit more and stand the test of time. Some of the music I make, and everyone else, is flat out 4×4 dancefloor records, which, y’know I like for a little while, but I wanna make something or collaborate a little bit more.

SR: And finally what are you most looking forward to on your trip back down to Australia? You had a massive tour last year…

HS: I had an amazing time last year! It was really really good, it was the best time that I had ever been out there. The sun was good, the clubs were good, the people were lovely. Some of my best friends live in Sydney and have been there for about the past 8 years, so I only get to see them once a year when I come out to tour, and I love catching up with them as well. So it’s a Catch 22 sort of thing as well – I go out there and play for Sydney and I get to see my friends as well, so it’s a win-win situation.

SR: Well thank you so much for your time Daley, I really appreciate it, I’ve had a great time chatting to you.

HS: Me too mate, thanks so much. Take care!

Catch Hot Since 82 on his Australian tour this February while he takes his Knee Deep label to our shores, hitting Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney respectively. Full dates below along with the promo vid!

Friday 10th February: Habitat, Perth
Knee Deep in Perth with Hot Since 82, Butch, Cristoph and more.
BUY TIX

Saturday 11th February: The Paddock @ Federation Square, Melbourne
Knee Deep in Melbourne with Hot Since 82, Butch, Emanuel Satie, Cristoph and Boogs.
BUY TIX

Sunday 12th February: Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney
Knee Deep in Sydney with Hot Since 82, Jackmaster, Butch, Emanuel Satie and Cristoph.
BUY TIX

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