Nightlife
From Rio to Montreal, DJ Paulo lures dancers to his primal, tribal jungle; appears tonight at House of Blues by Rick Dunn
EDGE Community EditorSaturday Nov 14, 2009 Triple threat DJ/Producer/Remixer DJ Paulo will bring some tribal heat to his Epic Saturdays debut tonight (Nov. 14) at House of Blues, which has established itself as the number one gay Saturday night party in just four weeks since it launched, thanks in part to a stellar line-up of A-list DJs and performers.
"Paulo is definitely the IT Girl of the DJ/Producers," says Epic Saturdays resident DJ Richie LaDue. "Last night my biggest record was one of his private mixes . Lots of tribal and lots of energy. When he comes to town it is definitely a do not miss event."
Produced by Chris Harris Presents and Rafael Sanchez’s Gay Mafia Boston, tonight’s party also features Pacha NY host and performer Anthony Lamont, who hit the dance charts last year with his fiery single "Work That Body (Oh Really)."
Paulo’s appearance follows recent headliners Abel, Tony Moran and Brett Henrichsen, and precedes Chus & Ceballos (Nov. 28) and December spots by Kristine W, Amuka and Rosabel (Ralphi Rosario & Abel).
Paulo, 42, moved to the states from Portugal when he was 10 and later earned his MBA in marketing in Europe before settling in Los Angeles, where he currently holds several DJ residencies. On this coast, he’s a primetime player at Peter Rauhofer’s Work parties alongside Rauhofer and Offer Nissim.
Co-founder of PURE Music Productions, a critically-acclaimed indie record label that has generated dozens of top 10 progressive dance tracks, Paulo has maintained his musical integrity while still managing to be a crowd pleaser.
Heavily influenced by world music and his distinctive style and production work leans to dark, tribal and dramatic. Except for his recent summer gigs in Provincetown, it’s been a very long time since Paulo has spun for a prime-time crowd in Boston, although he did spin earlier this year at Rise after-hours. His House of Blues set will give him the opportunity to flex a few a new muscles the locals have yet to see. He’ll play to the crowd, which will include the debut of his new label-commissioned remix of Whitney Houston’s "I Look to You" and maybe even his much sought-after remix of Britney Spears’ "Toy Soldier," which he stubbornly refuses to leak.
Paulo’s craft approaches a dark eroticism so few ever achieve on the dance-floor it’s the kind of soundscape that makes people want to dance and fuck, but not necessarily in that order. Having achieved the kind of reputation based on talent that one usually has to earn on his knees in front of an A-list promoter, Paulo typically introduces a fresh perspective for events on the wane. Though he’s a Billboard reporter he doesn’t generally pull from the same set list. Yes, some of his chart hits have approached the mainstream, but generally his dark imprint is felt in the seductive grooves of his own private stock mixes, which regularly find their way into sets by Abel, Victor Calderone and Tony Moran.
In the past few years, Paulo has become as ubiquitous at circuit events as bottled water and glow-sticks. He’s taken on the Palm Springs’ White Party, Philadelphia’s Blue Ball, Montreal’s Red Party, Ibiza’s Amnesia, The Saint at Large Black Party in NYC, Alegria, Fire Island’s Dancin’ On The Bay and, of course, Provincetown’s July 4th week.
For those who don’t necessarily understand the craft, what’s the difference between what you do in the booth and a guy that just plays one record after another?
"It’s called 20 years of doing it and getting comfortable with the equipment. From the moment the first beat resonates through the speakers, I am constantly counting and working in my head: What will work with this track? What acappella can I drop here? What key is this on? Sometimes I definitely like to be left alone in my space, but a quick ’hello’ here and there is fine. I spend hours searching for new music, editing music, doing mixes, and remixing mixes to get things to sound the way I’d like them. It’s all part of making my nights special. If I played what the previous weekend’s DJ played, why would anyone go out? I like to give things no one else can deliver."
Would you take off your shirt to market yourself?
"Naw, it should be about the music, not how big my pecs are - even though mine are double Ds. (laughs). It Is always pleasant to look at a nice looking DJ, but if the music isn’t working. Then nothing else will either."
You described your sound as percussive and vocals with a fondness for minor keys. Please elaborate.
"Minor key tracks are sexier to me. They include the Suzanne Palmers. All depends on the party and my mood, though. When I do a big party like I did on Fire Island (Dancin’ On The Bay), I will definitely bring out my "house" repertoire of old school house, filtered disco, and remakes of classics. I do love my percussive tribal beats, though. They’re in my blood."
The IQ of the average DJ is above average. Still, a major problem that I’ve noticed DJs having is boredom. How do you avoid this?
"Boredom? With what? That is one word you will almost never hear coming from my lips. Music is constantly evolving. There is always something I can remix, redo, edit, and play. If and when I get bored, I will turn in my headphones and retire, which won’t be any time soon."
Many circuit DJs complain of being limited because they are stuck in the stereotype of being a circuit DJ. I’ve noticed that your fan base is pretty broad, from straights to circuit boys to the leather community. How do you do it?
"One of the reasons for my success is being able to cater to each crowd. Being a circuit DJ means you are playing for a crowd that is expecting to hear a certain repertoire. I can just as easily play a circuit event as I can an after-hours, something geared towards a mixed club like Stereo in Montreal."
For more go to:DJ Paulo
Check out Paulo’s latest promo set "Shake It, Part 1" at DJ Paulo Pod Cast.
Chris Harris & Rafael Sanchez present ’Epic Saturdays at House of Blues’ with special guest DJ Paulo and Anthony Lamont on Saturday, Nov. 14. Doors at 11 p.m. 21+. For more info go to Chris Harris Presents.
An EDGE Founding Editor, Rick Dunn’s writing has appeared in Bay Windows, The Windy City Times, Washington Blade, among many others. He also initiated The Boston Globe’s very first (and last) gay column, Out & About in 2001. He was the editor of In Newsweekly from 1996 to 2003.
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