spotlight
There are DJs and then there are DJs. Paul Oak-
enfold is the cream of the crop all over the world
because of his creative love for music of all kinds.
Currently the resident DJ at the Palms Casino in
Las Vegas, Oakenfold took a few minutes out of his
hectic schedule to speak with The Rage Monthly
about his whirlwind career, his personal prefer-
ences in playing music and his upcoming summer
vacation with Madonna. Well, even though it’s
really work and not a vacation…I’m sure Paul
Oakenfold will definitely have some fun at the
same time. Before he hits the road touring with
Madonna, catch a performance poolside at Har-
rah’s Rincon Casino on April 17.
Oakenfold recently played at the Sydney Mardi Gras. Once again, his per-
formance garnered rave reviews from critics and fans alike. One thing about
Oakenfold…he knows how to put on a show and really enjoy himself. He said of
the experience in Sydney, “It was really wonderful. It was a gig I always wanted to
play and they were up for it. They were surely up for it! It was my first time there for
Mardi Gras.”
Looking back on his long career as a DJ, Oakenfold shares just what got him into
this business in the first place. “I just liked the idea of playing ALL kinds of music. I
was in a band and we were crap (laughter) and we kind of fell apart. I thought, how
else could I play music? I liked the idea of a DJ and constantly playing new music.”
Oakenfold’s energy and drive in his field has taken him to numerous places
around the globe. Was there one location that was perhaps the most exotic place
where he has performed? “Outside of the clubs or festivals… I played on the Great
Wall in China; I played at the Hollywood Bowl. Twice I’ve done the Hollywood Bowl
and sold-out twice. I think those two are the most out-of-the-box. I also played at
The Pops with the Boston Philharmonic with a 75-piece orchestra. It’s a very old,
traditional venue where people are sitting down. That’s the weirdest thing. I took
all my own material and sat down with an orchestrator and a conductor. I would
play the rhythms and they would do all the arranging. Those are probably the
three most interesting places.”
For someone who has racked up a large amount of frequent flyer miles over
the course of the past fifteen years, Paul Oakenfold is proud to now have a club
residence in Las Vegas. He explains, “I’m resident at Planet Perfecto in the Palms
Casino every Saturday night. It’s great! I play from 1:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. We had
3,500 people last Saturday. It’s working out really well. We work very hard at it.”
There will be a few Saturday nights that Oakenfold will be missing at Planet
Perfecto though. “I’m going on tour with Madonna for two months. I’m very lucky
that she’s chosen me. We’ll be in St. Petersburg, Barcelona, London and Paris…
I play one hour before she goes on. They are all stadium shows with between
65,000 and 80,000 people a show.”
One of the more basic questions for any DJ is what format of media he or she
uses. Whether it is vinyl, CD or digital, it’s a personal preference. Oakenfold shares
his thoughts on this, “I use CD still. I moved from vinyl to CD purely because of the
access to the music. I certainly love vinyl. I don’t use digital…it looks like you’re
64 RAGE monthly | APRIL 2009
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