Taken under the wing of Peach legend Graham Gold in his young teens, Essex based Paul King aka PK had something of a prized education in clubbing circles. From being lead to Golden Graham's biggest gigs to eventually becoming a firm resident at the not forgotten London weekly Peach, Paul learnt to appreciate and play across a range of styles from funky house and old skool classics to euphoric trance and dirty electro. Since donning his trademark multi-angled hair piece, Paul might be a generation apart from Gold and possess approximately six heads more hair but his growing profile has proved that he inherited much from his one time mentor. Now in his twenties, the ability to play to the crowd, so often displayed through Gold's anthemic populist selections at Peach, is something the ascendant King prides himself on, never afraid to turn his sets on their head to trigger reaction and always willing to play across the full range of the dance spectrum. In short, he is a genuine clubber's DJ. Since his enduring relationship with Peach he has gone on to cement regular appearances at Billy Bunter's Tasty, old skool heavyweights Raindance and celebrated Turnmills weekly The Gallery, as well an venturing in the studio with none other than former Peach cohort and JDS producer Darren Pearce.

Hi first of all, PK… if my memory serves me right, it was classic chewing gum brand wasn’t it? How did you first acquire this name? Is it something sensibly obvious like your initials or is there a funny story behind it?

To be honest, I was Djing for a number of years as DJ King (after my surname) – but when I turned 15 I thought the name a bit ‘immature’ and just used my initials.

PK was a classic chewing gum (although everyone says ‘like the crisps’ – no, that’s KP). Last weekend a friend of mine actually found a jar of PK herrings! Yuk!

You brought in 2006 by playing a marathon set at the Hard Rock café in the exotic location of Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh. Alright for some eh? How did you manage to swindle that little jolly then?! How would you describe the experience?

It was absolutely amazing! Hard Rock were looking for an English DJ that played a variety of styles as their crowd is international (mostly English, Italian and Russian). Anyway, they got in touch with a London music agency and a guy called Andy had heard me a coupe of times and got in touch.

The experience was really good – they put us up in the Radisson out there which is a 5* and absolutely beautiful. The people are so friendly and courteous and everything is so clean – it’s not as tacky as some of the Spanish holiday destinations, and although it’s touristy, it’s not completely spoilt.

I must admit, it was a bit weird seeing a 4metre high picture of me outside on a billboard! HRC is right in the middle of Naema Bay, so I was getting recognized a fair bit and having to sign stuff and have pictures taken. It was surreal.

Have you taken your DJ skills to more exotic lands on any other occasions and what differences have you noticed from nation to nation? Any amusing anecdotes to report?

I actually lived in Majorca for a summer season and was playing 3-hour sets every night at one of the Island’s biggest clubs. Every night got very messy as I had an unlimited bar tab, so pretty much lived on Vodka!

Some of the Spanish club owners booked me to play their private afterparties. The international guest DJs from BCM would always be there – it was nerve-racking playing 3-4 hour sets and having people like David Morales on the dancefloor.

When I played BCM, I ended up following Jeremy Healy (an idol of mine at the time) and he finished with Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Something”. I was 17 years old thinking “how the fuck can I follow this!?!?”

One of the experiences that sticks out was having to run from the Spanish Civil Guard and Police, and then having to avoid our apartment for a week! After a particularly heavy session we’d locked ourselves out. It was 7am and we’d been on it for about 12 hours. We tried to break in to the apartment a few doors down so we could climb over their balcony and get onto hours. My friend opened the door and slowly tip-toed in. Within seconds he ran out - chased by a naked Spanish guy brandishing a meat cleaver!!!

From being tipped by Graham Gold as one of London’s most exciting DJs you went on to become a firm Peach favorite during its short reign at Studio 33, which has now become Hidden. How did you first come into contact with the enduring Peach founder and were you one of the original ‘peachyravers’?

I was 13 years old and on holiday, and walked past a guy wearing a bandana talking about how crap the cheesy disc jocky was. I asked him “how do you know about Djing then?”, “I know a bit about music” he replied, so I told him about what I did as a DJ, and explained what ‘mixing’ was.
He chuckled and said he already knew a bit about it and actually played at some clubs himself.
“well, I’m doing work experience with Graham Gold!” I proudly announced.
“I am Graham Gold” he replied, and hadn’t a clue what I was on about!!!

After a bit of explaining, we sorted out work experience, and went and stayed with Graham and his girlfriend for around a month, going to clubs every night and the like. It was really great; I wasn’t a tea boy, he took me to every meeting, every radio show, it was awesome.

After every gig Graham would explain how he read the crowd, why he played certain records, why he made time for people, reasons for taking certain gigs – I learned so much.

I started going to peach at it’s last night at Legends. Since then I’ve been at the opening and closing party at every club it’s been at (Café de Paris, Leisure Lounge, Camden Palace & Studio 33). I don’t think many of today’s peachy people experienced it pre-Camden, but it was awesome in different ways at each and every venue.

What other London clubs were most influential in shaping your musical tastes and were there any other events that used to stir the same excitement as Peach?

For me, Peach was always my favorite night. There were loads of great underground parties and lots of exciting things happening in the early days.

I still miss Freedom at Bagleys too (before they let UK Garage in there). You could turn up any given Saturday and knew it was going to be awesome, it didn’t matter who was on the flyer. I think many clubs nowadays rely too much on hype and the number of DJs on the bill – places like Freedom and Peach had great resident DJs with decent set lengths that made the product brilliant every time. When I did my own event ‘PK Presents’ at Turnmills, every DJ had at least 90minutes.

I loved Cream at Nation back in the day, and Oakey’s last night as resident is one of my all-time favorite clubbing moments. Godskitchen was awesome at The Sanctuary in Birmingham.

My fave non-London promotion is Passion at The Emporium in Coalville. I love the music in both rooms, love the DJs, and love the club. That’s one of my personal goals for 2006 – to play at Passion.

Your name has since spread like wildfire to guest at events as varied and respected as The Gallery, Tasty and Frantic. What do you think has been the biggest factor to your success?

To be honest, I love what I play and believe in what I do. In two years I went from hardly ever playing out, to playing 150 gigs a year (in 2005).
I only ever sent 1 CD (to Peach) and the rest was all on word-of-mouth.

For over 10 years I played every club, pub and house party that would have me. I’d lug my decks, speakers and records around just so I could play in front of people and learn how to work a room.

I love the music I play – being thought of as ‘upfront’ or ‘underground’ doesn’t mean much to me. I’m not bothered about being pigeon-holed into a specific category (which is why a lot of people don’t really know what I play).
- All I care about is everyone on the dancefloor having a fucking awesome time.

Most people work hard all week, and a lot of them hate their jobs. If I can make them let go just a little bit more, and have an amazing night, then my job is done.

Being a DJ is a privilege. I once met a DJ that said “I plan my sets, play exactly what I want, and if they don’t like it then who gives a fuck, they don’t come and see me again”. I could never be so arrogant as to think I could completely plan a set before I’m even in the club.

I like to work a room – read the crowd – that’s the real talent of a DJ. Otherwise what’s the point of being there? you’d might as well play an hour-long CD you mixed at home!!!

How hard do you think it is for emergent DJs to break through on to the scene and if you could offer one single piece of advice to upcoming talents what would it be?

The sad truth is; in today’s market, you’re only going to get booked at big clubs if you can bring your mates and sell loads of tickets. I think the best thing to do is put on a party of your own, and try and make a name for yourself that way. Look at Heat UK – they started doing parties in their back garden and now look at them!!!

My advise to any DJ would be: play what you love, and believe in what you do. If you’re not loving it, then how do you expect the people in front of you to?

Oh, and also, if you’re loving what you’re doing, notify the rest of your body! I cant stand DJs that stand in front of thousands of clubbers, looking bored as fuck.

Who has been the most influential in inspiring you to push forward and succeed?

Graham Gold has always been instrumental in my attitude. He’s constantly pushed new music and new talent. It’s what inspired my ‘PK Presents’ event. I booked up-and-coming DJs that I really believe in, and tried to put them on stage to showcase them. The music that night was fantastic – I wish I’d recorded it!!!

For those who haven’t had the pleasure of seeing PK in full-swing (behind the decks that is), how would you describe your sound?

God, I hate this question. ‘Music I love’ would be a good one. I’ll put anything in the box that moves me – from soulful US house, to banging dirty electro-house, trance, old skool, and everything in between.

I used to look at flyers with Carl Cox on, and things like ‘trance set’, ‘house set’ and the like next to his name, and remember reading an interview with him saying “I wish they’d just put Carl Cox, and understand that I’ll play music appropriate to the night - and no matter what I end up playing, you’re sure of a great time”. That’s what I aim to do.

If you come and see me play, you might hear funky house, you might hear banging electro, you might hear classic trance, but you’ll always see a room full of people dancing because the room dictates what I play (and I only play what I love too).

Renowned for your six hour nostalgia tinged marathons through club classics of all forms, you’re playing the club classics room at Billy Bunter’s new Love Muzik party at Hidden on 17th February. How did you first meet the rave legend Billy Bunter and what were your first impressions of Big Bill?

I’d seen Bill’s name on pretty much every flyer since 1993, but didn’t meet him until last year. He called me up and said “is that PK? Alright geeza! it’s Billy Bunter here mate” – I promptly dropped the phone in shock that Billy Bunter was phoning me!!!

We had a long chat about what I do, and an idea he had for Tasty that he wanted me to be involved in. He’s an Essex chap like myself, and after hearing his accent and the energy in his voice I knew we’d get on.

We went on a night out with Billy, and did 3 clubs in the end, finishing at Camden. It was a pretty messy night, but I was great to see Billy play completely different styles at each club, and rocking every dancefloor whilst going mental himself! He’s a proper nutter!

He has an incredible amount of energy, and is really funny to boot! I’m proud to be a part of his night, and to have any association with a true club legend like Billy is always a privilege for any DJ.

On all the occasions I’ve seen you play there’s always been a healthy dose of anthems. Do you always look for that instant arm-raising vibe when packing your box and how important do you think it is to keep things on the fun side without getting to serious?

To be honest, I never consciously plan sets, I just prepare for several eventualities and take as much of each genre as I can - which does include classics.

Recently, I’ve been playing a lot darker than usual, but do it in such a way that I still get the same crowd response, which is really good. I might play the occasional old skool track, and like to put in some obscure ones that aren’t too obvious. It kinda depends on the club, and the crowd.

Being serious has no place in a club. It’s all about having fun in my opinion.

I played 4-6am for Alter Ego’s boat cruise afterparty. Everyone had been out (on the boat) since midday the day before, and you could see people were struggling – I was booked to play electro-house. After looking around at everyone sledging, I decided electro house was not the way to go.

I came on with 808 State’s Pacific State and played an impromptu old-skool set. It was just the injection of energy they needed, and not one person left before 6am!!!

How long are you playing for at Love Muzik and are there any tracks that you know wont leave your box for the event?

I’m not sure how long I’m playing – if it was up to me it’d be all night!!!

There are definitely certain records that never leave the old skool box – like Faithless’s Insomnia, Bizarre Inc’s Playing With Knives and those kind of tracks.

There are also a few tracks that I keep in there, but rarely play. If played in most of my sets, they’d clear the floor, but at the right time, in the right club, they rip the roof off. - I played a warehouse party a few years ago to an older crowd, and dropped Raze’s “Break 4 Luv”. Rarely do I see a crowd go as mental as that.

Also, I don’t think anthems always have to be old. Jaques Lu Cont’s mix of Mr Brightside by The Killers is one of the best club tracks I’ve ever heard, and I wouldn’t hesitate to play it in any set!

Despite your rocketing profile, you’ve so far steered clear of DJ and management agencies instead taking care of your own bookings and promotion. Is this a conscious decisions and do you see yourself joining an agency in the near future?

There are many agencies at the moment that I’ve talked with, but I think that’s more for international gigs. I love everything that goes with being a DJ, and part of that is dealing with club promoters. I like to know what the promoter and the party is about, so I can try and reflect that. I don’t play for people that do this solely for the money – there are enough passionate people in the scene to play for.

Saying that, if I was going to sign with an agency I think there are a couple that really stand out. Most Wanted are a lovely group of people, that know and understand the scene, and I think could represent what I do.
Judge Jules has really supported some of my music, and I’ve dealt with his Serious Artist Management Company for years, so would feel comfortable with those guys too!

I think as demand for international gigs increases, then the chances of signing will increase too. I’m just happy playing music!!!

What other sets have you got that you’re most excited about and where else have you played in the UK beyond London and Essex?

The Gallery are now doing parties around the country, and have booked me for The Honeyclub in Brighton which I’m really excited about. At Nation in Liverpool they’re using ‘The Annexe’ for the house room – playing there would be an absolute dream!

As for gigs ourtside of London and Essex; Get Funked in Oxford was a blast, and Connected Music in Nottingham was fun too. I’ve played a lot of gigs around the UK, from Tall Trees, Berties in Newquay, Portsmouth Uni, Dusted in Stoke-on-Trent, Function in Warwick, Quench in Coventry, Steering Wheel in Birmingham, all sorts really. It’s nice to see loads of different faces, and to see how music works differently around the UK. The tunes that are big in London aren’t always massive in other places.

You’ve made a few forays into the production field with remixes of trance classic ‘Carte Blanche’ and collaborations with both Graham Gold and his son Ben. Is production a major ambition of yours and what sounds have you explored so far?

I started learning production around the same time as Djing. There was a recording studio next to my school, and I’d be in there every break time and after school watching and learning (they were producing the Helen Schapero album).

Sitting in on studio sessions with Graham Gold helped, and though this I got to work with Dino Lenny, Koolworld and Angel Farringdon.

I spent four years at University studying music technology and really threw myself into learning the craft – recording not just dance, but bands, orchestras, you name it…

My passion for making music equals that of Djing, and I’m always playing with new sounds and rhythms.

My album has been in production for a number of years now (I’m beginning to think it’ll never be finished!) and features all kinds of music, from house an trance, to chillout, ambient, and even a ballad! I’m probably too much of a perfectionist, and keep going back to things and tweaking!!!

I love working on new music and fusing different styles, which is why I love working with other DJs and producers – I’d love to doing something with Mr Bunter! Imagine that! Hard dance vs electro house!!! That’d sound mad.

You’ve recorded an as yet untitled track with TCR breakbeat heavyweights JDS. How did this collaboration come into fruition and is there any chance of release on Rennie Pilgrem’s mighty TCR itself?

Being a fellow Peach resident, Darren Pearce would often stop in my room at Peach before and after his set to have a little listen. He said he liked what I was doing in the club, and asked if I fancied hooking up to make a tune together.
I obviously said “yes” (or “fucking yes!” – I’d looked up to Darren as a DJ for years at Peach).

He has a very different style of working to me, and I’ve learned loads from him. We’re still in the studio finishing it. I’ve brought the electro house influence, and he’s brought breaks into the equation, so we’re coming up with something really new and exciting. It’ll be out there pretty soon.

Everyone seems to be bolstered by a list of resolutions and goals for the year ahead. Have you got any major targets for 2006?

Hopefully 2006 is the year that I get a bit more international exposure – especially in the music press. My productions are getting a lot of DJ support, so hopefully they’ll be creating some energy in the clubs.

I suppose the big goal would be to enter the DJ Mag top 100 DJs poll. Maybe that’s getting a bit ahead of myself – but I’ve always aimed high.

The other main goal is to make my ‘PK Presents’ event a bit more regular. There are so many talented DJs out there just dying for a break, and I’d like to help push them into the spotlight.

What are your predictions for the year ahead? Do you see any particular sounds bursting through and do you have any tips for the top?

This year electro house will grow – it’s been huge on the underground, and the more accessible side of it has been entering the charts. It’s influence can already be heard in a lot of close house offshoots. I think the fusion of rock and house will keep getting stronger, and breaks will start featuring in electro sets.

The whole scene has changed radically in the past few years, and people are getting bored of the exact same genre of music all night – I think we’ll start to see soulful, funky and electro house alongside breaks and hard dance in the same room.

Technology has obviously progressed an ushered in a new age of digital music. I’d like to see more independent labels releasing music via iTunes and the like.

Finally, is there any chance of you clipping your infamous multi-angled barnet in 2006 and do you think you’d get as many bookings without it?

Haha! My barnet used to be boring ‘short back and sides please’ until an old school friend approached me saying “now you’re going for it as a DJ you need to stand out” and did his thing. He won Young Hairdresser of The Year so I couldn’t really say no. I kinda like having a silly hair-do - so there’s not much chance of me ever looking ‘normal’!!!

The funny thing is, my hair is actually really curly. When it’s straight my friends call me PK, but when it’s curly they call me Paul.

Piss-taking bastards!!! :P

I’d like to think I’d get as many bookings if I shaved my head, but if that’s any factor then maybe my hair should start charging a fee!