With all the excitement of Sebastien Leger getting his P45 - we decided to showcase a few different colours on the cards...

Introducing Chameleon Muzik’s head honcho: Paul Bingham. All the way from the S of A, Paul has played for Comfortably Numbed & Elek2ronik before and we also had him play alongside us for Push with Tall Paul where he rocked it last year. Some of you may know him already - either you saw him play at one of those events - or you might have caught his Closing set at the Rotterdam Street Parade last year and for those who are more electronically inclined - you might have heard his fantastic ep’s on Juicy Trax (Robbie Riviera’s Mammoth U.S. Label), where one of his projects: “Sounds Like Acid” ep was also signed to the Amnesia 2006 Compilation and has also just been remixed by Portamento Records Hero, Nino Anthony! Well... consider this your official introduction because anyone that gets charted by and praise from Erick Morillo is sweet in our book...

B&G: Welcome to London... You’re originally from a smaller town just outside Johannesburg, what lead you onto the whole Dj’ing & Production side of Dance Music which has ultimately brought you to the Uk?

PB: in 1999 I got into the scene through some mates and started partying and going to every rave. Back then they were huge and happened practically every second weekend. Constant exposure to the music made me interested in how the DJ’s created the experience for the people on the dance floor. A mate of mine introduced me to the basics of mixing beats together; I then did a DJ course to develop my skills. It just became more and more of a passion and the need to play in clubs and big events was what I wanted to do. I put together mix CD’s and promoted myself wherever I could. I sent one to 5fm (SA’s Top Radio Station) and my mix was featured on air. This lead to a resident DJ from ESP hearing the mix and invited me to play one of the morning slots. I then became resident which is where I have developed to date.

B&G: Your track “Buzz”, which was signed to Robbie Rivera’s Juicy Trax, created quite the stir in 2005/06 and even made its way into Erick Morillo’s Chart. Not bad for one of your first EP’s and you even went a step further with the follow up of “Sounds Like Acid” which was signed to the Ibizan Superclub “Amnesia 2006 Compilation”. It must have been overwhelming to receive that kind of response. Being all the way over in South Africa has sometimes, in the past, proven to be really difficult for artists to gain exposure – do you feel that this really set the stage for your international career & how much of an impact did this have for you locally in South Africa?

PB: The releases on Juicy Music definitely put me on the map, without them it would have been a lot more difficult to get noticed overseas but it all comes down to consistency. It’s more difficult being so south of the equator which is why I am now in London. The impact to the people in SA was interesting cause it proved that now with the digital age upon us anyone anywhere can get a record released on an international label.

B&G: You also run your own label Chameleon Muzik which saw the initial release of your “Extra Sensory Perception” Ep. How did it come about and what can people expect from the label?

PB: I released “Extra Sensory Perception” as a tribute to ESP but during the first week of release Robbie Rivera wanted it so I signed it to Juicy Spain. He did a Remix along with DJ Inphinity. The tracks were sitting at number 23 in the Electro download charts on Beatport the last time i checked. I started releasing stuff on my own label because some labels were not willing to pay advances on tracks sold digitally and the returns would end up being quite low as they take quite a large percentage of the sales. They also control the release dates so it could take months before a masterpiece is released which is why I decided to look after my own interest and release the tracks at my own pace and have complete control. I also wanted to create a porthole for other South African artists to release their tracks who weren’t able to on their own accord.

B&G: Number 23 on the Beatport Electro Chart! Not bad at all! We hear you’re looking to stay on ‘Mud Island’ for a while to work on some projects and produce full time? What brings you to the UK of all places and is this something you’ve been considering for a while?

PB: Yes, I’ve moved here full time now to do what I really want to do. Music is what drives me and there’s no doubt that it’s my passion so I am producing full time and deejaying. London is a good base for me because I was born here so I have the opportunity to stay here. Also to get to anywhere else in the EU is quite easy so gigs outside London are obtainable now. Being located in SA is just too far and the flights are too expensive for it to be viable for promoters to book artists.

B&G: If you could sit in the studio with any artist in the world – who would it be & why?

PB: Steve Angello!! I love his stuff. @ 21 he had already remixed so many big artists and he has evolved over many different facets of the scene. I’ve always looked up to him and play a lot of his tracks.

B&G: Then you'll be glad to know he's running a Remix competition at the moment. Might be an idea to rub shoulders with the Swede! ;-) We’ve also heard via the grape vine that you are working on a download store, can you tell us a bit about it or is it very hush hush at the moment?

PB: The download site is under wraps at the moment but more will be revealed down the line... Watch this space…..

B&G: Being a resident at ESP which is one of the longest running & most established Clubbing Brands in SA. How did this residency come about and would you say the club has given you the experience you need to take on the international stage?

PB: ESP has definitely set me up for the international stage as there is a bit of a lack of exposure to the clubbers of SA with new music so to break in a new track is a difficult mission. You’ve got to know exactly where to put it otherwise you could just ruin the whole set. So with this in mind one has to prepare properly and educate slowly. I couldn’t have gained my experience from any better club than ESP, it’s been a great three years playing there.

B&G: The flagship club of ESP used to be based in the centre of Johannesburg on End Street and has since moved to it’s Nexus Venue just outside JHB in Randburg – what’s the craziest thing you ever saw or witnessed while playing or partying at ESP?

PB: There’s a lot of weird and wonderful people that come to ESP it is always entertaining but my best moment whilst playing there was when I had the Horse Shoe Bar Room rammed to full capacity and one of my mates was handing out mix CD’s, he held up the last one by the DJ box and he practically got tackled to the floor by all the party animals!

B&G: Sounds Crazy - hope your friend made it out alive! You used to Showcase your Chameleon Muzik Show on SoundRepublic Dance Web Radio (www.soundrepublic.co.za), do you think this platform of music helped you gain much more exposure as a DJ/Producer?

PB: I used to put together a 2 hour mix of the latest Electro/Techno tracks and also include new productions that I had done and tracks released on my label. Now that I am focusing full time on music I won't be Casting the show live on Sound Republic anymore but will still be putting together a podcast regularly for people to download. It was a great platform to promote myself & other artists.

B&G: You also travelled to Europe last year to play at the Rotterdam Street Parade as well as for Push in & Elek2ronik in London. How do you think the European Dance Culture differs from the South African Dance Culture?

PB: The European Music culture is very open-minded compared to SA. They are always there to have a great party and are open to new music and the response to my sounds have been good so I found it easier to play to the European crowd. Trying new things with them was a pleasure; I can’t wait to give them a little more of what i have to offer!!

B&G: The Street Parade must have been an awesome experience – you were the last to play on the Float – could you share a piece of the experience in words or was it one of those – ‘you had to be there’ vibes?

PB: Well all I can say is what an experience. There were six DJ’s on the float and as you said I had the last set. As I got on I played some harder electro tracks which got everyone jumping around and in the last 5 minutes of the parade, it started throwing it down with rain, & I dropped Steve Angello’s mix of Moby, Raining Again - everyone went absolutely mad. The energy was brilliant and exhilarating, a great end to the parade.

B&G: And now for our A-Z of completely pointless and random Preferences:

a) Jack Daniels or Absolute? Absolute

b) Red, Black, White, or Blue? Red

c) Cats or Dogs? Dogs

d) Angelina or Brad? Angelina

e) Dark or Light? Dark

f) House Party or Beach Party? Beach Party

g) Audrey Hepburn or Marilyn Monroe? Marilyn Monroe

h) Cow or Chicken? Moo!!!

i) City or Countryside? City

j) Producing or DJing? Producing a huge track and playing it
k) Rock or Metal? Rock

l) Friday or Saturday? Saturday

m) Music or Sex? Good Question!

n) Italian or Chinese? Chinese

o) Deep or Groovy? Groovy

p) Simpsons or Southpark? Simpsons

q) Vinyl or Digital? Digital

r) 1 or 9? 1

s) Nirvana or Depeche Mode? Nirvana

t) Winter or Table Tennis? Winter

u) Freddie or Jason? Freddie

v) Morillo or Sanchez? Morillo

w) Saddam or George? Saddam, he’s no danger to society

x) Marmite or Peanut Butter? Peanut Butter

y) Guitar or Drums? Drums

z) Sleep or Afterparty (Crack-on)… Afterparty!!!!

B&G: And finally, following along the lines of our tradition in closing: What is your definition of Comfortably Numbed?

PB: When the music is so good that it numbs any pain you may feel in your mind or physically to such an extent that you feel comfortable!

For further news & info on Paul Bingham, log onto myspace.com/paulbingham

Catch Paul at P45 alongside Comfortably Numbed Resident, Jon Fynn, & Special Guest: Lofty on Sunday, the 29th July 2007. Groundfloor Entertainment also includes the One & Only Sebastien Leger with Christian Nash, DJ Cue & Comfortably Numbed Resident: 2 PhUnKeD uP!

For guestlist & discounted entry - email your names to: ComfortablyNumbedDigital@gmail.com

Join the Comfortably Numbed Group here and keep up to date with future events.