Payfone: Junk Shop Mix 'The Thing'

Music

Phil Passera aka Payfone was introduced to us via the great Phil South of Golf Channel Records who'll release Payfone's new EP, 'Paradise' on 12" Vinyl this week.

After spending 3 months record hunting in Brooklyn, NYC, Payfone put together this 1 hour mix comprised of only $2 second hand records found in ' THE THING ' thrift store in Greenpoint.

This is said mix… and below is an extensive chat through with Phil… further down you can watch the video too. Ears, eyes enjoy:

You're pretty new on our radar, fancy telling us a little bit about yourself? Who are you and where are you from?

I'm Phil Passera. Italian Father/Welsh Mother, born/raised and living in London. I first started producing/releasing records in 1998 as 50% of Kitty Bronx.

Who would you say are your biggest influences and what are you hoping to achieve with your music?

Big Question > Influences : Royal Trux / Kraftwerk / Hank Mobley / Tom Waits / ABBA / Metro Area

I would like to achieve the ultimate goal of World Peace.

What were your original aspirations for Payfone? How do you think you're shaping up?

Payfone is my latest project which I started in 2010 so I'm already 4 years down the line. I am a total perfectionist when it comes to my output so I have to be 100% sure that any song I am creating has explored all realistic avenues and is as perfect as it can possibly be. The downside of this approach is that it can time a long long time.

At this point I am very happy to now be a part of the Golf Channel set up who I have always dug.

Who got you hooked on electronic music?

KRAFTWERK. No question of it. As a kid my older brother would play magical songs like Model and Neon Lights and I would just dream of the future.

Where was the mix recorded?

At my flat. 2 turntables and mixer direct onto ADAT ( 1990's VHS based multi-track technology ). But then I couldn't resist sticking it in Pro Tools and stretching out some of the intros/breakdowns etc. So it has an EDIT element to it. Sometimes I like to be a purist but not on this occasion.

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

My goal of this mix was to recreate the current feel of Brooklyn, NYC through purchasing only $2 records from this one Thrift Store called The Thing in Greenpoint where I was based between May and July this year.

What should we be wearing?

Black Leather Jacket. No Underwear.

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: location/system/format?

Well… If this is a dream than it has to involve a large crowd partying as I record a live mix. We are all in the desert. There are 10,000 people getting down at sunset. I am floating on a magic carpet above them, Djing on 2 x1950's Garrard turntables and Urei mixer with the audio being pumped out of a Western Electric valve Cinema system from the 1940's.

There are camels everywhere and little robots serving Sushi.

Howard Zinn is mixing drinks.

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

Tough Question. It may have to be the final track by Ray Manzarek (formerly of The Doors) called 'Begin the World Again'. It's so dirty funky and has the most positive message as he calls for the world to begin again. My favourite line: "let there be stars and dreams and hope, let there be time to smoke some dope".

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

I've got a classic DJ Harvey Sarcastic Mix from around 2004 that takes some beating.

If you could go back to back with any dj from throughout history, who would it be and why?

On paper it would have to be Larry Levan. But in reality I wouldn't do it as I am not worthy .

What was your first dj set up at home and what is it now?

Well I was lucky that growing up as a kid I had an older brother who was DJing some pretty good gigs at a young age and he had a great eclectic taste in music to go with it. So I would mess around on his 2x Technics 1210's. I recently bought on ebay the same mixer he used to have, a Numark PPD from the early 90's. These are great mixers. They were £600 back in 1990 and at the time were one of the top mixers on the market. I picked one up on ebay for £70.

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

The track you end on. By then you should have the crowd in the palm of your hand. If by then everyone isn't going crazy, then you have failed.

What were the first and last records you bought?

First record I ever bought was Painter Man by Boney M probably around 1987 as a 7 years old. I wish I still had it as it was a bright yellow vinyl 12".

The last record I bought was an LP by African Guitarist D.O. Misiani called 'My Life & Loves'