Peshay, a legendary figure in drum & bass known for his vibrant musicality, shares fascinating insights into his journey from the rave scene to becoming a pivotal voice in atmospheric drum & bass. He discusses the impact of his tracks like 'The Piano Tune' and 'Miles From Home,' blending jazzy chords with infectious grooves. The conversation also touches on the recent challenges surrounding his celebrated Studio Set and his unwavering commitment to preserving the history of the genre, showcasing why he remains a vital presence in the music world.
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insights INSIGHT
Passion Over Profit
Peshay emphasizes that his motivation for music creation wasn't about money.
This highlights passion as a primary driver over financial gain in his career.
insights INSIGHT
Street Resilience Theme
Peshay highlights street struggles and resilience with repeated lines about not backing down.
This reflects the gritty reality and determination often expressed in drum & bass culture.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Nostalgic Memories of Early Raves
Peshay reminisces about the early days when people used to chill and enjoy music together.
He evokes memories of sipping drinks and relaxing, highlighting a nostalgic connection to the past.
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A new studio set from one of the foundational icons of drum & bass.
Few names in drum & bass carry as much history as Peshay. Paul Pesce came up in the crucible of early rave and left fingerprints on labels like Mo' Wax, Good Looking and, most obviously, Metalheadz. By the time drum & bass was surging in the mid-'90s, he was bolted as one of the scene's most distinctive voices.
Where others were pushing clinical austerity or waves of dark pressure, Pesce's ear drew him to featherlight, jazzy chords instead. The atmospheric drum & bass movement—or intelligent, as it's sometimes known today—cohered in his hands with timeless staples like "The Piano Tune" and "Miles From Home."
To a contemporary generation, he may now be best known for Studio Set, which caught alight as a prime slice of algorithm fodder on YouTube in the late 2010s, racking up millions of plays. Alongside Bailey’s Intelligent Drum & Bass, the mix has taken on a second life as a seminal document of a genre in flux. All of which made its removal from the internet, based around a spurious copyright strike, a hot concern.
Although a little tad reserved than some of the scene's most dominant names, Pesce has remained a loyal custodian and historian of the sound. While Studio Set was down, we offered him a crack at making something fresh, and though it's thankfully back up, the Kafkian nightmare galvanised his commitment to preserve recorded history.
Known as a DJ for his dynamic way with a groove, extended blends have long been Pesce's signature. You’ll hear plenty of those on his RA Podcast, as golden-age rollers and contemporary vocal cuts push in and out for up to four minutes, painting a portrait of the genre’s vitality from someone who helped define its terms. True to form, RA.993 carries the touch of a jazz conductor and the assured cool of a veteran who's been deep in the culture for over 30 years.
@peshay-official
Find the interview and tracklist at ra.co/podcast/993
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