A Panda Worth His Weight In Gold
Sixty Million Postcards – Bournemouth
Gold Panda is a 28-year-old gent from London’s east end who best describes his music as “middle of the road bedroom electronica.”
But his modesty is fooling no one. His music is far removed from the roadside and blended seamlessly into the ears of fans and record companies. His name is Derwin, “it’s not as good as Darwin,” he laughs.
Derwin’s technical proficiency delights the listener with a voluptuous meandering journey that scours the globe for an explosion of enchantment. This is never more enjoyable than on Quitters Raga. His ability to grace the keys of a sampler, creating lustrous pockets of sticks, clicks and beats. It’s an achievement for an artist like Gold Panda that has only published two singles and an EP.
I arrive at the venue at 19:00 expecting to see the bands sound checking. I discover to my dismay Gold Panda is absent and find out from the promoters some of the artists have pulled out of the bill due to swine flu. I was later informed Derwin was simply running late. Three hours pass and still no sign, until finally he appears donning a dark green overcoat, oxblood drainpipe jeans, check shirt over a white t-shirt and a rucksack containing instruments for the show. All the apparel ingredients that characterise a rising independent musician were present, right down to his stubbly beard.
We find a table typical of most music venues stricken by darkness, but at least the floor and table are not tainted with grease and stale alcohol. The ceiling and walls are graced with cute illustrations and posters advertising future events. I take a pew with Gold Panda and the interview commences.
Rupert: When did you first discover your talent for music?
Gold Panda: “I don’t think I have really, I just do it, I don’t think I have a talent, it’s really hard to judge yourself that way.”
How long did it take to get to where you are now?
“About six months, since summer. I really want to do more lives gigs but don’t have much confidence at the moment as it’s a load of tracks I’ve made in my bedroom and y’know the gigs came along and thought yeah I’ll do it. Its not really a live set at the moment, I’d like to get more into that an get a bit more confident with what I’ve got to play and then really tour it. At the moment it’s just a collection of tracks that are thrown together with some equipment.”
Who would you like to work with in the future?
“Maybe Andy [Derwin’s friend sat opposite] but I dunno if he likes my music, and maybe a vocalist, I wouldn’t mind working with a Japanese rapper or something. That would be pretty good as my other passion is Japanese, I’ve studied it.”
Andy Jenkinson is a musician better known as Cheephax Acid Crew and is the brother of Squarepusher Tom Jenkinson. “I’ve known Derwin for years, it’s a funny story, we met in Japan and found that we were both from Chelmsford, my dad even used to go into his dad’s antique shop.”
G.P: “I Grew up in Peckham in south London then I moved to Chelmsford in Essex and went to school in Chelmer Valley [he screams like a football fan] which I hate basically, I don’t ever want to remember it. It brings up painful memories, I wanted to be Tupac basically for my entire time there, dressed like an idiot and was really into rap. I went a bit Puff Daddy at one stage as well but I kind of clawed back some dignity and got more into independent. So Peckham, Chelmsford and now back in east London and now I’ll probably go somewhere else like Brighton maybe. I could live anywhere now I’ve just split up with my girlfriend so I might as well go off any be lonely somewhere.” Do you have another lady in the pipeline of is it too soon? “No I hate them all now, its over” [he laughs]
Who has supported you the most along your career path?
“Probably my manager in a weird way, who sort of helped me from really early on from about a year ago they heard some tracks and really told me I should do it, then a mate called Phil Wells from a techno group called Subhead which was on a German Techno label called Tresor, but he passed away and always said I should do it but I never tried until he asked. So when he passed away I thought yeah give it a go as he always pushed me.”
Have you received much family support?
“Yeah definitely and other people who are making music, mates, family and grandmother, but they are just happy I’m doing a hobby and getting paid.”
Derwin has had previous jobs in the past, but when Wichita Records found his work on MySpace and offered him £500 to remix Bloc Party’s “Letter to my son” he quit his job in a sex shop. He has done additional remixes for Little Boots, Telepathe and Simian Mobile Disco. “I hate all of them apart from maybe the Telepathe one,” laughs Derwin.
What got you into music?
“A way of being creative and having fun, and I guess a way to pass time, I borrowed a sampler off an uncle who always told me not to do music it’s a waste of time, and that was it.”
Who are your influences and who inspires you?
People who I hang out with, but you always hear stuff and think I’d love to make a track like that, but you have your own limits or ways of making it. So it never comes out.
When you say, “I’d love to make a track like that” do you have anyone in mind?
“Not really but I’ve listened to a lot of German, minimal, techno recently and thought that’s pretty good. It would be a stupid if I was making it all the same.”
What are your favourite records this year?
“Probably ones that were released ages ago. I bought a record in Germany by an artist called Oval, and SND, Atavism I think it’s called. It’s pretty good.”
What are the key elements that define your music?
“I sample a lot of records and I’ll change all the pitches, melodies or whatever, I guess Quitters Raga is a bit different as in the sampling is a bit more obvious.” There are some world influences there “I really love those sounds.”
What are you goals in the coming year?
“Just carry on doing what I’m doing and make some more money. So I can buy more equipment so I can make more tunes.”
What’s been your favourite Show?
“The Roundhouse with Simian Mobile Disco because it was just a different world, I don’t know if it was my favourite performance wise or crowd wise but it was definitely a really crazy experience.”
.jpg)
.jpg)
