RETRO FUTURE
DJ Paul Taylor has taken his Retro brand from its Lancashire roots to some of the world’s top clubs and venues. Now he has his sights set firmly on the future
For international DJ Paul Taylor the past year has been one of his greatest challenges, but he is now looking to the future with his iconic Retro brand that is known throughout Europe.
Much has been written about this enigma of a man who started out as a young DJ on the decks in Burnley to an internationally-recognised icon playing all the top clubs including Pacha in Ibiza.
His philosophy has always been to keep close to his audience and play music they enjoy: “My crowd is everything to me,” says Paul, who has worked with the likes of Pete Waterman and Kylie Minogue.
“My audience spans the generations from millennials to the people who were coming to see me in the late 80s who are now in their 50s and 60s. My style is happy, classic house music, nothing too underground, so it appeals to a lot of people.”
At the time of the first lockdown last year, Paul began looking at what other DJs were doing – live streaming their music around the world from their bedrooms.
But Paul and his team wanted to go one step further and they developed an idea to live stream not from home but from actual venues, bringing in guest DJs to work with a professional company, who could provide all the technology and camera work.
“We thought, ‘Okay, you can’t go to a nightclub anymore, we’ll bring the nightclub into your front room’,” he recalls. “It grew exponentially as a platform – Retro in your front room with guest DJs.
“We had cameras facing the DJ box, cameras above, side views – from all angles – so visually, it looked great. We had to pretend there was a crowd in front of us and it was difficult. There was no crowd, just two or three technical people – it was really strange and I have to admit it was quite disheartening at times. I do what I do for the crowd, getting them up on the dancefloor. I get so much back from that.”
Unable to get any public funding, a collective of investors helped set up the project: “We were doing it just for Retro fans, not for any significant revenue. When lockdown ended, people were inviting friends around for a Retro night. We were one of the showcase events when it came to streaming music, but then it was all stop and start, we had the Rule of Six, and nothing was consistent so that didn’t help.
“We have had to be continually inventive, adapting as things change and I think when all restrictions are lifted, people may still be reluctant to go out. I am fearful that a lot of these people might not come back. They are so used to staying in – for the older generation going out is now alien.
“We have had time to think through various concepts – if people want to stay in they can still have a Retro event, personal to them, on a screen in their garden,” explains Paul, who became friends with Pete Waterman through their love of northern soul. Their friendship led Paul to meeting Kylie Minogue and producing a dance track, which reached the UK charts.
He went on to stamp his personality on his huge northern club nights and Retro was born – a brand that still appeals to an international crowd of clubbers.
After more than three decades Paul and Retro still hit the spot with ever-changing sets and this summer, one of his first gigs pays homage to his northern roots with Retro in the Park on 28th August, which will feature international acts and DJs from around the world as well as local talent.
With three arenas – Retro, 90s Baby and Angels Reunion, it looks set to be a great reunion for Paul and his fans: “I’m happy to announce that we have more or less sold out the Retro in the Park event! It’s certainly looking pretty positive that we’re all progressing into some sort of normality.
“We are very aware that we have to create a space in which people feel comfortable – that’s the key to getting people back. We have had the past year to learn all about that.
“I think everyone needs to up their game in terms of promoting events and making them as safe as possible for social gatherings. If we can do that successfully that’s the way we will win people back, especially the older generation.
“We have to remember music creates memories, a track can take us back to where we were at the time, who we were with and the friendships forged. Music is all about sharing the moment – it’s going to be super-emotional for me getting people back dancing and enjoying the music.”
