I find myself in a unique position of being in the presence of Pan as Psychedelic Starfish was met with much love from the psytrance community...knowing, secretly, that I named the track.
SARA: 1. Hey Pan #14 on Beatport for Psychedelic Starfish today just 24 hours after release, how does that feel? PAN:
When I woke up today, I randomly took a look on the site just to see if it was ranking. I was beyond surprised. I guess that there really is a market for old school uplifting psytrance
SARA:
2. How long have you been producing and can you tell us a little bit about how that moment came about -- how you shifted from DJing other people's music to making your own?
PAN: I have only been at this for about three and a half years. So I am still very much learning the ins and outs. Thankfully, I have an awesome mentor who uses the production name of Mechanimal.
I started on this path after I had a major operation. I could barely walk, but I could sit in a studio chair and make music. I slowly wrapped my head around synthesizers and just melded together the music that I love. That is trance and psytrance.
SARA:
3. As a DJ, how do you choose tracks?
Share your process... How much time does it take you to find tracks you love enough to play in a big event…
PAN: Wow… choosing tracks. Well, first, I only buy stuff that is having it. Track selection at an event depends on the crowd. I can spend fifteen hours finding 5 tracks, other times I find 10 in 10 minutes.
SARA:
4. Who would you say are psytrance artists that influence or inspire you the most? PAN:
I hate when people talk about ‘the early stuff’ but here I am saying it. Early Pixel, Talamasca, Protonica, Perplex… as far as today’s artists. E-Clip, Sonic Species and Mechanimal
SARA:
5. We heard you were mentored by another familiar artist in the psytrance scene--- can you tell us about that relationship?
PAN: As I mentioned earlier. Nick Sagar-House aka Mechanimal, has given me a lot of tools and knowledge. I call him all the time with questions, and he always has the answer.
SARA:
6. Tell us about virus schmirus PAN: We were all stuck in lockdown and I felt that that it was all over-hyped (I can hear the protests already). But really, it was my way of saying ‘ no virus is going to stop me’.
SARA:
7. We know that "My Son" is quite a personal track. What can you share about it? PAN: I don’t really want to expound on it, but I lost my youngest son during the lockdown. But he is still with me in a way - we are all children of the stars.
SARA:
8. What can we expect from you in the next 12 months, covid considered?
PAN: Honestly, no one has any idea what the future holds for artists. I am releasing
another EP soon with 3 new tracks and I am really hoping to be out on the festival
circuit next summer. There was only one this year, Funny Moon Festival, and it was
amazing.
SARA:
9. A bit of lighthearted fun...Which of the 7 Deadly Sins are you most guilty of… PAN:
Ok… to be honest, I had to google what they were… but Lust
SARA:
10. In Fight Club Terms, who would you love to pick a fight with--- anyone at all, living or dead and why?
PAN: Do I have to? I really do prefer peace and love and all that hippy shit… But if I must, John Lennon, because he would agree with me and we’d have a beer.