His familiar voice resonates in the minds of dance music enthusiasts: both in literal form and as a revered, proven champion of rising talents and the ins and outs of the industry. Putting aside his BBC microphone and taking directly to the raw Q&A of Reddit’s ‘Ask Me Anything‘ (AMA) series, Pete Tong sat down in Ibiza to handle the Internet’s curiosities.

Of utmost interest was Pete’s opinion on “Who’s next?” in regards to current rising artists with the most potential to become a ‘household name.’ “Kygo,” he inserted, after indicating that many had mentioned the name already. “After gaining a lot of traction with his remixes, where you could say that there was a formula, I am starting to hear original music. Now he is signed with Sony and I can definitely hear development. They sound like hits to me, he has definitely got potential!” Following, he listed Cubicolor, Gardens of God, Andhim, Amine Edge and DANCE, and Thomas Jack as names to watch in the coming year.

When asked about his personal favorite Essential Mixes, he responded that although nearly impossible to pinpoint just one, his most loved mixes are those of David Holmes, Paul Oakenfold, Ame, Eric Prydz, Sasha and even this week’s mix from Joy Orbison. 

Surprising as it may be, Pete didn’t hesitate to address that there are artists that don’t jump at a chance to be featured on BBC Radio 1. Lightheartedly, he revealed that Ricardo Villalobos has swiftly avoided his offers and Tenaglia has refused “many times.”

Pete also took a minute to speak to a question mourning the shutdown of radio station Evolution 101.7 in Boston, an electronic station hosted by the BBC commandeer himself, but which was shut down a year later.

Questions that dug deeper into his opinion of industry controversies began with an inquiry about his opinion on how the skill of DJing has changed from days of sifting through crates for records to modern day’s pre-recorded tracks held on USB sticks and laptops. “The essence of DJing is finding amazing music and expressing it in the right way and order, and reading the mood of the crowd,” he said, alluding that the method of records versus memory sticks may be less important, but continued on. “However a set by an artist playing their own music and remixes with a light show and visuals all sequenced with the pressure of delivering a headline slot is a different thing. Some call it DJing, I personally wouldn’t.”

Later in his AMA, he pinpointed that a DJ’s stage presence can make all the difference in a performance.

On ghost producing, he shed a more neutral viewpoint on giving credit where it’s due:

For his strangest experience ever on air, he simply listed that “being chained to a blue Smurf in Ibiza live from Mambo Radio 1,” which can be viewed here.

As for his forthcoming musical cruise, All Gone to Sea, he hopes his voyage will stand out against similar festivals with a “different musical mix, pitched more towards the international clubber” familiar with an Ibiza and Miami vibe, but simultaneously with an intimate feel.

More:

Pete Tong talks the power of a live dance voyage and the biz behind the beats

Pete Tong’s All Gone to Sea announces full lineup, may need a bigger boat

Tags: Pete Tong, Reddit, reddit ama

Categories: News