A short interview with Derek Paterson from Perspex People. Get his latest track from Traxsource now.

1. Who are you and what do you do? How long have you been in the music industry?

Derek Paterson. I first studied music and audio technology starting in 1997 then went onto DJ for quite some time after that during which time I was building on my studio gear and knowledge. So that’s what 15 years…

2. What made you want to become a music producer?

Love of music and particularly house music coupled with the really fun experiences myself and friends were having at clubs at the time both in the UK and Ibiza.

3. If you weren’t a producer, what job would you like to have had?

Really not sure about that one LOL! I’m still involved in various things so I guess it might just have been less time on the music side of things.

4. What’s the hardest thing about music producing?

Getting the music signed and making good connections with decent record labels and people who are in it for the right reasons.

5. What’s the most satisfying thing about music producing?

Satisfying a dream and having people tell you they really dig what your doing!

6. Who are your main musical influences?

Everything and anything from the beatles to the stones and pink floyd, from my early teens the madchester revolution and bands like The happy Mondays and The stone roses then dj’s from Danny Rampling, Rocky and Deisel and Slam to Sasha and John Digweed and the Rennaisance sounds pioneered in the mid nineties. My moto is if it sounds good that’s because its good. I’m not so into this, this is cool and that is cool kinda pigeon holing…I was also hugely inspired by what was happening in Ibiza so Jose Padilla and DJ Pippi and all the downtempo stuff has a big influence in what I’m into generally!

7. What is your all time favourite song?

To hard to say, too many to list but I remember Daft Punk – Burning being played by Stuart MacMillan from Slam for yonks before it eventually was signed by them, that worked for me and rest of the front room at the Arches in Glasgow in a very big way.

8. What advice would you give someone breaking into the music industry?

To follow your dreams and work hard at it but also try to find a good balance between following your musical aspirations and your other interests and friends. Also don’t be swayed by what people want you to do, do what you want to do! Be yourself and have fun!

9. What’s your biggest achievement to date?

Not sure I’ve got there yet, that’s the problem with high standards LOL! Although I would say the recent mix I done for fellow Scottish duo Colin Sales and SUZY is one of my favourite productions to date so quite excited to see how that one does. Should be out on Universe Media sometime soon.

10. What or who is your guilty pleasure?

Not sure I have one I try not to feel guilty about pleasure…..

11. If you could have any artist (living or dead) to appear on one of your collaborations who would you choose?

Probably John Lennon I reckon we could twist up some really cool downtempo track with his piano skills, lets face it my beats are better than Ringos! Otherwise I wouldn’t mind benefiting from a few days in the studio with Sasha cause as far as the deeper side of my music taste goes he always seemed to hit the nail on the head for me.

12. What are your plans for 2012?

Not entirely sure yet but to keep going with music anyway. I have so much stuff I’ve not had the chance to finish because of other commitments. I’m also trying to get more into training Apple Logic and have been doing this freelance for a while now. I also have plans of publishing some training materials online. Oh plus I’m going to do my basic BASI ski badges which I’ve been promising myself for years so maybe try and get a few hours at the Xscape in Glasgow to get away from the computer screen….my climbing could also do with improving a bit so as always my biggest challenge will be finding the time to fit all these interests into the life of 1 person!

13. What hardware/software are you using to produce and dj with?

I’m a vinyl junkie at heart (showing my age here) and haven’t really embraced the digital DJ stuff yet, maybe one day. As far as production goes Logic gives me almost everything I need and keeps it simple. I also have some outboard gear/synths and for a few years my Access Virus T1 desktop has really been the main staple for sound design.

14. What would your dream set up be?

I reckon I wouldn’t want to complicate things as having too much gear just detracts from the making of music itself due to the time you spent learning it and how to get the best out of it. I’d like to add on a good digital desk something like a Yamaha 02R would do for me. I get the feeling as I go with production that its less about the gear and more about the overall sound so for me a properly treated acoustical environment for mixing in would be my first choice.

15. What is your favourite fruit?

Lime couldn’t live without it, you ever ordered a rum and coke in the local bowling club, not good!