Meet Me At The Club: Patrick Topping Interviewed

Patrick Topping's career has been on a steady rise ever since he started making music in his bedroom back in 2012. The Newcastle-born selector broke onto the scene with his debut EP Walk On, released on the Hot Creations sub-label Hot Trax, and a number of Beatport-topping tunes have since followed. A high-profile collaboration with Green Velvet resulted in the 2014 raver's anthem Voicemail, and with a prolific workrate and a knack for throwing down crowd-pleasing tech house workouts, Topping has evolved into a globally-recognised DJ.

After recently playing a huge five-hour show at Glasgow's SWG3 back in late April, and with an upcoming set at Manchester's Parklife Festival on the cards, we caught up with the hard-working Geordie superstar to hear about what he's been up to in 2017, and what we can expect from him in the coming months.

You had a great 2016 topped off with the number 11 spot in Resident Advisor's Top 100 DJs. Do you feel like you're at a peak moment in your career with these kind of awards, or would you say you're still evolving as a DJ?

I actually wonder this myself and hope that it isn’t the peak, but if it is, then that’s fair enough! I never imagined I’d be where I am today. That being said I’m hoping to keep pushing on as much as I can, while also enjoying what’s already going on.

How did starting out in Newcastle influence your sound and the way you perform?

Having weekly residencies in Newcastle definitely made me more confident as a DJ. It didn’t influence my music that much, as there wasn’t a particular sound which the city was famous for, but there were options to listen to all sorts of dance music, which I suppose did influence me, and I got to see so many artists play. 

What productions do you have in store for this year? 

I have an EP coming on Hot Creations, which I’m buzzing about. I love releasing with the label and [I'm] really happy to maintain that regular output with them. I still feel it’s a big part of my musical identity. Then I’ve got some other darker tracks, which I’m dying to get out, just trying to work out the right label [for them]. Also I’ve just finished a remix for Tiga, which I’m really excited about, and I'm also working on one for Idris Elba!  

On your recent UK tour you've been playing all-night-long sets. How do you prepare for such a lengthy performance?

I prepare for every set I do. I’ll create a playlist with tracks I think are appropriate to the gig, but most times I’ll end up playing tracks from beyond that playlist. So with an extended set, it’s just an even bigger playlist really. Or sometimes if it’s really long, like 8-10 hours, I might make a first part playlist, peak time one, then an end of the night list and also an eclectic one.

Your career has taken you to festivals and shows all over the world – which country or city have you most enjoyed? Is there anywhere that has a great clubbing scene that perhaps you weren't expecting?

Venice is one the nicest cities I’ve been to. Tulum in Mexico just down from Playa del Carmen is also amazing. My favourite country has to be Australia, I just love it over there and the shows have been mint too. There are so many though, I’m so lucky to have travelled so much through music! South America is the one which has blown me away the most though, as I wasn’t sure what to expect and every single time I’ve played there it’s been amazing! Usually 1,000 plus people going mad for hours, even mid-week. It’s definitely one of my favourite places to play, the crowd proper go for it.

Would you describe yourself as an introvert or an extrovert? Do you think you need to have an outgoing personality to be a good DJ?

If I had to choose I’d say introvert, but I can still be quite outgoing. I don’t think you have to be outgoing at all to be a DJ, there are plenty of quieter guys than me, who are massive DJs, it’s mainly about the music isn’t it! That being said, I do think being outgoing can be helpful.  

What is the reality of a career in DJing like? What do you think are the most common misconceptions about the work and the lifestyle?

Well it’s the best job in the world in my eyes and I think most people who like the music would think the same too. It can be very intense and tiring, but I think most people seem to understand that to be honest. The only misconception I think is that some people don’t realise the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes. 

What would people be most surprised to learn about you?

That’s quite a hard question and I’m not entirely sure, but maybe some people might think I’m really loud or confident, but I can actually be quite shy sometimes. Or perhaps that my political views are left-wing and progressive. 

How does it feel to see things like the Meet Me At The Club tattoos that your fans have? It must be quite surreal?

It’s amazing! And blows me away! It is surreal and I suppose it’s one of the biggest compliments you can get, that someone loves the music so much they want to get it permanently tattooed on their body! I buzz off seeing them. The maddest one was that lad from Australia who has my face on his leg! I met him at a festival over there and had to give him my rider, as that’s something I’d never dreamed I would see! You have to give these people respect. 

What have been the highlights of your year so far, and what are you most looking forward to in the coming months?

This year has been amazing so far. January I was mostly playing around South America, February I stayed at home making music, and in March and April the festivals kicked off! So yeah it’s been packed, busy and really fun. Career-wise I had been looking forward to Coachella the most, and now it’s probably all the Ibiza shows I’ve got lined up. Personally I can’t wait to get married! My fiancé and I have been to together for nearly 10 years, so it feels so special and I really cant wait.