Monday, May 19, 2008

Rachel Panay is The Real Thing


The talented, Rachel Panay, is back to clubland and we still believe she's got it going on!

Perry Twins: Congratulations on the success of your new single "Repeat Performance". How did you go about writing your latest hit? Is it from your own personal experience?

Rachel Panay: Haha! Its so funny because with this particular song, that seems to be the burning question! lol! But jokes aside, frankly, yes! I met someone who was about to move overseas so we had this really short window of time to "enjoy getting to know each other" so to speak. So as the 1st verse goes, "Tonight when I see you know know I'm gonna need you to do what you did to me last night." I wrote the song as I was getting ready to go out with him that very night. Literally I came out of the shower & I had some instrumental music playing, & the words and melody of the 1st verse just came to me. Then as I started writing the hook/chorus "repeat performance, a one man show" came to mind & I knew I had a cool concept that would enable me to use the analogy of the stage and an amazing performance that is so good the audience demands one more! In the chorus I say, "Its a repeat performance, by popular demand, but it was only meant to be a one night stand". And its true isn't it, that there are one night stands that remain just that one night. And THEN there are one night stands that turn into affairs that continue for a long while or even relationships! In my personal case though I would have to call it an affair NOT a relationship!


PT: "Repeat Performance" just became a breakout on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play Chart and Donna Summer's new single also just debuted on the chart. Is this the first time that you've been climbing the charts at the same time as one of your biggest musical influences?


RP: Oh, good question! Yes, I am VERY "vocal" about the fact that I adore & admire Donna Summer's sound above all other vocalists in this Dance genre. And in fact we all know we wouldn't be here were it not for her & her team of amazing writers & producers back in the day that made those incredible records! And now she continues today to write & sing amazing records! As I recall, my singles "Back to Love" which was #2 on Billboard back in 2004 and "The Real Thing" which was #6 in 2007, were on charting during the time when Ms. Summer also had a single on the chart. And really that is an interesting phenomena of the Billboard Club Play chart.....that our songs at any given time are sitting on the chart in the company of major label artists like her, or Madonna, or Seal, or Beyonce!


PT: Your album "Back To Love" is one of the best albums from the past year and in addition to "Repeat Performance", it features your singles "The Real Thing", "It's Got To Be Love", "I Still Believe", "The Walk Of Shame", "Back To Love" and many more. Which are your favorite songs from the album to sing in your sassy live performances?


RP: Aw, thank you for calling my performances "sassy"! haha! I love it! You know what? Since "Repeat Performance" has become a part of my live repertoire, its my new & favored baby, the one I enjoy the most for now. HOWEVER recently, at a show in my hometown of DC, the DJ accidentally played "The Real Thing" instead of "Repeat Performance" as planned & I considered stopping the track & making him play the correct one BUT I found so many people in the audience singing it & really getting into it so I just felt it was the right thing to go with the flow & I had so MUCH fun with it. But I think that really one of the most powerful & poignant songs of the ones you mentioned is "I Still Believe" because its about hope that never dies & that's an emotion or character quality that goes WAY beyond romance & is about us always as people who have the will to go on living even after experiencing heartbreak, never losing hope that after the rain falls, the sun will come out eventually. So I notice when the song begins in the very first second, that something suddenly comes over the faces of the audience. I see this sweetness light up their expressions & by the end of the song everyone's singing along and feeling this great sense of optimism. With that energy, how can it not be one of my favorites to perform live?!


PT: You always put on excellent live shows and we can't wait to see you perform again. Where are some of your upcoming shows and are you working on any other new projects that we can look forward to?


RP: Oh, thank you so much! That means a lot coming from you guys! : ) You may or may not know that I have started something for my jazz/acoustic side called The Rachel Panay Project! Its comprised of live piano, acoustic bass, & drums. So that's something I am investing a lot of time and energy into launching. Most immediately though I have Dance music shows coming in my new hometown of NYC, my original hometown of DC & Memphis where I am so excited to see Graceland during my two day stay for their Pride festival. I also have a TON of new writing & recording projects that are keeping me extremely busy working long distance with producers spanning from Boston to LA to France to Scotland! As you know, writing is as much a passion of mine as the performing & I have been fortunate to be approached with co-writing projects from some amazingly talented guys & its just exciting to have a lot of different sounds to work with. You know, for each track I am sent, I feel an opportunity to explore another character, like an actress trying on different roles that are all facets of her own being. Its a chance to excavate parts of my own being with each new writing project. That's an amazing thing about Dance music....that there are so few strict rules in place that you would find in Top 40 formula's. I love that we can do whatever we feel inspired to do. To me Dance music is the Jazz of our generation!

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Splash Bash in Phoenix with Jania!

Tickets are now available for The Splash Bash in Phoenix Memorial Day Weekend! We will be DJing and Jania will be performing Activate My Body. Ted Kirby interviewed us for ION Magazine and the current issue is out and also on-line at www.ionaz.com
See you in Phoenix!

Friday, May 9, 2008

We are DJing tonight in West Hollywood!


We are back in LA and will be spinning tonight at Eleven/Fresh Fridays in West Hollywood...hope to see you there!



Monday, May 5, 2008

Nominated for Mix Show DJs of the year

We were recently nominated for Mix Show DJs of the year! We definitely appreciate the nomination : ) Check it out at www.therealmixshow.com

Friday, May 2, 2008

There Is Only One Alan T


This Sunday, May 4, we are "twinning" Click Sundays at dek23 in Miami Beach for the record and video release of Alan T and Lula's new club track, There Is Only One. From the man that let the world know "fierceness is always welcome" comes these answers to our questions...

Perry Twins : You have been recording hot club tracks for the past ten years, how did you first become involved with recording music?

Alan T: Via a message left on an answering machine.

Perry Twins: How do you feel the club scene has changed between 1998 and 2008?

Alan T: Lord that will require the Perry Twins taking me to dinner while in Miami! ☺

Perry Twins: It's a date! Can you explain the writing and recording process for your new single with Lula, There Is Only One? It's an awesome collaboration! Are there any artists you would like to collaborate with?

Alan T: She recorded her parts in Vienna Austria and I did mine in Miami Then Eddie Cumana put the battle together to a beat! A Future collaboration with Franklin Fuentes is first and foremost on the list! I adore Franklin!

Perry Twins: When recording your songs, is there a rigid outline with lyrics already written out or do you also ad lib in the studio?

Alan T: Depends on the producer, but myself am never adherent to any given formula whatsoever.

Perry Twins: What's the strangest situation that you've ever experienced at "The Door"?

Alan T: Male genetalia in lue of cover charge payment-which was fine.

Perry Twins: What are some of your favorite all time club songs and what are some current ones that you are currently really into?

Alan T: Love a lot of true classic disco songs, italo house, as many who know me can attest...currently totally feeling Stephan Grondins’ mix of Ceevox’s Believe In We-and am very excited about That Kid Chris’ mix of Bostich-the
legendary Yello record.

Perry Twins: When out of the clubs, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Alan T: Cooking gardening the beach and just driving in my vintage benz convertible.

Perry Twins: What are you most proud of so far in your career and your life in general?

Alan T: Everything to date-3 degeees of architecture from prestigious institutions of academia, not to mention having worked with many of house musics more renowned heroes.

Perry Twins: We are really looking forward to your record and video release party for There Is Only One at Click! What do you have in store for the night? Do you already have your outfit picked out?

Alan T: My new bullhorn , Roxx’s intro for the video’s introduction and a custom for the occasion Designer Mike Lee jumpsuit.
Perry Twins: Oh, we were told our Mike Lee jumpsuits were one of a kind custom for the occasion..I guess we will be triplets. Do you have any upcoming projects that you want to mention?

Alan T: A collaboration with that kid chris entitled damage control on tkc music, one with /Erick Morillo, a track entitled -Nip Tuck/ surgically Implanted with Cedric Gervais and to be included on his next LP-Electricka Salsa with William Umana and a Rosabel collaboration to name a few of many.

Perry Twins: Sounds like you are a busy beaver. Looking forward to the fun with you and Roxx Sunday at Click!

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Dance With Lula

Lula's hot new single, There Is Only One, is blowing up speakers worldwide and here is what this international star had to say about her new hit with Alan T and her classic releases...




Perry Twins: Millions of people have danced to your songs all over the world and you've worked with some of clubland's biggest producers like Danny Tenaglia and Johnny Vicious, how did you first start recording music?



Lula: I WAS NEVER EVER THINKING ANYTHING LIKE RECORDING MY VOCALS FOR A TRACK, I NEVER TALKED ABOUT IT, IT NEVER EVER CROSSED MY MIND, I DONT THINK IT CROSSED DANNY´S MIND EITHER.... THIS MEMORABLE NIGHT IN NEW YORK I ONLY WENT TO THE STUDIO TO MEET THE GUYS OF THE USL, VIBE AND RUI (SINCE I WAS SUCH A BIG FAN OF THEM AND DANNY WAS WORKING ON A TRACK WITH THEM). ALL OF A SUDDEN DANNY SAID THAT I SHOULD GET BEHIND THE MIC AND WE STARTED TALKING.... THAT'S HOW "GOOSEBUMPS" CAME ABOUT. AND EVERY OTHER TRACK JUST FOLLOWED. I OWE IT TO DANNYS CREATIVITY AND HIS EXPERIMENTAL MIND THAT HE LET ME TALK ABOUT MY FEELINGS AND THAT HE EVEN PUT IT ON A TRACK, AND I ALSO OWE EVERYTHING TO JOHNNY VICIOUS. WITHOUT HIS UNBELIEVALBLE MUSHROOM REMIX I WOULDN'T BE KNOWN SO WELL, I BELIEVE.



Perry Twins: We always had a vision of you live on stage performing Ecstasy, it had such a great feel to it! How did the recording process of Ecstasy go? Did you have set lyrics before you started recording or did you come up with some of the ideas while recording it?



Lula: OH, MY... YEAH, I THINK THAT WAS THE CRAZIEST, COOLEST TIME IN MY LIFE SO FAR WHEN I WAS DOING THESE SHOWS IN THE NIGHTCLUBS WITH MY DANCERS AND MY ROADMANAGER......I LOVED IT ALL. AND THE AUDIENCE SEEMED TO LOVE OUR SHOWS, TOO. SOME CLUBS EVEN BOOKED US 2 OR 3 TIMES ALWAYS WITH THE SAME TRACK. YEAH, THE ECSTASY RECORDING NIGHT WAS ANOTHER MEMORABLE NIGHT. THAT TIME IN JOHNNYS WALK IN CLOSET. BETWEEN ALL HIS CLOTHES. THATS WHERE HE PUT THE MIC. AND ME.(IT WAS THE BEST SOUND IN THERE...) SAME THING, I HAVENT HAD ANYTHING WRITTEN DOWN, HE JUST STARTED TALKING TO ME OVER SOME BEAT AND I ANSWERED OR REPEATED WHAT HE TOLD ME TO SAY. SOMETIMES I DIDNT EVEN KNOW WHAT I WAS REALLY SAYING AND WHY HE WAS LAUGHING ALL THE TIME, LIKE THE "URANUS" STUFF.... THATS TYPICAL JOHNNY. HE´S SO FUNNY.



Perry Twins: We still get requests for that song when we DJ and it seems everyone loves it, even our parents. When you were recording it, did you have any idea about how big of a hit it would become?



Lula: YOU MUST HAVE SOME COOL PARENTS! CONGRATULATIONS! WELL, I DONT REALLY THINK MUCH IN ADVANCE IF A TRACK WILL BE A SUCCESS OR NOT. I CAN NEVER TELL. I KNEW WHAT A GREAT PRODUCER JOHNNY WAS, THAT WAS ENOUGH FOR ME TO BE REALLY EXCITED TO RECORD VOCALS FOR HIM. BUT REALLY, THIS TRACK WAS AN AMAZING SUCCESS. IT WAS EVEN IN THE BILLBOARD CHARTS! I WAS ON THE BILLBOARD CHARTS. UNBELIEVABLE... NO. 4 OR 6. I FORGOT. AND ONE FRIDAY NIGHT I WAS IN A CAB IN NY GOING TO VINYL FOR DANNY AND THEY PLAYED IT ON THE RADIO. WHAT A FEELING! MY VOICE IN THE NY RADIO.... WHAT A DREAM.



Perry Twins: Yeah, our parents are very cool, we love them! Your hot new release with Alan T, There Is Only One, is accompanied by an eye-popping video with tons of cool visuals. Where did you shoot the video and did you have fun working on it?



Lula: OF COURSE THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN WITH ALAN T. AND HIS ENERGY ???? YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE. WE SHOT IT IN A MANHATTAN FOTOSTUDIO, SOMEWHERE AROUND UNION SQUARE. THEY ALMOST KILLED ME BECAUSE I COULDNT LIP SINC.... BUT I NEVER DID THAT IN MY LIFE, WHAT CAN I DO....???? I DID ALL MY SHOWS LIVE....BUT I SURVIVED HIS ATTACKS WITH THE MEGAPHONE. (HE GOT THAT FROM PUFF DADDY.... CRAZY) BUT THE BIGGEST PART OF THIS VIDEO PLAYED THE TALENTED GUY WHO ACTUALLY MADE THE VIDEO. ADD-TV HE CALLS HIMSELF. WITHOUT HIM IT WOULDNT LOOK THAT COOL.



Perry Twins: What are you most proud of in your career and in your life in general?



Lula: WOW.... WHAT A QUESTION.... THATS HARD FOR ME TO ANSWER.... MUSIC WISE, I FEEL RATHER BLESSED, LUCKY, HAPPY AND AMAZED ABOUT EVERYTHING WHAT HAD HAPPENED SINCE THAT "GOOSEBUMP" NIGHT. ACTUALLY SINCE I´VE MET DANNY AT TWILO. I´M STILL SPEECHLESS WHEN CERTAIN PRODUCERS ARE OFFERING TO WORK WITH ME, LIKE DJ PIERRE OR RALPH FALCON FOR EXAMPLE. JUST TO TALK TO THESE GUYS IS STILL UNBELIEVABLE FOR ME. BUT WHAT I´M REALLY PROUD OF IS MY 8 YEAR OLD SON. HOW HE TURNED OUT TO BE, HOW SWEET HE IS, HOW CREATIVE, HOW TALENTED AND SMART. YEAH, I´M PROUD OF MYSELF THAT I´M HIS MOTHER. NOT THE BEST IN THE WORLD,I´M SURE, BUT I CHANGED MY WHOLE LIFE AROUND TO DO WHATS BEST FOR MY CHILD AND TO BE THE BEST MOTHER I CAN BE. THAT INCLUDES NOT BEING IN FRONT OF MY LOVELY SPEAKER TOO OFTEN, NOT TO DO SHOWS ANYMORE, NOT TO LIVE IN NY ANYMORE..... ALL THAT.



Perry Twins: You recently had a birthday. What did you do to celebrate this year?



Lula: I HAD SOME OF MY BEST VIENNESE FRIENDS OVER, MAYBE 12 PEOPLE OR SO, MOST OF THEM I HAVE KNOWN FOR 15 TO 20 YEARS. (AIRMALE WAS HERE, TOO. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A COLLABORATION). WE WERE ALL EATING ITALIAN FOOD, TALKING, DRINKING, LAUGHING, LISTENING TO MUSIC. IT WAS COOL. ONE OF THE HAPPIEST TIMES IS WHEN I´M SPENDING TIME WITH MY BEST FRIENDS.



Perry Twins: What projects are you currently working on?



Lula: THE NEXT RELEASE WILL BE MY FIRST FULL LENGTH ALBUM "THE UNDERGROUND SOUNDS OF PORTUGAL AND ME" AT END OF MAY. WE ARE STILL FINISHING THE LAST TRACKS. THAT IS SOMETHING I WANTED TO DO FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, ACTUALLY SINCE I HEARD ALL THESE GREAT PORTUGESE TRACKS AT THE OLD SF AND TWILO. IT´S AN ALBUM STRICTLY WITH THE PORTUGESE SOUND. I LOVE THAT SOUND SO MUCH. AND WHAT GREAT TRACKS I HAVE ON THIS ALBUM. SOME OF THE BEST PORTUGESE PRODUCERS COLLABORATED WITH ME. I LOVE THESE GUYS. RUI DA SILVA, KULT OF KRAMERIA, CARLOS FAUVRELLE, JIGGY, CARLOS MANACA AND SOME NEWCOMERS, TOO. THAT ALBUM I'M REALLY PROUD OF. YEAH, NOW I KNOW WHAT I´M PROUD OF. THIS ALBUM. THANKS! THIS INTERVIEW IS LIKE A THERAPIE SESSION FOR ME. AND SOON I WILL START WORKING ON SOME NEW TRACKS. ONE MIGHT BE WITH DJ CHUS, ONE WITH THE ONE AND ONLY FRANKLIN FUENTES. (WHAT AN HONOUR! THAT´S SOOOOOO EXCITING FOR ME! AND WHAT A SWEETHEART FRANKLIN IS.)


Perry Twins: Are you still dancing in your favorite spot, right in front of the speaker?



Lula: NOT AS OFTEN AS I WANTED TO. AND ANYWAY I´M PRETTY SPOILED AFTER ALL THESE GREAT NIGHTS AT THE OLD SOUND FACTORY, AT TWILO AND VINYL....CAN´T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT.... IT´S VERY HARD FOR ME TO FEEL REALLY COMFORTABLE IN A CLUB AND TO GET REALLY EXCITED. MOSTLY THE CLUBS ARE TOO BRIGHT NOWADAYS, THATS THE WORST... AND THE SPEAKERS ARE UP THERE IN THE AIR. I HATE THAT. BUT I HAD SOME GREAT NIGHTS IN PORTUGAL IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS WITH VIBE AND FAUVRELLE. THEY STILL HAVE SOME BIG, BLACK SPEAKERS THAT STAND ON THE GROUND OVER THERE.



Perry Twins: Good luck with the new single, we love it! Thanks for taking the time to answer the questions.



Lula: THANKS, I´M GLAD YOU LIKE IT. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING ME TO DO THIS INTERVIEW. I APPRECIATE IT. I LOVED YOUR QUESTIONS. LOVE TO YOU 2! YOU ARE THE BEST.



This Sunday night, May 4, we will be spinning Click at dek23 in Miami to celebrate the record and video release of Lula vs Alan T "There Is Only One." You can pick up a copy at www.perfectbeat.com and be sure to visit www.myspace.com/lulainthespeaker