Purple Disco Machine on virtual clubbing and the enduring power of disco

Purple Disco Machine’s name has become synonymous with beefed-up bouncing basslines, scintillating synth pads, and dense disco drums as the remixer-du-jour for everyone from Dua Lipa and Foals to Fatboy Slim, Gorillaz, and Lady Gaga. His originals have been filling global dancefloors – when it was safe to fill them – for almost a decade, with “Body Funk” becoming an instant classic when it sampled Hot Streak’s commanding “Body Work” in 2017. 

More recently, he’s become a central figure in Defected’s much-celebrated event series and label Glitterbox, taking up residency at their flagship party at Hï Ibiza and festivals around the world. Since COVID hit, he’s also jumped on the DJ live streaming craze, raking in over 1.5 million views in the process.

With disco entering its umpteenth resurgence – Kylie’s new album affirms its inevitable return with a not-so-subtle title (Google it!) – PDM has found himself at the forefront of a sound that refuses to die. He puts it down to continuing to expand his sonic palette by reaching beyond the more traditional orchestrated Salsoul sound, instead favouring a more “euro” and Italo approach, with octave-jump basslines and stripped back arrangements making up his signature groove.

This Sunday, October 11, Purple Disco Machine is joining Oliver Heldens at the afterparty for Velo’s ‘Mocktoberfest’ event, his performance streamed on the Velo YouTube channel at 4pm BST. Bringing together racing fans and dance, disco, and techno lovers alike, the streamed event marks McLaren Racing’s official Eifel Grand Prix virtual afterparty. Ahead of the show, we caught up with the Dresden-based DJ on the verge of his second album, to find out more about how he got started, the future of virtual clubbing and how he’s stayed creative during lockdown.

Tell us about your first DJ set. How did it go? 

Purple Disco Machine: It was the 16th birthday party of a friend of mine. I was so nervous because all my friends were there and I didn’t want to fail. 

What’s the track you always play to take the party to the next level?

Purple Disco Machine: “Body Funk”. Since the day I played it on a demo, to today, I can never, ever leave it out of my sets.

What do you think is the most under-rated disco record of all time?

Purple Disco Machine: Plush’s “Free and Easy”.

How have you been staying creative during lockdown? Has it been an inspiring time for you or have you been using it to catch up on sleep?

Purple Disco Machine: I built my new studio. It was actually a very good time to be in lockdown as I’ve been able to explore new sonic possibilities and really concentrate on my productions for my second album. This would have been so difficult in a regular touring season.

What’s your favourite stream you’ve watched over lockdown? Any highlights?

Purple Disco Machine: Carl Cox’s Cabin Fever.

“I built my new studio. It was actually a very good time to be in lockdown as I’ve been able to explore new sonic possibilities and really concentrate on my productions for my second album” – Purple Disco Machine

How do you think virtual clubbing will evolve in the future – do you think it has a role to play when physical events return?

Purple Disco Machine: I think that a virtual live-streamed show will become part of an artist’s touring schedule and a festival’s ticket offering – provided the production values are of a strong level. During lockdown, people got very used to and were generally happy with live streaming. For those fans who cannot travel to a show or cannot afford the ticket, it can be a good replacement. It just can’t be boring otherwise fans will not be motivated. So I’m intrigued about the development of this idea.

What advice would you give to young people who’ve taken up production during lockdown and wanna hone their skills?

Purple Disco Machine: Learn to play a musical instrument as well as understand production software. Understanding (how to play) music can only help.

Your studio is on fire(!): you can only save one bit of kit – what is it and why?

Purple Disco Machine: My iMac, because I’m so lazy with backups!

Of all your releases and remixes, what’s the one you're most proud of and why?

Purple Disco Machine: I love all my children equally! Too hard a question to be fair – but maybe “Body Funk“ as I think I was one of the few contemporary disco producers to focus and update the Italo Disco / Patrick Cowley sound for modern club records and for today’s dancefloors. Most of the other current disco producers looked to the USA disco scene for inspiration, but I felt there was a moment for the more pumping ‘euro’ groove.

What’s the future of Purple Disco Machine? Do you have a master plan?

Purple Disco Machine: Recording and releasing my second album is very much my focus right now. In the future, I would like to produce for other artists and I’m taking some early steps in this direction, but there will always be a PDM artist.

How do you think COVID might positively affect DJing, nightlife and clubbing culture generally?

Purple Disco Machine: (I think) that the live scene and the record-making scene (will) come more close again. In recent days, it felt sometimes that live touring had not much to do with releasing great records. As a producer who really tries to focus on my recordings, I want that intimate connection between fans enjoying my records and then coming to see me play those records at a show.

Purple Disco Machine plays the Velo ‘Mocktoberfest’ afterparty this Sunday, October 11, 4pm BST – tune in for the party on the Velo YouTube channel here

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