Deeply rooted in Italy’s techno culture, legendary Trade DJ and Producer, Pagano, is heading up Egg LDN’s Pride Special on Saturday July 2nd with his OFF LDN collective.
From his album debut ‘Infinite Regress’ on his KISM label to topping the Beatport Techno charts with his Transfiguration EP on Christian Smith’s Tronic label, Pagano numbers fans such as Pig & Dan and Cocoon’s Karotte. With releases on Mark Knight’s Toolroom Trax label and Tronic, Christian Smith has just remixed Pagano’s new “Panta Rhei” with the Original Mix heavily supported by Drumcode’s Adam Beyer in his radio show and live DJ sets creating a big buzz.
Still massively in demand on the international DJ wise this summer with dates in Montreal, San Diego, Paris and Madrid, Pagano also joins the new Berlin’s Love Parade called ‘Rave The Planet’ playing on the Tronic / B:East truck. That evening he plays the official Rave The Planet After-Party in a Tronic Showcase alongside Christian Smith, Drunken Kong, Denise Schneider, Kaiserdisco and Ramon Tapia.
Pagano’s Tronic Live stream during lockdown racked up thousands of views and plays on Facebook and he continues to defy categorisation spicing up both house and techno dance floors up with his cutting edge sounds.
Pagano tells QX about his early Pride experiences and why he thinks Pride is still so important.
“Being born in Sicily pre-internet meant growing up in an all-white, mostly centre-right, Catholic and macho-sexist environment with no visible LGBTQ+ role-models. So obviously I consider Pride not just an excuse to get a gig but a heavily political and socially important moment to educate and create visibility about diversity, an event for people of all ages, size, gender, colour and sexual orientation. My hometown Catania has come a long way since and they do host Pride celebrations every summer. The East coast of Sicily is exposed to a lot of different cultures and kinds of people as it is a big touristic destination where the arts have always permeated society but there is still a long way to go.
I first went to Pride in Bologna in the 90s. Yes, the town of the Bolognese sauce. But most importantly the town of the first and oldest University in the World with a big left leaning political tradition. Bologna used to be the city where Italian LGBTQ+ teenagers would move to before the turn of the millennium, to study and be themselves. I have very fond memories of my time in Bologna and of my first Pride experience in this wonderful town. That new sense of freedom and belonging that I felt there for the first time in my life when I was in my 20s will be with me forever.
Since then, and thanks to my job, I have experienced Pride celebrations all over the world. Seeing the enthusiasm and drive of many young LGBTQ+ activists in Avenida Paulista in Sao Paulo was really infectious. Also witnessing the Pride march in its birthplace NYC was another very emotional experience.
Without going too far, I think that even in the UK Pride is still vital. The spike in homophobic attacks we witnessed in the last few years is a sign that as much as we have created a lot of visibility and have achieved a lot in terms of rights, we still have to educate a lot of people to a peaceful coexistence regardless of backgrounds and ideologies. We should not take anything for granted, history teaches us that things can swing one way or another very quickly and unexpectedly. The US went from Obama to Trump and certain States are now banning women rights. This could happen to LGBTQ+ rights as well. This is why Pride is still extremely important.”
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Pagano’s 5 favourite Pride tracks
‘Opulence’ X-Press 2
NYC Hard House inspired drums and those legendary vocals from ‘Paris is Burning’. From watching the documentary the first time in the 90’s to playing this track during my Beatport Pride DJ livestream in 2020 during Covid, when all Pride events got cancelled worldwide. This track takes on so many different meanings for me.
‘Sunshine’ – Dr. Motte & Westbam
This German Techno-Trance anthem was the soundtrack of many parades I attended in 1997, from the CSD (as the Germans call Pride) to obviously the Love Parade. Uplifting and ethereal, the vibe and memories still give me goosebumps.
‘Free’ – Ultra Nate
There’s an old Oscar G Remix of this classic anthem that I’ve been playing in my Pride DJ sets since it first came out. Relentless and energetic it is the one that best suits my personality, drive and DJ sets.
‘Rise’ – Pagano feat Shena
Originally from the year 2000, I always loved this Ian Carey / Soul Providers House anthem and its lyrics, but never found a version that could fit my sets. So with the help of Shena’s powerful vocals we covered it and I made a more peak time Techno remix.
‘Smalltown Boy’ – Bronski Beat
To this day I cannot watch the original video without becoming emotional. A lot of LGBTQ+ ppl who left home for the big city can identify with this 80s synth-pop masterpiece.
Egg LDN pulls together an inclusive local and International cast of DJs and performers for their Pride Special all-nighter taking place on Saturday July 2nd 2022.
- Pagano and his OFF LDN crew are joined by guests Frankel & Harper, Jeffrey Hinton and Auntie Maureen. You can join them on the Middle Floor at Egg LDN’s Pride All-Night Special which takes place on Saturday 2 July.
- In the Loft London’s premiere hot mess queer rave UOKHUN? takeover with their house bangerz and klub klassics, campery n’ chaos, overseen by Resident DJs Rita-lin and Victoria Peckham, with some of the city’s wildest club kids and performers. Resident DJs are joined by the UOKHUN? Dancers.
- On the Ground Floor catch Berlin’s Boris (Ostgut), Cassie Raptor, Kyle E and Wax Wings.
Running from 11pm until super late, Early Bird tickets are £10 available here:
https://ra.co/events/1540535#tickets
