Does the Name Oakenfold Mean Anything to You?
When you’re a talented disc jockey and have the ear for creating music re-mixing, what happens? Why, you make it to stardom of course!
Paul Oakenfold is a high-profile London disc jockey who has also charmed the US with his remixing talents. He was born in London on August 30, 1963. In the late 80s, Paul and his friends went to Ibiza, Spain and liked what they heard – a blend of Italo disco, soul and house – and using his attraction to the Ibiza music scene, started producing remixes for U2, Arrested Development, Simply Red and others. These remixes were recorded under the Perfecto Records label which Paul owned.
In the early years, his reputation was that of a top party DJ and began making his claim to fame in the early 90s when he created Trance which is a unique dance music genre which he discovered while vacationing in India. He blended Trancemusic with similar European hits to produce his own brand of music. In 1994, he produced One’s Essential Mix for the British Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Division. It was later called Goa Mix and was the most requested hit on BBC.
In 1996, Oakenfold worked on the Fantazia House Collection 6, a compiled series of UK music which was successful at the time and to which he added his own style. Oakenfold was a member of the Grace Band but this was short-lived. From 1997 to 1999, Oakenfold became Cream’s in-house DJ but also focused on establishing his American reputation. Tranceport was released in the US in 1998 and was well-received.
After Tranceport, Paul produced another successful album – Another World. His music vibrated in such films as the Matrix Reloaded, Swordfish and Die Another Day, to name a few. Two years ago, he also worked on the Japanese film, “Appleseed.” Q Magazine included Paul’s band as “50 Bands to See Before You Die.”
Nelly Furtado and other famous artists were released in the album, Bunkka. Another album, “A Lively Mind” was released this summer.
If you remember the movie Collateral, Paul’s song Ready Steady Go was interspersed with some Korean lyrics, included into the soundtrack. Other films such as The Bourne Identity and Snowman also benefited from his talents.