Peshay

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Peshay
PESHAY028bright.jpg
Background information
Birth namePaul Pesce
Also known asThe Peshay · Beyond the Future · 5th Assassin · Outer Limits · Revelation · Secrets
Born (1970-12-18) 18 December 1970 (age 53)
London, England
Genres Drum and bass · house
Occupation(s)Record producer · DJ · remixer
Instrument(s)Synthesiser · softsynth · turntables · drum machine · sequencer · sampler · laptop
Years active1992–present
Labels FFRR · Island · Mo' Wax · Good Looking · Metalheadz · Reinforced · Infrared Records · Cubik · Peshay Music
Website peshay.com

Paul Pesce, better known as Peshay, is a British drum and bass and electronic music producer and DJ.

Contents

Early life

Peshay is of British and Italian heritage. [1] His first introduction to music was at an early age through his mother who was a well regarded classical singer. [1] He is described as a music obsessive from an early age with interests in jazz, funk, soul and early electro and hip-hop. [1] Although he is widely regarded as an influential music producer, he is also regarded as a groundbreaking DJ having been behind the turntables from as early as 13 years of age. [1]

Music career

Peshay began to come to prominence in the early 1990s, playing at East London raves and releasing classic tracks on Reinforced Records, Good Looking Records, and Metalheadz such as Protege EP, 19:5, Piano Tune/Vocal Tune, and Psychosis/Represent. In the mid-1990s, he would play at the seminal 'Metalheadz at the Blue Note' nights. [2]

In 1995 at the peak of drum and bass being recognised by the mainstream media, Peshay suffered an accident that left him almost bed-bound for two years. [1]

His early releases are often referenced as groundbreaking for his unique production techniques and pioneering use of samples and effects. He is also highly regarded for his early use of live musicians and instruments in pursuit of pushing his music forward. His releases are also considered to be timeless pieces of music that have gone on to inspire future generations of producers from all electronic musical disciplines. [3] [4] [5] [6] In particular, prominent early releases such as Psychosis, Piano Tune, On The Nile and Vocal Tune are often cited by peers and press as some of the most highly influential within the genre. [7]

In 1999, he released the critically acclaimed jazz-influenced album Miles From Home on Island Records. [8] [9] [10] This was followed up in 2002 with his disco-inspired album Fuzion, which spawned the single You Got Me Burning. A further album Jammin' was released in 2004.

In 2000, Peshay was asked by Red Bull Music Academy to present a lecture on music production, Djing and the music industry in Dublin, Ireland. [11]

In 2001, he was nominated for and won Best Drum and Bass DJ at the DJ Awards ceremony held annually in Ibiza, Spain. [12]

In 2013, he released a live jazz-funk and soul album on the Tru Thoughts record label named Generation. [13] The widely acclaimed album was written, produced and composed by Peshay. [14]

Peshay's seminal remix of Inner City Life was given a new lease of life in 2020, being released as exclusive content to celebrate the 25 year anniversary of Goldie's drum and bass album Timeless . [15] [16]

Peshay launched his own record label Peshay Music in 2019. The vision for the new label is to produce a wide spectrum of music and electronic music. The tracks released will feature live instruments all composed by Peshay allowing him to express his creativity as a composer and a producer across multiple and diverse musical genres. [17]

Discography

Albums

YearReleaseLabel
1999Miles from Home [18] Island Records
2002Fuzion [19] Cubik
2004Jammin [20] Cubik
2013Generation [21] Tru Thoughts
2018Reflections [22] De:Tuned
2019Underground Vol. 1 [23] Peshay Music
2023Underground Vol. 2 [24] [25] Peshay Music

Selected singles/EPs

YearReleaseLabel
1993"Rude" (with Dave Charlsworth)
1993"2 Dope" [26] Brain Records
1993Protege EP [26] Reinforced Records
1993"Warped" (as Beyond the Future)Paradise
1994"Psychosis/Represent" Metalheadz
1994"19.5" with LTJ Bukem Good Looking Records
1994"Piano Tune/Vocal Tune"Good Looking Records
1995"Futurama / Endless Thoughts"Basement Records
1995"On the War Path"Street Beats
1996"Jah VIP Rollers Mix"Razors Edge
1996"Music Rework"Nexus Records
1996"Headz 2" Mo Wax
1998"Miles from Home"Mo' Wax
1999"Truly"Island Blue
1999"Switch"Island Blue
2000"Lethal (Volume 1) vs Special Forces"Photek Productions
2002"You Got Me Burning" [27] Cubik
2002"Satisfy My Love" [28] Cubik
2004"Ronaldo"Cubik
2005"Buzz/Atlantis"Cubik
2011"Solina/How We Used to Live" V Records
2013Funkster EP V Recordings
2013Generation EP Tru Thoughts
2014Vanguard EP
2019"Angels & Demons" [29] Infrared
2019"Face Peel/After Dark"Peshay Music
2019"Let It Go/Infinity"Peshay Music
2020"Warpizm"Peshay Music
2023"Brighter Days"Peshay Music

Mixes/compilations

YearReleaseLabel
1997Promised Land Volume 3Higher Limits
2001Renegades of FunkRenegade
2007/2008Inside Cubik Caramelle Recordings / ZYX Music

Awards and nominations

DJ Awards
YearNominee / workAwardResult
2001PeshayBest Drum 'N' Bass & Beats DJWon

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References

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  2. "Peshay: Get Funky!". Breakbeat.co.uk. 22 March 2013.
  3. "Junglist Massive: State Of Bass Author Martin James's 20 Essential D&B Tracks". Thequietus.com. 18 April 2020.
  4. "20 of the best dance and electronic music tracks to test speakers". Whathifi.com. 31 March 2020.
  5. "The 12 best mid-90s jungle tracks". Mixmag.net. 20 October 2017.
  6. "10 timeless '90s drum 'n' bass tracks selected by Jonny L". Redbull.com. 10 June 2019.
  7. "Crate Diggin'Sub Focus' 15 Favourite '90s Drum & Bass Tracks". Fabriclondon.com. 3 April 2015.
  8. "Classic album: Peshay on Miles From Home". MusicRadar.com. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  9. "Pop: CD Reviews" . The Independent. 1 August 1999. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  10. "Miles From Home". New Musical Express. 12 September 2005. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  11. "Red Bull Dublin 2000". Red Bull Music Academy. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  12. "DJ Award 2001: 4th Edition Winners Man and Machine". Djawards.com. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  13. "Peshay: Re-Generation". Breakbeat.co.uk. 12 December 2013.
  14. Jim Carroll (20 December 2013). "Peshay: Generation". Irishtimes.com.
  15. Dave Turner (3 August 2020). "Goldie launches the 'Timeless Capsule' to celebrate his iconic debut album". mixmag.net.
  16. Eoin Murray (3 August 2020). "Goldie launches Timeless Capsule to celebrate 25th anniversary edition of the seminal d&b album". djmag.com.
  17. Dave Jenkins (18 September 2019). "Ask me about the future: Drum & bass pioneer Peshay returns..." Ukf.com.
  18. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com.
  19. "Peshay - Fuzion | Releases, Reviews, Credits". Discogs.com. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  20. "Peshay - Jammin | Releases, Reviews, Credits". Discogs.com. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  21. "Peshay - Generation | Releases, Reviews, Credits". Discogs.com. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  22. "Peshay - Reflections | Releases, Reviews, Credits". Discogs.com. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  23. "Peshay & Sense* - Underground Vol. 1 | Releases". Discogs.com. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  24. "This week's new music: Peshay & Krazeman feat: Steppa - Underground Vol. 2 |". ra.co. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  25. "Peshay – A Revolutionary Fusion of Drum & Bass in 'Underground Vol. 2 |". decodedmagazine.com. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  26. 1 2 "Release group "Protegé E.P" by Peshay". MusicBrainz.org. 24 May 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  27. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com.
  28. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com.
  29. "Release group "Angels & Demons" by Peshay". MusicBrainz.org. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2020.