STORE MIX 128: p-rallel

Imagine you respond to a tweet and the next thing you know you have Rejjie Snow and Playboi Carti pull up to your house. For P-rallel, he doesn’t have to imagine, it happened at fifteen years old. After replying to a tweet asking for a studio to use, P-rallel would later welcome the two into his home studio, an early career session that would act as a sign for his future. Over a decade later, he’s known as a celebrated DJ and artist within London’s club scene, having collaborated with Greentea Peng, Lava La Rue, Rachel Chinouriri, and Venna.

Releasing his first EP The Soul Trip in 2016, P-rallel has since a plethora of projects and singles, including the recent Bring It Back with Megra. Raised by his DJ father in Acton, he grew to develop a varied taste in music, something that reflects in both his mixing and production. Now, he’s imbued his taste into the latest LN-CC Store Mix and spoke with us about his career and upbringing.

You made your start reaching out to Twitter callouts, a bold move for a teenager that got you in the room with some big talent. Where did you get your confidence from?

I think at the time, I was working at River Island or Sole and just knew this wasn’t it for me. So, I guess I just had this... fuck it let’s see what happens. Also, I have very supportive parents, so it helped a lot.

And you were raised by a DJ, that must have been such an enriching upbringing for you. What did you learn early on that’s stayed with you as you explored your own music journey?

The only DJ lesson that my dad taught me was how to count to 4 and how to find the first beat of the bar. From there, I guess with knowing that, you can get very creative with your mixing.

I can imagine it really informed your taste. What are some standout tracks from your childhood that you were fond of?

D'Angelo - Spanish Joint

DJ Zinc - 138 Trek

Omar - Dancing 

Do you recall your first time DJing to a crowd. Where was it and do you remember what the set was like?

First time I DJ’d was at a spot called Birthdays in Dalston, was first for Lord Apex. But my first set as P-rallel was down the road from birthdays called Dalston Junction, which I believe was a Giggs afterparty when he performed Landlord at O2 Brixton… had no clue how to use CDJs because I only learnt on a controller… but just gotta be able to count to 4 and you’ll be good.

When you’re mixing, do you go in with a plan or play to the vibe of the crowd?

Every set is different, every crowd is different, I just go with whatever mood I’m in or what the rest of lineup is like.

Favourite track to close a set with?

CJ Bolland - Sugar is sweet (Armand Van Helden's Sugar Daddy Edit)

When did you transition from DJing into making your own music, and how do you thinking mixing informed your own musical style?

Producer first! I transition into DJing because my boys need a DJ to play their riddims while they were on stage, Then I started making music with the club in mind because I was DJing.

Your first EP The Soul Trip came out a decade ago. How does it feel looking back at that project now?

It reminds me of a time of my career where it was more about having fun and just making music with my friends, rather than trying to make music for the machine. It’s a mindset I’ve been trying to get back to recently.

Your latest track Bring It Back with Megra – can you talk about how that came together?

We tried a thing and something beautiful came out of it. Megra reminds me of what European electronic music sounded like when I was growing up, our styles could be polar opposites sometimes, so it was great to find a meeting point.

Can you allude to anything new you’ve been working on?

Album on the horizon, lots to come before that but it’s coming together.

We’re excited to hear the mix you put together for us. Where’s the ideal place you would say to listen to it?

There’s no point in life where you can’t listen to something I’ve curated. Whatever you’re going through, or wherever you are in the world, doing whatever you’re doing… I’ll just add to your experience.