Hed Kandi vocalist Peyton

Dubai | 23/04/2010

Combining a soulful resonant sound with looks that are more than easy on the eye, male vocalist of Hed Kandi fame Peyton is forthcoming about his achievements and recognition as an artist. He chats frankly about his relationship with top producer Eric Kupper, the feud between Hed Kandi and Fierce Angel and super cuts to success…

There are few male vocalists in the industry with your achievements and reputation behind them. Why do you think you stand out as an artist?
I would like to think it’s my hair. Good hair really helps you stand out. Apart from that, I suppose it might be because I don’t really have a lot of competition! Not only are there few male vocalists in the industry with my achievements and reputation, as you say, but there are just few male vocalists in the industry full stop. A skinny white boy in a sea of big black divas is bound to stick out!

Your sound is described as chunky, vocal gospel house. Is it safe to say that your Pentecostal preaching family upbringing was a direct influence on this?
Is that how my sound is described? You don’t often get to read the words ‘chunky’ and ‘gospel’ in the same sentence. Sounds very cool, although I should probably point out here that I like to work with lots of different sounds, but yes . . . the chunky gospel house stuff can definitely be traced back to my Pentecostal roots. Gospel music was my life growing up.

After signing a single to Hed Kandi in 2003, you teamed up with producer Eric Kupper. How has this relationship affected your music?
Eric has remained a close colleague and dear friend over the years, and we have made a lot of music together since first meeting in 2003. In fact, only last month we were together in Sydney and spent a day in the studio working on a new track. I was very lucky to get hooked up with him at the beginning of my career and I’m very proud of our collaborations. The man is a living legend.

You were the only male nominated for Outstanding Vocalist of the Year at London’s House Music Awards (2005). How does it feel to be so highly-respected for your work?
It’s always good to feel appreciated and respected of course, for anything you do! Now it would just be great to be filthy rich as well, screw the respect and show me the MONEY! Haha. I’m afraid it’s the wrong decade to be in the music industry for making money, so respect will have to do for now!

You also have tracks released under the Fierce Angel label. Do you find it difficult to be loyal to one label after the very public disagreements between them and Hed Kandi? (Hed Kandi creator Mark Doyle now runs Fierce Angel and there is an alleged feud between the two parties).
In the early days it was a nightmare for all of us who were closely connected to the HK label, and also close to Mark. Thankfully, over the years, the storm has settled and everyone just seems to be getting on with their own business and leaving all that mess in the past where it belongs. It has always been my policy to make music, not war. And in this way, I have been able to remain very loyal to both brands.

Tell us about your experiences featuring in music videos? We hear it’s hard work!
It’s actually a lot of fun, but yes it can be exhausting. I spent a week in Beijing once during February, shooting a video on location and it just about killed me. I have never been so cold in my life. There was a shot where I had to be naked, lying in the fetal position, and let’s just say in those temperatures it was just as well we weren’t shooting a skin flick!

As such a prominent artist with many achievements behind you, what else do you hope for in the near future?
You know, that’s a very good question. Although, I’m not sure I have a good answer for it. To be honest, I’d like to figure out a way to somehow transition what I do into something else, but I haven’t figured that out yet. I love dance music, but I don’t necessarily want to still be making it when I’m sixty, (which is a long way away!!) I feel a chill-out album coming on!

Catch Peyton LIVE as sings up a storm at Hed Kandi Twisted Disco on Friday 23rd April, with DJs Matthew Charles and Jim Breeze in support. Tickets are 100dhs after 9pm.

www.infusion.ae