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Interview with Paul Denton about his album Retrospekt out now on FSOE
Over the past few years, Paul Denton has become a household name in the trance music scene. He achieved this by creating a diverse range of productions that encompass various subgenres, including vocal, uplifting, psy, and tech-trance.
Currently, he is highly sought after and has performed at prestigious events such as EDC Las Vegas, Dreamstate So Cal, and consistently at Luminosity Events.
Paul Denton has also embarked on global tours, performing in countries like the USA, Argentina, Australia, Thailand, and extensively across clubs in Europe. During his sets, he seamlessly transitions through a wide variety of music, always keeping the audience’s journey in mind. As a clubber at heart, Paul understands the importance of diversifying his sets to cater to different tastes.
Over the past decade, Paul has honed his production skills and ensures that his tracks are released on only the most reputable labels in the trance music industry. His music has been featured on renowned labels such as FSOE, Armada, Kearnage, Subculture, and Afterdark.
Paul Denton has already achieved remarkable success, amassing seven Beatport Number 1 songs. These include “Afterglow,” “The Great Beyond,” “Night Beneath the Stars feat Audrey Gallagher,” “Let You Go feat Deirdre McLaughlin,” “Stomp,” “Shadow,” and FSOE’s anthem “Rise Up.”
His latest accomplishment is the release of his first personal album at FSOE, titled “Retrospekt.” This heartfelt tribute to the diverse sounds that have shaped his 20-year journey in music offers a genre-spanning experience that reflects Paul’s evolution as both a DJ and producer. From 122 BPM breakbeats to progressive house-driven grooves and peak-time trance anthems, and even the raw energy of 144 BPM hard trance, “Retrospekt” is a true musical journey. The album features powerful vocal collaborations with Storm State, Ren Faye, Linnea Schossow, and Lyd14, showcasing the full spectrum of Paul Denton’s sound.
Paul Denton has firmly established himself as a leading figure in the global trance scene, with a career spanning over two decades and performances at iconic events like EDC Las Vegas, Dreamstate So Cal, and Luminosity. His debut album, Retrospekt, is a heartfelt journey through the sounds that have shaped his evolution as a DJ and producer. In this interview, we explore the stories, techniques, and inspirations behind his music, including the 20-year journey culminating in Retrospekt and its genre-spanning tracks, collaborations with vocalists like Storm State, Ren Faye, Linnea Schossow, and Lyd14, the creative process of blending breakbeats, progressive, and peak-time trance, how Paul balances DJing and production while crafting emotional live sets, and memorable performances and the influence of Retrospekt on future tours.
- A. Album and Creative Process
1-Dimitris: What inspired the title Retrospekt for your debut album?
Paul Denton: The initial idea for the album came about a couple of years back when my brother and I, and my manager Barry, were chatting about past trance albums, and he suggested that I make one. I've always had in my mind that one day I would sit down and write an album, so it seemed like a good time to start. The title was chosen as the concept was an ode to the sounds and music that inspired me over the past 20 years.
2-Dimitris: How does this album reflect your 20-year journey in electronic music?
Paul Denton: This album is really a reflection of everything I’ve learned, experienced, and evolved through over the past 20 years in electronic music. The album delves into the sounds that shaped my journey as a DJ and producer, taking influences from the likes of Above & Beyond, Aly & Fila, Solarstone, Sasha, and more.
3-Dimitris: Can you share the creative process behind blending genres from breakbeats to hard trance?
Paul Denton: I’ve always been into all styles of music, be it breaks or harder sounds, and in a way, the blending of genres reflects my own evolution—never wanting to be stuck to one sound, always trying to push boundaries while still keeping my roots in trance. It’s about creating tension and release in new ways, using familiar tools but telling a different story.
4-Dimitris: Which track on Retrospekt is most personal to you and why?
5-Dimitris: How did your collaborations with Storm State, Ren Faye, Linnea Schossow, and Lyd14 come about?
Paul Denton: Yes, I've had the pleasure of collaborating with vocalists Ren Faye, Stormstate, and Lyd14 as well as Linnea, who all did phenomenal vocals on this album.
I've met Linnea briefly a couple of times at events in Dublin, so I knew her before I joined Lovevocals. After I joined up on the website, Linnea messaged me about working on a collab, which I was more than happy to do as I was a huge fan of her vocals. She sent me some demos, and “Losing Faith” was one I immediately loved. We sent the project back and forth a few times and finished earlier this year.
With Johnny (Stormstate), he had originally self-released the track he made under his j Guy Alias. Once I heard the original, I knew it would work as a really nice progressive house track.
Ren had originally sent me “Serenity” as an uplifting trance demo at 140 bpm. One day while I was working on a break’s track for the album, I added her vocal to it, and it just worked perfectly, even though I pitched it down almost 18 bpm. Ren did another take, and Serenity was born, even though it wasn't how we intended.
- B. Production and DJ Techniques
6-Dimitris: The album moves from 122 BPM to 145 BPM—what was your vision behind this progression?
Paul Denton: The progression is intentional. I wanted the album to feel like a journey that you could listen to from start to finish. Starting at 122 BPM gave me space to build slowly, then building to more aggressive sounds. It mirrors the nights I used to love as a clubber, starting slow, then gradually ramping up the energy to peak-time trance.
7-Dimitris: How do you approach creating peak-time trance anthems compared to more progressive tracks?
Paul Denton: I approach each track differently. For peak time tracks, I always try to envision myself on the dance floor and picture what I would feel when the track drops. For the more progressive tracks, again, I picture myself sitting on a beach or walking just as the sun is coming up. Each track tells its own story.
8-Dimitris: Which track challenged you the most during production and why?
Paul Denton: Maybe the track lost faith as it went through so many different versions. Also, I think tech trance vocals are really hard to get right!!
9-Dimitris: How do you balance your roles as a DJ and producer when crafting an album like this?
Paul Denton: I find it hard to write anything when I’m touring. I usually work on maybe writing music or sound design or stuff like that, or just listening to new music. Most of the work for the album was made in the studio.
10-Dimitris: What are some key techniques or tools you use when preparing your DJ sets for live events?
Paul Denton: First, I always start with the context—venue, crowd, time slot—because that shapes everything from energy level to track selection. In terms of tools, I use Rekordbox and usually start with three or four tracks and then let the crowd kind of dictate where I go afterwards.
- C. Inspiration and Storytelling
11-Dimitris: Was there a specific moment or memory that inspired the track “Eivissa”?
Paul Denton: With Ibiza, I wanted to capture that Balearic sound, picturing myself watching the sun go down at Café del Mar.
12-Dimitris: What emotions or experiences were you hoping to capture in the track “Serenity”?
Paul Denton: “With ‘Serenity,’ I wanted to explore a more progressive and atmospheric side of my sound. It’s a slower breakbeat track, which gave me the space to let emotions breathe—less about driving the dancefloor, and more about capturing a moment of calm.
Rens’ vocal was key; it carries a haunting, almost ethereal tone that really brings the track to life.
13-Dimitris: Can you tell us about the message or story behind “We Are One” with Bogdan Vix and Lyd14?
Paul Denton: Myself and Bogdan had been chatting before the untold festival about working on a collab. I sent him some demos, and we picked this track. A few back and forths, and we got Lyd14 involved. She sent us this amazing vocal.
The lyrics, I feel, are about a feeling of connection, especially in times when the world feels divided or uncertain.
14-Dimitris: Are there any hidden details or Easter eggs in the tracks that fans should listen for?
Paul Denton: There are a couple of vocals hidden in one track, but you’ll have to listen to hear haha
15-Dimitris: How do you translate the emotional journey of your tracks into a live DJ performance?
Paul Denton: For me, translating the emotional journey of my tracks is about reading the room. A track in the studio might seem personal or cinematic, but in a club, it needs to connect with people at the right time. I like my DJ sets to tell a story similar to this album, so every track has to give space to one another and carry its own emotion.
- D. Live Events and Performances
16-Dimitris: What is your approach to reading the crowd and adapting your music in real time?
Paul Denton: I think reading the crowd is a skill you develop over time. I start with an idea of what I want to play, but I always pivot to move with the crowd. If you play the wrong track, you can feel the energy of the crowd, so you need to be observing and using your intuition and feeling the vibe in the room and responding to it.
17-Dimitris: Which has been your most memorable DJ performance so far and why?
Paul Denton: I’ve had the pleasure of playing some massive shows, EDC, Creamfields, Dreamstate, etc., but ASOT and Luminosity would be my most memorable. ASOT has always been a bucketlist show for me. Luminosity is always my highlight of the year. The festival has a special place in my heart, lucky enough to play every year since 2017.
18-Dimitris: How do you see Retrospekt influencing your live sets and future performances?
Paul Denton: Retrospekt is really shaping how I approach my live sets in a big way. The album explores a wide range of tempos, from deep, melodic breakbeats to driving trance and everything in between—so it gives me a much broader palette to work with.
19-Dimitris: Are there any upcoming shows or events where fans can experience the album live?
Paul Denton: Yes, the Retrospekt world tour has started with shows on 6 continents. Check out my social media for updates.
Through Retrospekt, Paul Denton has crafted an album that is both a reflection of his past and a vision for the future of trance music, showcasing his versatility and passion for storytelling through sound. From intimate breakbeat moments to high-energy festival anthems, his work is a testament to his artistry. As he embarks on the world tour to bring Retrospekt to life, fans can expect expansive live sets informed by the album’s diverse tempos and moods, performances that adapt to the crowd and create an emotional journey, and continued innovation and boundary-pushing in trance production. Paul’s career is proof that staying true to your roots while embracing evolution leads to timeless music and unforgettable experiences for fans worldwide.
Check Retrospekt here: https://pauldenton.bandcamp.com/album/retrospekt
Find Retrospekt HERE: FSOE.lnk.to/retrospekt
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