Run, Rabbit, Run
An insider look at truly one of Boston's finest.
UPDATE: EXCLUSIVE AFTER HOURS LIVE MIX HERE.
For over a decade, Damien Paul built his name as New England’s party rocker of choice, playing massive events throughout the Northeast. As a co-founder of the Rabbit Revolution lifestyle brand, Damien has inspired a powerful following of young dance music enthusiasts. Damien held a long-standing position as a resident DJ of the legendary RISE after-hours night club (DJ Mag's 2012 #42 ranked club in the world). He was also the recipient of a Boston Magazine "2012 Best of Boston Award" for his residency at Good Life, which was also critically acclaimed by the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and Fox 25 News. His talent and notoriety is showcased through his bookings performing with world-class talent including Angerfist, Tristan Garner, and Jay Lumen.
Today, World Gothic presents an intimate look into the techno mogul's empire with an exclusive interview.
An Evening with DP
Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to chat with us here at World Gothic. So, when and how did you start your career in music?
Damien:
"I suppose in a way, my career in music was a bit accidental. Growing up, I have a lot of fond memories listening to disco and freestyle in my dad’s car on the way to school. I was a fan of dance music, but not just the music; I loved also the vibe came along with it all. I fell in love with the community and its ability to bring me out of my introverted shell. Out dancing is where I felt I could truly just be myself.
After years of going to clubs and raves in the late 90s and early 2000s, I wanted to do all that I could to further that, so naturally I became a promoter and eventually began learning how to DJ. I began with a couple lucky gigs here and there in clubs in Boston and North Carolina, but my first residency was at a little venue down the block from my apartment in Jamaica Plain. I had made a mix for the owner and little did I know, one of his residents was moving to open his own bar in San Francisco. He gave me a shot on a Saturday night with his resident listening in from a booth. Little did I know that resident was Tym Ryan, a local legend and resident of one of Boston’s most famous clubs, Axis. It’s hard to believe that was over a decade ago."
Your brand Rabbit Revolution has gone through several evolutions throughout the years. What do you think has been the greatest challenge in cultivating your vision?
Damien:
"I think that evolutions are natural in finding your artistic voice. Before Rabbit Revolution, I worked with a number of different teams each with their own direction and style, however none of them resonated with me to the degree that this one has. A lot of that was due to the influence that my co-founders had on shaping of our mission in furthering the music, art, and culture of the dance music community.
While that resonated with me on a deep personal level, it also brought with it a lot of challenges. Finding the right team of people that understood that it took more than just showing up for a gig to deliver the experiences we do was a time-consuming process. During our residency at RISE, providing a high production value experience was much simpler because we had the benefit of a well-equipped venue. Since its close however, we have had to develop our own event production skills within the team as our events went more underground and more DIY."
Can you fill us in on any upcoming projects you are working on?
Damien:
"Rabbit Revolution continues to be my biggest outlet. For me, my priority has been to focus my efforts in lifting up my team as an artist collective rather than just myself as an artist. This has meant spending a lot of time with my team improving the art and production value that goes into our events through outlets like lighting design, art installations, and 3d projection mapping. We also recently launched RRTV Live, a weekly video show which shines the spotlight on underground talent from around the Northeast. We’re also excitedly preparing for our returning collaboration with Hydrotechnics Festival, where we will be transforming their woods stage with a massive stage design and interactive art.
On a personal level, I’m preparing for some big life changes that I have to keep under wraps for the time being. However, I can say that I’m looking forward to devoting more of my time to Rabbit Revolution and my personal music projects very soon."
You’ve spent countless hours in the mix. What advice would you give aspiring recording and performing artists?
Damien:
"I’ve been a performing DJ for over a decade, but I’ve been a fan of dance music for nearly 30 years. Like most DJs, I spent many of my early years trying more to please others that to truly craft a sound of my own. I’ve reinvented myself many times over playing a number of genres throughout my career, but in the end I kept coming back to techno. I still enjoy playing other genres, but I’ve learned the importance of having a sound and a style that you showcase as an artist, but that you also truly love at your core. If you do what you love, your passion will shine through in your end product."
Following the last question, what specific piece of gear on the market would you recommend as an essential to any artist?
Damien:
"To be honest, I don’t. I say that mostly for philosophical reasons. Sure, there is a lot of gear that I enjoy using in my sets and in the studio, but there are many tools to accomplish the same task. As someone who started on vinyl records and turntables, I’ve seen an obsession from DJs and producers over what gear people use that is counter-productive. Technology has commoditized the ability to DJ and produce, so the barriers to entry are much lower than when I started. I’ve seen phenomenal DJs using the most entry level equipment. How you use your gear is vastly more important than what gear you have."
Bonus question: What is your favorite record of all time and why?
Damien:
"Damn, this is hard question. Out of all the tracks I’ve played as a DJ, I don’t know how I could just choose one out of all of them. I’ll share with you one that’s definitely one of the tops in my mind, Godd by Marco V. This track was first released in 2001, but listening to the track, the production is truly timeless. He’s a producer that really pushes the confines of genre norms, which results in fantastic records that hold up nearly two decades later. Although most people would consider this a trance record, I’ve pulled this gem out many times during peak time in my techno sets. I often find that the tracks that are the hardest to classify as any one genre on are the ones that stand out the most."
Thanks again, Damien!
Recent mixes:
To learn more about Damien Paul and Rabbit Revolution, visit their website and subscribe to their content.
unTil next time, Bloggos.