Resident Alien
Interview | Sophy Grimshaw London superstar DJ Paul Oakenfold explains why he has chosen Las Vegas for a new, year-long club residency, Planet Perfecto Cher and Bette Midler have Las Vegas shows. Why did you join them? It’s the right time and place. I’ve been offered residencies in New York and LA but I think [...]
Interview | Sophy Grimshaw
London superstar DJ Paul Oakenfold explains why he has chosen Las Vegas for a new, year-long club residency, Planet Perfecto
Cher and Bette Midler have Las Vegas shows. Why did you join them?
It’s the right time and place. I’ve been offered residencies in New York and LA but I think Vegas is a more international destination now. A lot of people from LA
come here to just party for the weekend. Taking into account the big pool party scenes they have here, which reminds me of Ibiza, I felt that it was the perfect place
to do the residency. It has what Ibiza has lost – it’s America’s Ibiza.
Not the city where pop stars go to retire, then?
It’s the opposite of that. I’m working with The Palms, which is a youth-driven casino. I think the image of only the older acts doing residencies in Las Vegas is outdated. It’s really moved on. We’re playing more of an international sound and catering for a different crowd.
There’s a change that’s going on. There are a lot of big brands here in terms of new boutiques opening every week, and many established restaurants around the world are opening in Las Vegas.
What can we expect from your show?
The theme is Planet Perfecto and through the course of the evening you’re taken to different environments. We have the same visuals team as Gwen Stefani, Coldplay and Roger Waters from Pink Floyd. The DJ booth looks like the bridge on the Starship Enterprise. There are huge props suspended from the ceilings and entertainers wandering in the crowd.
What’s the best thing about a DJ residency?
It gives me a chance that I haven’t had in a long time to
play regularly at the same venue, to a crowd that really
appreciate music. I’ve even made a track called Club
Perfecto. I’m really looking forward to breaking new music.
As a DJ, that’s what you enjoy. I have a prior commitment
to support Madonna on tour so I am taking some of the
Saturdays off. On those nights there will be high-quality
DJs, the likes of Pete Tong. So you’re on Planet Perfecto,
but one week you’ll go to another planet with a guest DJ
for that night.
Paul Oakenfold Presents: Perfecto Las Vegas, Rain Nightclub at the Palms Casino. Every Saturday night until the end of summer 2009.
www.visitlasvegas.com
