Paul Arnold talks 10 years of Fat!

We find out what it's like spearheading a breaks empire for a decade.

Paul Arnold is a long standing resident here at The End with his legendary breaks night Chew The Fat! In the lead-up to Fat! reaching its tenth birthday in October '07 we caught up with Paul for a chat about breakbeat, Ibiza and Grammys…

Endclub.com: Hey Paul, Chew The Fat! reaches its tenth birthday on October 12th. What do you think has been the secret to its longevity?

Paul Arnold: There’s quite a few reasons which all add up to one. Working in great venues, from the The Bug Bar in Brixton all those years ago to The End where we are now, have all played an important part in making the atmosphere right. Also continually evolving the night musically throughout the 10 years; the range of music and DJs we have had over the years would really surprise you. Most importantly, never taking ourselves too seriously! Running a night has to be fun for all involved; I think the minute it isn’t that will be reflected in the night. We’re only playing rekkids for godsake! ;-)

Obviously you’ve got the party here, but what else are you doing to celebrate?

There’s a tour around the UK in the following weeks after the party at The End, with a few European dates but we are saving most of those for next year when we will be releasing a ‘10 years of Chew The Fat! Compilation’ featuring myself and The Rogue Element. Following on from that, I hope a big arena in a festival somewhere next summer.

What have been the highlights for you of Chew The Fat! at The End so far?

One of the highlights has to be just playing in the DJ booth with a club packed with people all around going crazy, having seen so many great DJs play there before me I really respect the fact that Chew the Fat! is there…I haven’t played in a club where the set up and the sound system is like that. Having people all around you really lets you feel what the crowd are feeling.

If you could go back ten years and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?

To wear ear plugs more often. You forget how loud club soundsytems are, especially in the UK. I have mild tinnitus now but it did get really bad for a while, luckily it wasn’t permanent damage. It’s not until you get it that you regret it. Most clubs have ear plugs if you ask for them. Everyone should.
How did the Fat Ibiza residency go?

16 weeks of parties at Space in Ibiza, how do you think they went?! ;-) They were amazing right from the opening to close. Jem Haynes and myself had to work hard to make the Red Box work especially at the beginning of the season when the crowd is very much Spanish and Italian. Chew the Fat! was something new which was not to everyone’s fancy, but as the resident DJs we worked it and gave the club something new and refreshing. More often than not it was one in one out to our room and we’ve been asked back next season too. It went so well We Love want to do a party with us here at The End. Look out for that.

And what’s happening with Fat! Records at the moment – anything exciting coming up?

Loads, we are focused much more on album projects currently and have albums by Unique 3 and Baobinga and I.D. about to be released. Both of them are exceptional albums well worth checking out. Merka is releasing a hip hop album next year and I am also working with some hot new talent - Gella is a name to watch out for.

You’ve mixed DJ Magazine’s covermount CD this month – was it an easy process deciding what went in and what you left out?

Well I wasn’t given much time and all the tracks had to be cleared quickly. The only thing for it was to try and showcase some of the talent I am currently working with currently on the label or the DJ agency which proved a much easier task than I thought it would, I didn’t realise there was such a range of material within either, from then on it was selecting what flowed, you know, trying to make that journey through sound ;-) I certainly left out a few tracks that I wanted to fit in but I was happy with the way it came out in the end…Check it out.

Where do you see Paul Arnold in 2017?

Happy.

What’s been the best and worst birthday presents you’ve ever received?

I think one of my favourite presents has to be these huge pots of French mustard I love that my mum buys me every year, they usually last me 'til my next birthday.

My worst present…mmm…I can’t remember any. Come on, surely it’s the thought that counts.

Finally, what would please you more, a Fat! artist to win a Grammy, or Ipswich Town to win the Champions League?

I’ve spent ten minutes on this one. Would have to be a Fat! artist winning a Grammy. A close call but as I no longer play for The Town I would feel a lot more involved in the winning of the Grammy which would be a buzz.

Published: 24/10/2007

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