THE INSIDER: PEDRO "BUSY P" WINTER
Paris's Ed Banger Records founder fills us in on "the new deal."
In the early ’90s, a twenty-year-old Pedro Winter, a.k.a. Busy P, began managing Daft Punk because he knew their music was magic. Little did he know that the electro duo would enkindle an entire movement known as French Touch. Now, a decade later, Winter is behind the resurgence of electronica in France’s music scene with his young label, Ed Banger Records. Having just dropped the debut from Justice, and with Uffie’s on the way, Winter took a breather to fill us in on “the new deal.”
When you began managing Daft Punk, did you have any idea how influential they would be on electronic music in France?
I was 20 years old. I did not know anything about the music business. I learned everything I know with them. No one can say if a movement is gonna big or not. When I decided to join Daft Punk, the only thing I knew was that their music is magic, those guys are smart, let’s have fun.
What made you want to start Ed Banger?
I met Mr. Flash, an amazing beat maker from the South of France. He wanted to work with me, but I was fed up with managing artists. So I told him, let’s put your music out, and let’s create Ed Banger Records. It was in 2003.
What is it about your top artists—Uffie, Justice, Sebastian, Mr. Flash…—that first got your attention?
They’re fresh… They don’t take life or business too seriously. They make music I wanna hear. They make the music of today. I don’t care about being the music of tomorrow—let’s enjoy 2007!
What makes Ed Banger unique from other music labels?
I have no idea. I don’t have a plan. I don’t have a strategy. I just do my thing. The whole Ed Banger package seems to interest people. We put out modern electronic music, we D.J. mike a rock band, we have the hottest art director (So Me). I don’t think we are unique. To set up Ed Banger, I was influenced by Mo' Wax, Stones Throw, Versatile, DC Recordings. Lots of amazing labels did good jobs before me.
How has electronic music changed in France since the days of Daft Punk?
Kids are younger and faster. Ten years ago, music equipment was expensive. Nowadays, with a Mac, you can have your studio at home or on a plane. The internet has also changed lots of things. Kids today can get a great music culture really fast. They can listen to everything and get focused on what they want to hear or not. They don’t listen to the radio anymore. No one can choose for them. This is the new deal.
What do French kids want to listen to nowadays?
There is no rule. One day they want to listen to weird electronica. The next day they wan to listen to Jay Z. And the next day they wanna hear Queens of the Stone Age very loud! This is what old school people don’t really understand.
You’re a producer, manager, and D.J. What is it about each job that you like best?
The whole package is my life. Being a D.J. is fun, but I need to be busy weekdays. I have my computer with me everywhere. Life in 2007 is way easier, so let’s get busy.
myspace.com/edbangerrecords
SAMANTHA GILEWICZ
This story was published on June 21, 2007.
