FEW figures in electronic music embody the word pioneer like Paul Oakenfold.
As his legendary label Perfecto turns 35, Oakenfold is reflective but as forward-looking as ever.
"Did I ever think the record company would be 35 years old and we'd have a documentary with a lot of my colleagues in it? No," he admits. "But when we started Perfecto, it became a home for dance music."
From the very beginning, Oakenfold surrounded himself with talent. "I was lucky to partner with great, talented people. Steve Osborne, Rob Davies, I learned from them.
"There's nothing better than being in a room with people who are better than you and to watch their every move," he says.
With Brian Reaser helping run the label, Perfecto quickly became a platform for DJs, producers and singer-songwriters alike.
Crucially, it was never about sticking to one genre. "We signed David Guetta in America for one album.
We signed Mark Ronson, Carl Cox, Tiësto, Paul van Dyk, BT, Sasha and John Digweed. We even released a Fabio & Grooverider album.
We released nearly every aspect of dance music," Oakenfold says proudly.
That eclectic spirit carried into sublabels like Perfecto Breaks, Perfecto Black and Perfecto Fluoro. "Perfecto is the only label ever to have a psytrance record in the top 40 pop chart," he points out.
The anniversary brings both nostalgia and new horizons. "I can reveal exclusively that we are doing a remake of my track with Grace, Not Over Yet, with London Grammar which I'm really excited about," he reveals.
Alongside that, he's championing new talent including singer-songwriter Jessica Sweetman on his new single Bang, Bang and Velvet Cash from Phoenix.
"We've now got the experience and knowledge to help support, develop, and encourage new artists as we move into the future."
For Oakenfold, the legacy of Perfecto runs deeper than just the music.
"Perfecto is a badge of honour that people in dance music know and wear. When you get a Perfecto record, you know it's quality. You may not like it, it may not be in your genre, but there's tried and tested artists behind it."
The stats speak for themselves: over 10 million records sold, a new documentary How Dance Music Changed The World, and Perfecto Radio reaching 16 million listeners weekly.
"At the end of the day, we're just a label from South London that releases dance records to the world. Nothing's changed."
And Oakenfold himself? He continues to push boundaries far beyond the club circuit, from Stonehenge to Everest Base Camp. "Why does the next thing have to be in a club? Why can't we as a community make a statement?" he asks.
"I want to raise money locally; I want to bring eyeballs on these fantastic locations and bring attention to important issues like climate change. I'm in a unique position to do this and continue spreading dance music around the world."
Looking to the future, he remains optimistic. "Dance music is one of the most popular new kinds of music. It's growing faster than blues, faster than jazz, faster than hip-hop in America. After pop, dance music is the most popular music in America.
"We're only 35 years old. We're young compared to reggae and rock 'n' roll."
For Oakenfold, the mission is clear: "Perfecto was started as a label for people who make dance music, to help support and release their music. That's why we started the label.
"That's never changed. We are much wiser, much better, and I'd like to think we're getting stronger."
Read the full in-depth interview with Paul Oakenfold on The Night Bazaar HERE.
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