Paul Morrell is a name on everyone’s lips right now with one of 2018’s biggest dance anthems ‘Desire’.
His new killer vocal house track penned by Paul and #1 artist Kelli Leigh (responsible for hits that include; More Than Friends (James Hype), I Got You (Duke Dumont) now features the superb Indigo Marshall. She delivers a perfect vocal performance, mature beyond her years, to create an uplifting future house anthem of epic proportions.
With a mouthwatering package at hand Paul has roped in the cream of UK dance scene including Freejak, Nathan C, Craig Knight, Mr Balearic and of course Paul Morrell. Together they cover all the house bases with a stunning set of new versions.
Paul Morrell currently has residencies at London’s Ministry of Sound and Club XXL recently playing alongside and supporting Martin Garrix, Steve Aoki & Armin Van Buuren to name just a few.
T.H.E – Hi PAUL, where are you from?
Paul Morrell – I am from Coventry in the West Midlands UK, however the majority of my time is now split between Birmingham and London. Having said that, my gigs take me all over the UK and Europe.
T.H.E – Were you always musical growing up?
Paul Morrell – Yes, from a very early age, I was always musical, and had an extremely keen ear for music. I remember collecting 7” singles when I was very young, and the majority of these were early house / rave music. I was born in the early 1980s which meant that the acid house & dance scene of the late 1980s & early 1990s was extremely influential on my taste in music. While all of my friends were playing football or into sports, I was listening to music, so I think it was quite an obvious path into DJing and the dance scene for me. At the age of about 9/10 I was collecting records by artists like KLF / Blue Pearl, 49ers / Technotronic etc.
T.H.E – What inspired you to start making house music?
Paul Morrell – I was already becoming an established DJ in my home city, and at that time was working extremely closely with a DJ and producer called Rob Searle at Coventry’s biggest nightclub venue IKON. Rob had achieved huge chart success with his remixes of Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s ‘Power of Love’ and ‘Two Tribes’, as well as remixes for Kylie Minogue and Mauro Picotto. Rob was definitely instrumental in me becoming a producer, as it was an exciting time in which to work, and I aimed to replicate the success he was having with his remixes – he was definitely one of my early mentors / role models.
T.H.E – What artists would you say are your main influences?
Paul Morrell – I have been a fan of the dance music genre for such a long time, that I am able to draw influences from decades of music. An early influence of mine was Pete Waterman, whom I was extremely fortunate enough to meet a few years ago when I produced a remix of his artist Lonnie Gordon’s record ‘Happening All Over Again’. On a more contemporary note, DJs and producers such as Don Diablo, Calvin Harris, Oliver Heldens and David Guetta are all huge influences. I actually find it quite annoying when people criticize acts like these, branding them ‘Too Commercial’, as I love all music, and the only reason these artists have become ‘commercial’ is that they are making music that so many people enjoy.
T.H.E – Can you tell us about your new single ‘DESIRE’ and your feature singer Indigo Marshall?
Paul Morrell – Desire was a track that I originally wrote with UK vocalist Kelli Leigh, who has provided vocals on tracks such as Duke Dummont’s ‘I got u’ and James Hype’s ‘More than friends’. Kelli was initially the vocalist on ‘Desire’, however we had to replace her last minute due to a change in her management, and I therefore turned to Indigo who I had met some years previously at an event in Birmingham. Indigo is an extremely talented young singer, and has a unique quality to her voice which I think works well with the track. The track has now been remixed by several huge remixers including James Bluck, Freejak & Nathan C and is picking up huge support. It was recently premiered on BBC Radio 1 by Greg James, and also internationally on Radio by Stonebridge!
T.H.E – What other places are you looking to take your music? Where do you aspire to travel and play?
Paul Morrell – I would love to play in Asia and the Far East (Particularly China & Japan), as they are countries I have heard amazing things about. I have played in a lot of European countries, however really see Asia as being a territory I would love to explore. I played in Helsinki, Finland last year at an amazing 35000 capacity festival, and this has been one of the highlights of my career so far.
T.H.E – What’s the favourite club you’ve performed in anywhere in the world?
Paul Morrell – As well as the former Judgement Sunday events at Eden in Ibiza, at which I played several times for Judge Jules, I would have to say my favourite club is currently my weekly Saturday night residency at XXL London. It is one of the biggest clubs in the UK and replaced Trade as the biggest and best ‘men only’ club in London. The atmosphere is always electric and the club reaches capacity every single weekend). It also gives me the opportunity to road test new productions and tracks to a huge live audience.
T.H.E – What three records never leave your record box and why?
Paul Morrell –
1. Todd Terry Ft Martha Wash & Jocelyn Brown – Something Goin’ On
Along with Tori Amos ‘Professional Widow’ this has to be one of my all-time favourite tracks. Such a brilliant feel good record with great vocal performances from both Martha Wash & Jocelyn Brown.
2. Don Diablo – Momentum
An absolute banger from Don Diablo from last year. This has been a firm favourite of mine for some time now.
3. Kryder & Erick Morillo feat. Bella Hunter – Waves
I have always love both Kryder and Erick Morillo, so when they decided to collaborate, it was clearly going to be special. I supported the original instrumental of this record for a long time, however the pair have recently added Bella Hunters vocal which works equally well.
T.H.E – What does the future hold for PAUL MORRELL?
Paul Morrell – I have just completed a massive record called ‘No Ordinary Love’ with a vocalist called Laura White, whom you may know from her performance on Galantis record ‘Love On Me’. I asked legendary ‘Grammy Award Nominated’ producers KKlass to remix the track, and the result is amazing. No Ordinary Love will be the follow up to ‘Desire’ and will be released later in the year on Somnthing records. I have also remixed Sonique’s club classic ‘Sky’ which will also be released sometime during 2018.
