Pedro Winter, a N.Y. State of Mind

Which records best capture the soul of New York City? We catch up with Pedro Winter, the mastermind behind the music label and publishing company Ed Banger and an artist himself, better known as Busy P. A Paris nightlife guru, who “Can’t Get No Sleep”, Pedro has always been a true NY lover with a “Groove in the Heart”.

Paris, 2020.

NOUVEAU YORK: Tough times. How have you been? 

PEDRO WINTER: Probably the hardest question these days! [Laughs] Also, it deserves hundreds of answers. So I’ll stick to the positive note, I became a daddy during the lockdown, I spent so much time with my kids. I was already part of the “life is short, let’s enjoy life” team. I’m running for captain of this team now!

NY: Tell us about one of your first time in NYC.

PW: The smell of NY streets, mix of roasted nuts, hot dog sausages and subway smoke. My first thought about NYC is about how much I walk in this city. I used to stay at Hotel 17 and walk up all the way to Rock and Soul to buy Masters at Work records and walk all the way down to Lafayette to visit Beastie Boys’ X-Large store.

New York, Hiro Ballroom, 2007.

“NYC got energy, and if you’re ready to grab it, you can make big things.”

NY: You did lots of trips and live shows and DJ gigs here in NYC since the early 90’s. Did you ever see yourself moving here or stay for a while? How does your love for NYC compare to your love for Paris?

PW: I’m a true Parisian kid, I’ll never be able to leave my city. But yes NYC could be a place where I could stay for a bit, working on a project, recording something… In fact, I stayed a few weeks with my brother DJ Mehdi when he was recording his first album at Electric Lady with [record producer] Russell Elevado 20 years ago. We rented a flat near 45th street, we had our diner routine there. NYC got energy and if you’re ready to grab it you can make big things. I miss visiting you guys. 

“That night in 1998, it was a messy DJ booth, full of life!”

NY: I’m sure you have so many wild memories in NYC, including your own gigs and Daft Punk’s and Justice’s live shows and after parties. But can you tell me about that Daft Punk and Cassius party at Twilo? My memories are super blurry [laughs].

PW: Same for me to be honest. But that’s where the magic is. You don’t need to have a clear memory of your dreams, what’s important is the feeling you have when you think of it. And let me tell you, when I think about this October 1998 party it brings me smile on my face. One thing, a few small details, but worth sharing with you here. I remember the DJ booth. François K and his thousands of records, Boombass and his sampler and midi keyboard, Zdar with his record box full of Motorbass stickers, Daft Punk and their messy record box filled with 12’’ without sleeve and full of scratches! It was a messy DJ booth, full of life!

NY: What does the future look like?
PW: To loop the loop with your first question, I’m a daddy, I can only dream and hope for positive things for the future.

Pedro Picks Five New York Classics

Masters At Work feat. India “I Can’t Get No Sleep” (Cutting Records, 1993) 
“The reason of my passion for House Music. One day, I’ll count, I think I have a thousand of Master At Work records!”

NAS “N.Y. State of Mind” (Columbia records, 1994)
“This song brings back non existent memories of me hustling on the streets of NYC! [Laughs] ‘I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death’ is the definitive club kid motto I should wear around my neck.”

Deee-Lite “Groove is in the Heart” (Elektra records, 1990)
“World Clique is in my TOP 10 albums of my life. It’s funk, electro, psycho, UFO, a new genre was born.”

Beastie Boys “An Open Letter to NYC” (Capitol records, 2004)
“Smartest guys in the hood. Louddest kids on the block. My favorite band ever.”

The Rapture “House of Jealous Lovers” (DFA, 2003)
“If I had to choose between The Strokes and The Rapture you know I’ll choose the DFA band. They electrified The Bowery Ballroom, they put Acid in the heads of rockers, they made Iggy Pop dance! They were the Joy Division of the 2000’s.”