Phuture, the pioneering group behind the acid house movement, transformed the electronic music landscape in the late 80s with their groundbreaking track, “Acid Tracks.” The trio, comprised of DJ Pierre, Spanky, and Herb J, ventured into uncharted sonic territory, blending deep, hypnotic basslines with electrifying, squelching synths to create a genre that would forever resonate within the underground music scene. Acid house wasn’t just a new sound; it was a revolution.
At the heart of this movement was DJ Pierre, often hailed as one of the founding fathers of acid house. With an insatiable desire to push the boundaries of electronic music, DJ Pierre has constantly redefined what is possible in the genre. Recently, we had the rare privilege of sitting down with him and hearing the story behind Phuture’s iconic “Acid Tracks.” Curious about his journey, we captured the conversation in a full video interview at International Music Summit Ibiza, a global thought-leadership platform for industry, culture, education, technology and wellness in electronic music. Interviewing him is DJ, producer, podcast host and of course pointblank Record Deals and Branding lecturer, Farah Nanji.
During the interview, DJ Pierre reminisced about the early days of “Acid Tracks,” describing how the sound felt like “electricity.” At the time, he couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but the mystery excited him. “Why did I think it was something?” he mused. “Because when you think about it, is that music? What is that? What is that sound?”
Initially, the track was met with mixed reactions. It wasn’t until DJ Pierre played it for the fourth time in a club that the crowd finally erupted. From there, “Acid Tracks” grew into a phenomenon that the government couldn’t ignore. DJ Pierre recalled the lengths authorities went to in trying to halt the rise of acid house: “They had investigative teams reporting on the illegal raves, saying this music can’t be played.” Despite the pushback, acid house only became more entrenched in the underground rave culture.
DJ Pierre even shared an anecdote about his first trip to Europe, where his reputation nearly prevented him from entering England. “My friends said, ‘Do not say who you are,’” he stressed. “They held me in a waiting room for five hours. Thankfully, my name—Nathaniel—wasn’t on the record, so I eventually got in.”
In the end, DJ Pierre’s philosophy on music remains deeply inspiring. To him, acid house—and music in general—isn’t just about moving bodies on the dancefloor; it’s about moving hearts and minds. He emphasised that his music is meant to inspire, to provide motivation, comfort, or even love. It’s a sentiment that resonates with musicians and music lovers alike.
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