Raj Pannu is a UK based DJ/producer, and occasional audio-visual artist, aswell as running promotions for his own nights around the UK/Europe. His key collaborations have been with Ninja Tune, Coldcut, Talvin Singh, and the BBC.
Working with Coldcut (pioneers in the audio visual world and the duo who created Ninja Tune) he toured the world, over a period of 5 years, performing in every corner of the globe, along with work such as the ‘Radio One Essential Mix’, with Coldcut and the BBC’s renowned ‘Space’ project.
Currently embarking on his first forays into production, his music has already been signed to BBC Radio One regular Man Power’s ‘ME ME ME’ label (home of artists such as Elliot Adamson, Pional and Pale Blue) with an upcoming Boiler Room showcase this month, and remix from respected techno producer Cosmin TRG.
As a DJ, Raj is known for his accomplished skills, informed selection and his ability to adapt to any venue/audience he is confronted with, and has played solo and with people from all kinds of backgrounds, such as Richie Hawtin, Q-Bert, Kid Koala, Gilles Peterson, Luke Vibert, A Guy Called Gerald, Mr Scruff, Jon K, Robert Owens, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Kode9, Autechre, A-Trak, DJ Craze, DJ Krush and Massive Attack to name but a few – including over 200 shows around the world, with Coldcut, playing audiences of up to 25,000.
With more releases and DJ dates upcoming in the next year, the future is looking bright for this DJ/producer.
“I’m going to try not to gush too much about the fact that ‘Me Me Me’ has Raj Pannu’s first ever record, but you have to understand that he’s DJ royalty to someone from where I come from. From his residencies in Newcastle in the Early 90s, touring all over Europe, playing with the likes of Gilles Peterson, Jazzanova and James Lavelle to his move into turntablism in the late 90s playing one on one with DJ Craze, A-Trak and Q-Bert. All the way up to the last decade and his time spent touring the world for 5 years as part of Coldcut, working with institutions like the BBC and Ninja Tune, and just generally being an absolutely mind bending DJ playing with people from all over the spectrum, such as Richie Hawtin, DJ Kentaro, Jamie Lidell, Kode9 and more…… and now he’s decided to release his first record… With Us!
As you can imagine for someone with such a varied musical background, FSOP is hard to pin down. I played it to a friend and they said it sounded like Photek covering Pink Floyd, which is the closest approximation I’ve heard of it, I guess. It’s techno, but steppy, and super musical, and dark, but uplifting. Above all, it’s just really special. Raj has also provided us with a Dub Mix which we’re releasing as a digital exclusive. The dub narrows the dancefloor focus, without losing the drama of the OG.
Reading this, you can probably tell how excited I am about this record.”
Man Power – on Raj Pannu’s ‘FSOP’, released on ‘Me Me Me’ Records, January 2018.
———-
“Raj has been part of the Coldcut live crew for a number of years and we’ve done over 200 amazing shows together, along with studio work, and general Ninja stuff. He is absolutely the best DJ/Turntablist Coldcut have worked with. His sick skills combined with a gobsmacking depth of musical knowledge are unique. He is constantly pulling out fantastic stuff from every area and genre. Not all DJs can play the RIGHT records and play WITH the records! Raj excels at both. Plus, he rolls perfectly with Audiovisual tricknology too. Somehow, he never has an off day! Raj rocks. And that’s official!”
Coldcut, Electronic Music Pioneers, and Ninja Tune creators.
———-
“I was immediately struck, not only by his skill on the turntables, but by his depth of knowledge and breadth of musical taste…. Most Djs and ‘turntablists’ concentrate on one or two styles of music and rarely play anything except accepted classics from those genres next to the all important latest releases. Raj went much deeper and, besides his enviable technical ability on the decks, he was innovating new tricks i’d never seen or heard before too…. He takes risks in front of crowds with his routines that can be appreciated by the initiated or the ignorant and his appearance at our Solid Steel night made it into one of the best of the year.”
Dj Food, Strictly Kev [Ninja Tune].
“The music for EP98 comes from Raj Pannu. Really unique stuff I feel. He has a patient and detailed flow that bubbles along in an immersive bass aquarium with subtle motion charted throughout. It’s like minimalism in the evolution of parts with a lot of sound pressure pushing and with a bold forward motion.”
Jamie Lidell, on ‘Hanging Out with Audiophiles podcast’