In London’s Soho Sanctum Hotel, Paul Oakenfold celebrated a huge milestone for both the electronic industry and his label Perfecto Records. Hitting 35 years, Oakenfold and the team curated a documentary, documenting the history and growth of the industry and the label featuring industry titans such as Fatboy Slim, Carl Cox and more. We spoke to Paul Oakenfold about all of this, and more.

What were your early influences behind Perfecto and the sound it put out?

At the time I started Perfecto, there was not a label that focused on UK dance music. That was the reason it was set up in the first place.

How have these influences changed for you over the years?

Dance music has become bigger and globally known. Lots of wonderful talent.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in the early days of running the label? How did you overcome these challenges?

Dance music being accepted on mainstream radio. When youth culture in the UK became club culture, dance music then exploded.

You’ve played Perfecto events at the Great Wall of China, Mount Everest, Patagonia and everywhere in between. If you could play anywhere in the world that you haven’t already where would it be and why?

Antarctica to bring attention to a very serious situation that we all know about, but not enough ever happens: global warming.

What’s next for Perfecto in 2026 and beyond?

Working with new artists and releasing great records for years to come.

‘Perfecto: How Dance Music Changed The World’ by Paul Oakenfold will be out later this year.