Patch Park [Interview]

Exploring new horizons in electronic music, Patch Park emerges again as a fresh and intriguing act from The Netherlands. Patch Park’s music has achieved great success, featuring on prestigious labels such as Global Underground, Renaissance, Be As One, Yoshitoshi, Elevate, Deep, Wolfskuil, Inflyte and Little Mountain Recordings.

Perry has creatively reimagined tracks from a diverse roster of acclaimed artists, such as Darren Emerson, Infusion, Soundexile, Around Us, Jochem Hamerling, Remy Unger, Matthew Dekay, Lemon8, Montero, Max Graham, Paolo Mojo, Roland Klinkenberg, and Oliver Moldan.

Beyond the studio, Patch Park has left a significant mark on the global club scene, delivering typical performances in iconic events and venues such as Extrema, Solar Weekend, Amnesia, The Loft, The Shelbourne, Whoosah, across Europe and America, sharing stages with top-tier DJs such as Joris Voorn, Hernan Cattaneo, Eelke Kleijn, Patrice Bäumel, Satoshi Tomiie, Remy, Sander Kleinenberg, Gabriel Ananda, Nuno Dos Santos, Bart Skils, Pig&Dan, Dave Clarke, James Holden & Technasia.

Now operating as a duo, Patch Park continues their triumphant return this week with a remix of 'Round Around' by Kasey Taylor and Jamie Stevens, available via the recently launched District Rec.

Progressive Astronaut caught up with Patch Park to learn more about their remix of 'Round Around', their background, electronic music in the Netherlands, DJing, and much more. Enjoy.

Hi Guys, I hope all is well and thanks for speaking with us today. Now that we’re at the end of 2024, how has your year been?

Perry: Think we all experience ups and downs, but for me 2024 has been a good year. I’ve found love again and pretty much nothing else can beat that feeling. Musically I’ve found a great way of working and been very productive. Just feeling good, living in the moment. Also, the past few weeks have about Patch Park’s future, and I felt like I did not want to do it alone anymore, so Dennis, a long-time buddy with overlap in taste joined me. So now it feels like we’ve embarked on a journey together. Let’s see where it takes us. The same goes for launching my own label with Peter van Hal. Such a great guy and so lovely to work together on District as well. He brings so much knowledge from his own experience as a booker and A&R for artists such as Matthew Dekay, Petter. He’s been the main reason to take up Patch Park again, so I’ll always be grateful for that gentle push.

Dennis: My year has been exciting and came with some big changes. I’ve quit my job in the offshore world with came with lots of travelling around the globe, to make way for a new adventure in music with Perry. We have really bonded in music and friendship and decided to make Patch Park a great success together, what it really deserves. I’m really looking foreward to this journey together and lets see if we can bring some smiles and good energy where we go.. And, I bought a new house haha, so all together an good year.

Let’s look back on the year, what gig of yours has stood out the most and why? (If there were no gigs just omit this question)

Perry: Actually, it was a gig I did together with my buddy Özgür Can. We both realized in the moment that we have grown out of that ‘trancier’ sound. It also became our goodbye booking so to speak. We had loads of fun though, also afterwards. You should really check out what Ozze is doing now, it’s awesome.

Dennis: Well besides making great music Perry and myself and another friend of us seem to have an great talent to organize good parties. So we did an party called ‘Soundkitchen’ which was a great success, and it stood out because we worked with an guestlist. And the benefit of that was that we had an room full of friends and family dancing and enjoying themselves. That is what you want as an DJ to give that energy and receive it back in dancing people.

Now let’s look at tracks (not your own), what is a track or tracks which have come out this year that has impressed you the most and why?

Perry: ‘Pink Air II’ and ‘Outside Your Body’, both from MUUI really touched something, they have a certain vibe and emotion to them. Really beautiful and amazing tracks.

Dennis: It didn’t come out this year but I’ve fallen in love again with ‘Underworld Two Months Off (Tim Green Remix)

How did growing up in The Netherlands affect your music taste and direction into becoming a DJ and producer?

Perry: Growing up as a teenager you we’re either into Hip-Hip, Rock or House. Hardcore or Gabber as we called it was the sound me and my friends listened to. We collected and traded live tapes from various clubs. But what shaped my sound the most was the fact that I went clubbing in Belgium mostly. We lived close to the Belgian border. The atmosphere, the music, the people, it was just different than going out in Holland. 90% of my vinyl collection comes from Belgium shops. It had such a big influence

Dennis: Same for me, back in the day it was Hardcore high bpm’s and all that ‘crazy’ stuff

But even back then the more relaxed and easier styles always seem to find me, or ‘mellow’ is how we used to call it. And that layed the fundings for a deep love for house and techno music, and the start of my vinyl collection wich over the years expanded in a big one with amazing tracks and albums of all sorts. And Belgium for me also played a big part in this story, they just do it different and I love it.

Who else from the Netherlands inspired you when you first discovered electronic music? And what was it about their DJing or production which led you to pursue it yourself?

Perry: We had this program on national television called ‘The DJ’s’. They broadcasted DJ sets from various clubs and festivals in Holland. A DJ set from DJ Remy was in one of those broadcasts. I think I’ve replayed that set at least 50 times on nights we went out. That particular techno sound and the way Remy can mix technically is still so great to watch. We actually became friends and we launched a label together and had some nice achievements together. He's an amazing nice and friendly guy. Also, Cousteau, Backstabber or Spotlight (as RR Workshop) inspired me so much.

Dennis: It is a collection of moments I’ve experienced and parties I’ve been too that inspired me to start DJing. The energy in the club being there as a guest and seeing the reactions from people to the music, made me feel like i also want this! Ben Sims inspired me due to him playing 3 to 4 decks at the same time and keeping that energy going. Also, my friend who sadly past away Ronnie Kauffmann was an inspiration to me.

In terms of electronic music, was progressive house the style you discovered first? And what was it about the style that made you want to pursue it at the level you are now?

Perry: I first discovered the sound that was played in Belgian clubs. Back then DJ’s would play House, Techno and Trance, all during the same night. My deep love for progressive started when I discovered the Global Underground CD series by Dave Seaman (GU16), Nick Warren (GU18), John Digweed (GU19) and Deep Dish (GU 21). GU also launched Nubreed, I told Sander (Kleinenberg) not too long ago I still listen to Nubreed 4 regularly. I still own these on CD. But surely, I can’t forget Renaissance that a buddy of mine introduced me to, it was the first mix compilation I think (but don’t own that one). I still can’t believe I missed the whole Balance Series, back then, which also featured great artists and quality music. Last, but not least is Harry Lemon’s (Lemon8) Mix compilation ‘The Inner Sanctuary Sessions’, played that a million times as well.

But what really propelled my love for progressive house is when I was playing some casual darts with a friend, drinking some beers and Wessel van Diepen broadcasted the Delta Heavy set by Sasha & John Digweed live from Miami during Dance Department on Radio538 in Holland. For me that is the best set ever recorded, so much inspiration, such amazing music. Still listen to this one regularly as well, especially Shmuel Flash - Chilling Moments... oof!

Dennis: First, I discovered the more harder styles of music, but very shortly after that period I got into house and techno. And I started buying the Turn up the Bass CDs which all of them I still have and more club CDs like De Danssalon The IT and the Chemistry CDs and so on. Also my focus went more to the techno classics and house classics at that point and I’ve discovered Kerri Chandler with records like ´Atmosphere´ and Mood II Swing - Ohh and off course Underworld.

For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you?

Perry: 100%. For me it started by emulating M.I.K.E. or PUSH from Belgium. He’s known for his bigger trance hits, but I was mostly fond of his darker aliases such as ‘The Blackmaster’. Especially ‘Time Never Stops’, I’ve tried to copy this sound all the time, but I really sucked at it and it didn’t even come close, haha. I only had a Yamaha CS1X and a small Roland drum computer and an Atari running Cubase. Shout out to Maxim ‘El Maxicano’ Schipper for teaching me how to work all that stuff. When I was 18, I sold everything and used that money to go on my first booze-holiday without my parents. Best money ever spent perhaps, we’re still buddies. Around 2002 a buddy (Ferruccio) invited me to make some stuff with him at his homestudio close by. We had loads of fun, we actually wrote a song (Auriane - Soundwave) that got released a few years later. His A&R happened to be Maykel Piron who worked at Warner Music and later launched Armada Music.

With Maykel being my only contact in music I kept sending him my music. At some point he told me to stop copying M.I.K.E. so much and to focus om making something original instead. Best advice I’ve ever got, because my next demo I sent him is what got me signed and launched my career. It was the era where ‘progressive trance’ was born. My sound shifter to a more trancier sound. But coming back to 2023 when I got inspired again I did start a new song by checking out sets by Dixon and Guy for a bit and then opened up Ableton.

You’ve been a producer for more than two decades now, when you look back on your career can you pinpoint pivotal moments to the success you’ve achieved today? Maybe a release or two which really helped your propel career?

Perry: My release on Be As One from Shlomi Aber and my release on YO!, a sublabel from Yoshitoshi (from Deep Dish) really stood out, also signing a track to GU and Renaissance were amazing moments. Another pivotal moment was in the beginning of this year. I was out of the game for quite a while, and I was heavily doubting my sound, my skills and if it still sounded relevant enough today. I was attending a Guy J only event in Paradiso Amsterdam, and after he dropped a third track from me, my buddy Peter van Hal said to me “Do you need any more reassurance? Well, shut up then, haha! Make more!” That’s when it hit me, and I really started to make more tracks confidently.

Tell me about one or two of your early tracks that you're still proud of (or satisfied with) – and why you're content with them.

Perry: My Patch Park remix for a track called ‘Beirut’ from Fady Ferraye. I remember when I bounced that one, I felt like this was the best song I’ve written, and I still think that this one is one of my best, simply because of a sound I had saved (in the Pro53 VST) for many years and it finally fit in a track. It got played by a range of DJs ranging from Matthew Dekay till Ricardo Villalobos. Another one I hold dearly is a track called Counterpoint, which I released on Wolfskuil records by Darko Esser. My mom had that one on repeat a lot, just good memories attached to this tune. I also used that Pro53 VST for that lead sound.

You’ve had a hugely successful career as a DJ as well, performing alongside Joris Voorn, Hernan Cattaneo, Eelke Kleijn, Patrice Bäumel and many more top international talents. Looking back more on your gigs, what have been some of the most memorable ones for you and why?

Perry: I think that would be the first time playing in Amnesia, Ibiza. The island I’ve always read about in clubbing magazines. I could have never imagined that I would be playing there. Another one that jumps in my mind is playing a more techno-ish set when Dave Clarke personally invited me to play in his area at Extrema Outdoor. That occurred after I made a bootleg of his track called ‘Wisdom To The Wise’. Dave loved it so much that he asked the bookers of Extrema if I could play there instead of another area. That dat, one of the DJ’s was late so I played a second set in front of a full house. He announced me and I dropped the remix and it made the place explode. Goosebumps all-over!

What is a track that reminds you of your early days DJing and what event/club do you associate with it?

Perry: ‘Lamda - Hold on tight’ is the first thing that pops into my mind. The year it came out I mainly went to a club called ‘Cherry Moon’ in Belgium. It was always of the highlight tracks of the night. It has a very district low tom/bongo-ish percussive sound that people instantly recognized as soon as it was mixed in. It also has a vocal sample that obviously says, “Hold on tight”. I’ve wrote a song recently that hints to that percussive sound. It’s an obvious throwback for me. I still own the vinyl somewhere.

Dennis: So many to choose from haha, what comes to mind is ‘Jay Dee - Plastic Dreams’ and it reminds me of the HouseQlassic parties I always went too from Q dance back in the days.

‘Domino – Oxia’ also reminds me of some good times in Belgium in clubs like Café Anvers in Antwerp... Good Times!

You’ve had releases on labels such as Global Underground and Renaissance, who in their time were the pinnacle of progressive house. So I'm wondering how you look at the future? Do you have goals you want to achieve in electronic music at this point? Or do you think about this kind of thing at all?

Perry: Yes, I do have a certain goal when it comes to releasing music. I’m a massive, massive Digweed fan. So having a release on Bedrock is without a doubt number on my list. Other than that, I’m just going with wherever the flow will be taking us. The biggest change is teaming up with Dennis and continuing Patch Park together. I think we’ve found a sound that hints back to those early days, while yet keeping fresh. When I did start making music again last year, I personally thought it all sounded so similar, lots of atmospheric, melodic tracks, yet not much diversity. I started listening to those older tunes and stuff that inspired me back then. I recall looking up the ‘Katcha - Touched by God (Peace Division Remix)’, because I was always a huge Peace Division fan and loved how they created that more housy-tech remix. In most of my recent tracks I use guitar bass samples just like they dit. It creates a certain vibe that a regular bassline just can’t. That’s where we’re heading in the foreseeable future.

Dennis: Yes, my goal is (because I’m relatively new in the progressive scene) to learn as much as i can, and make Patch Park an greet success. With my background more in the house/techhouse and techno scene I believe that the sound that we are making will work perfect together. And the most important thing is having fun while we do it, because I believe the energy you send you will receive back.

You had a long stretch of production silence from around 2017 to 2024, what was it that took you away from releasing music and why did this year feel like the right time to return? And were you releasing music during this time under another alias? To add to that, we're curious what the status is on your Perry O’Neil alias, I believe it’s been dormant for a while, any chance of that ever coming back?

Perry: I think life happened and I got disconnected from my passion for music. It was a combination of different factors, but I’m really, really glad I found my love for music again. I really felt the urge to produce music again when I was visiting Loveland in Amsterdam. I heard Guy J, Dixon, Sasha & Digweed & Black Coffee and those sets inspired me. I wrote 2 tracks the next day when I got back home. Actually, Perry O’Neil kind of came back as Left 2 Dust (with Özgür Can). We had a few releases and we both felt like Left 2 Dust was a needed step to produce records again, but in a different sound.

You have a new remix of ‘Round Around’ by Kasey Taylor & Jamie Stevens out now via the recently launched District Rec. Please tell us a bit about the remix and how you approached it, what sort of vibe were you aiming for?

Perry: I’ve been a big fan of Jamie since I discovered Infusion on a Mixmag CD. I never have a plan when it comes to creating music. I just open an older project in Ableton, delete all the tracks except the kick, and then just throw in the parts and see where it takes me. It’s the only way I can make music. Somehow the randomness makes sense.

Let our readers inside your studio for a moment, what is your current setup and what studio tools are featured heavily in your recent productions and more specifically on your ‘Round Around’ remix.

Perry: I have limited hardware, I’m a software guy. I have a pair of Mackie speakers which I bought 20 years ago, I use an old midi keyboard (Native Instruments) to hit random notes as I can’t read music or play the piano at all. I have an Antelope Zen Go Synergy audio interface. For my DAW, after using many of the options out there I’ve stuck with Ableton. I love it. I use a few plugins, but mainly Astra and sometimes Diva. Mainly I use a lot of samples that I have collected since 2002 and I use Splice heavily. I’m just discovering Loopcloud as well. I love to work with loops and samples. You can throw some stuff together really, really fast.

Speaking about District for a moment, the label’s first release was a single from yourself and you’ve now returned for a remix, along with several new releases lined up for next year. What is it about the label and people behind it that make it a comfortable home for your music?

Perry: Well, as most labels I think that you want to represent a certain sound. It was Mike Rish who coined ‘Progno’, which means progressive techno. That’s what we’re aiming for mostly with District. A bit more groove, a bit more tech and perhaps a hint to the era where prog was more diverse. Mike Rish is also on our roster and his track is one of the next ones out there and that one embodies the sound of District perfectly.

Shifting to DJing, as mentioned you’ve shared the stage with a long list of world class talent, but going to year early days, what were some of the main challenges and goals when starting out as a DJ? and how have they changed over time?

Perry: The goal was really to play wherever and whenever I could. I was too shy to ask around for gigs, but I managed to play here and there. I live in the South-West of Holland, back then not much was happening. Some small clubs where we all hung out. The main challenge was buying vinyl. As a kid growing up I had to work hours and hours to pay for new vinyl. Now with USB’s things have changed. We’re aiming to incorporate as much of our own material in our sets. One of our goals is simply to just play music. But since visiting Loveland outdoor was such an inspiration I’d love to play there.

Dennis: I haven’t played much very big gigs yet, more smaller venues for over 20 years, which I really enjoyed because of the feedback and energy you get from the people. So, it is going to be a learning curve, but I’ve got all the trust that it is going to work out as we have in our mind. My goal in this journey is the same as Perry make our sets as special as we can and make it our own, with our own style and sound.

What is it about DJing, compared to producing your own music, that makes it interesting for you?

Perry: Hot cues and FX really. It’s nice to get creative with those. In our home studio we have an Allen & Heath DB4 and the effects on that one are so mint.

Dennis: Same for me, the way you can use loops and hot cues these days gives you the chance to create your own style. Use 3 or more decks at the same time, and the FX these days are amazing. What Perry said we own an Allen Heath DB4 you can do magic on that mixer.

Can you tell me a bit about how your work as a DJ and performing for larger crowds has influenced your view of music, your way of listening to tracks and perhaps also, your work as a producer?

Perry: Not really, perhaps subconsciously. I’ve never played a new track and went back to change anything. I can perfectly understand why people do it, but that process doesn’t work for me. One of the things playing for a larger crowd demands I think is keeping the energy there. I think that’s something I subconsciously have in the back of my mind when I build out songs: will people dance to it?

Dennis: I believe in keeping the energy going and reading the crowd, making people sweat from dancing and see smiles. And with the tracks that we are making that will be no problem, haha.

How much prep do you put into the sets you play, or are they spontaneous for the most part?

Perry: The only prep I do is pretty standard, I guess. I download and go thru promo’s, check out Beatport and gather some more exclusive work from befriended artists. I put these in folders and make a bit of a playlist so I always have some sort of an idea, but other than that I usually just go with the flow.

Dennis: For me it is the same as Perry does, the one different thing is I try out some records in my home studio or make an mixtape and listen it back too find out if I like it, or what I can do better or different. But mainly is go with the flow and feel the energy and use that to enhance it even more.

 Current Top five tracks in your sets?

Perry:

Syncom Data - Beyond The Stars (Speedy J Remix - Mike Rish Edit) [District]

Patch Park - Huhu (Original Mix) [District]

GMJ - Feel Inside [Meanwhile]

Dave Gahan - Dirty Sticky Floors (Patch Park’s Bootleg of Junkie XL’s Vocal Remix)

Timo Maas & Costax - Around (Orginal Mix) [Bedrock]

Dennis:

Dave Gahan - Dirty Sticky Floors (Patch Park’s Bootleg of Junkie XL’s Vocal Remix)

Madonna – Bedtime Story (Patch Park Remix) (Bootleg)

Patch Park – Don’t Stop (guy j remix)

Patch Park – Huhu (original mix)

Syncom Data - Beyond The Stars (Speedy J Remix - Mike Rish Edit) [District]

If you could set up an event with a line-up of five artists of your choice, who would you book and what set times would you ascribe to the artists?

Perry:

21.00 - 22.30: MUUI

22.30 - 00.00: Mike Rish

00.00 - 01.30: Dixon

01.30 - 03.30: John Digweed

03.30 - 05.00: Guy J

Dennis:

22:00 – 23.00 : Tim Green

23.00 – 01.00 : Dennis Quinn

01:00 – 03.00 : Hot Since 82

03:00 – 05.00 : Underworld

What is a song/track you’ve never stopped listening to since childhood.

Perry: So many, but one that stands out is ‘Simple Minds - Don't You (Forget About Me)’. What can I say, such an amazing song. Nothing more to add here, also I love ‘In The Air Tonight’ by Phil Collins. Actually, I’ve recently made a bootleg version.

Dennis: Many to choose from if I have to choose then it would be ´Robert Miles - One and One’ ´Toto Mushanga` and also im an huge Queen fan so basically a lot from Queen.

If you are not DJing, producing or socializing at clubs, where do we find you? And doing what?

Perry: You can find me chilling or hanging out with friends. I love to simply sit down with some friends, enjoy some food, drink some (Belgian) beers or a nice wine. I also really enjoy a nice and cozy cuddle on the couch and watch a movie. Just simple things.

Dennis: You can find me amongst friends chilling having good conversations enjoying good food and having a drink. Also, during the summertime I like being on the water wakeboarding or grabbing an boat and go for an sail. And I also enjoy to tinker on cars or building things for my house or studio.

What’s something people do not know about you?

Perry: This is perhaps the hardest question. The first thing that pops in my mind is that I really hate mushrooms in a dish, any dish.

Dennis: I am an very open guy with my heart on my tongue so I really don’t know to be honest. So too keep it in the food angle I don’t eat fish or spicy hahaha.

Who would you most like to collaborate on a track with and why?

Perry: I really love the sound of Tal Fussman, that could be an interesting collab. And If I could really choose only one artist, I’d pick Kaytranada. He heavily inspired me and the first beats I wrote after many years we’re all slow 110 bpm house tracks, just like Kaytranada’s work. I have a folder with about 15 of those tracks that have no destination yet. Ideas are welcome!

Dennis: Because I am quite new to the progressive scene, I am eager too find out in the nearby future. But from what I know now it would be Eelke Kleijn, or Hot since 82 what he makes is more too the house side, but I think it would work.

What TV series have you been enjoying recently and what are some of your all time favourites?

Perry: For a while it felt like I’ve beaten the Netflix End-boss. I was scrolling more then I was watching. Well it least it felt like that. I usually watch short Series, but recently started watching Russian Doll and Mindhunter before that.

Dennis: I’m refurbishing my house at the moment so not much Netflix and chill for me. But I’m a huge Marvel and Star Wars nerd so I enjoy those series and movies a lot. I also like car themed shows on YouTube like Matt Armstrong.

What can we look forward to from you in 2025?

Perry: Loads of music :-D My release schedule is filled till about next summer. I still have about 30+ tracks I want to finish, and that pile keeps on growing. But we’re aiming to incorporate as much own material and edits in our future sets, so we need the volume.

Dennis: Boring answer but exactly what Perry said. And also, good energy from my side lots of love for the music and we are going to bring this to the people. I can’t wait too see you dance to our sound.

Patch Park's remix of 'Round Around' by Kasey Taylor and Jamie Stevens is available now via District Rec: https://tinyurl.com/25maf3st