Pammi Pasqual, the Greek-born, London-based DJ and Producer, recently attended the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) for the first time, taking to explore the wide range of opportunities on offer in Amsterdam during October. With a multi-faceted career as a DJ, Producer, and the founder of Playdance Records, Pammi entered ADE with a clear mission: to connect with professionals, explore new industry discussions, and push his music career forward. Now, he joins us to reflect on his experience, sharing highlights from the event and insight into how ADE has already shaped his plans for the future.
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2x8P3jE7UDLCiwYlwf0uZm?si=H18WLiZjQnyHdZ17Jq0yKw&nd=1&dlsi=2080f3f5913a4c03
Hi Pammi Pasqual, how are you?
Hi, I am doing very well thank you.
To begin, what was your overall impression of ADE 2024? Can you tell us about your experience this year?
It was my first time in the ADE actually and I loved every moment of it! I was impressed with the number of events taking place day and night, the quality of them, and how well-organised everything was. The vibe in the city was brilliant, the whole city was vibing in the rhythm of the ADE and the experience was unique for me.
Were there any events that caught your attention?
Initially, I planned to mainly attend the music industry discussions and interviews of artists I admire, although things changed when I arrived. I spent some more time navigating the ADE app and I discovered the Meet the Professional sessions which were about to take place at the Pulitzer building. This series of events caught my attention as I wasn’t familiar with the concept of these ‘matchmaking’ events with curated professionals. For those who aren’t familiar with what this is, it’s like ‘Speed Dating’ with music industry professionals where you have 5 minutes to talk one-on-one with them and then switch to the next table where you can have a chat and exchange contact details with another one. As a person, I find it a bit hard to introduce myself to a stranger out of the blue and do the networking. Attending these sessions helped me to get out of my comfort zone and do this and I found myself spending most of my daytime during ADE in these sessions.
What was your main goal in attending ADE, and do you feel you achieved it?
My main goal was to ‘’force’’ myself into networking with industry professionals in order to initiate new partnerships, explore new opportunities and learn from them. I wanted to talk to industry people and ask them for advice on the next steps in my career and development. By attending these matchmaking sessions, I had the opportunity to do so and I am so happy that I’ve introduced myself as an artist and label owner and received 1to1 advice from top A&R managers, booking agents and artist managers. I had the chance to ask them direct questions like, ‘what are you looking for in an upcoming artist to work with him/her and where should I be focusing at this stage of my career as an artist?’
So yes, I feel that I’ve achieved my goal by making some great connections and most importantly by clarifying what my next steps should be in order to develop my music career in the right direction over the next year.
Did you attend any performances? If so, can you share your favourites?
I did go to a few events, of course! I attended the Data Transmission event at the Vick’s bar to meet with the team and support them since I’ve been working with them for a few years as one of their radio DJ residents. At the same venue, I had the luck to attend another great event with the legend David Penn on the decks, and it was such an intimate and fun party. Another highlight was the 1001 Playlists party and last but not least the DEFECTED events with Sam Divine and Dennis Ferrer, an event that I enjoyed so so much!
How do you think your experiences at ADE will impact your work moving forward?
It has already defined my priorities as an artist for the next year and until the next ADE! When I came back home after the ADE week, the first thing I did was update my goals and milestones for the next months, taking into consideration what I had learnt. All this personalised advice that I received changed my perspective on things and helped me understand better how things work currently in the industry. During the next year, I will focus on my output as an artist in terms of more frequent releases as well as a more active and engaging social media profile.
Was there a particular talk, panel, or workshop that has left a lasting impression on you?
The matchmaking series was my favourite by far!! Especially the ‘Meet the A&R’s’ session! I had the chance to pitch some of my songs to A&R managers from major record labels and receive 1to1 feedback on the tracks while seeing their reactions in real-time! Also, some of them requested that I keep sending them my work personally since they are interested in keeping in touch for future opportunities. That made this session the most memorable for me.
How do you see the role of festivals like ADE in shaping the future of Electronic Music?
These types of events are so important for the music industry and the Electronic Dance Music scene. It’s a great opportunity for music business professionals to gather and discuss current issues, the latest innovations as well as the future of the Electronic Dance Music scene. I believe that these types of events move the scene forward and they have definitely contributed to the growth of the Electronic Dance Music scene worldwide over the past decade.
Did you meet any new people or make useful connections during ADE?
Yes definitely! As I said earlier, networking and meeting like-minded professionals and learning from them was my main goal this year and I feel that I achieved it! I had to push myself a lot and get out of my comfort zone many times but mission accomplished!! I made some great contacts and hopefully, this will initiate some new collaborations and partnerships in the near future.
Finally, how do you unwind after a busy week at ADE?
I spent a week at ADE, and I had to spend one more week in bed after that!! Haha… You don’t realise it while you are there, and you survive on coffee, naps and pure dopamine running through your veins from excitement! But once you’re back that’s it, you’re done!! I had to postpone so many things and take it easy for a week after my return back home! Now that I know how intense the experience can be, I’ll do a favour to myself and book a few days off after my next ADE next year!
As we conclude our interview with Pammi Pasqual, we thank him for taking the time to speak with us and sharing a glimpse into his time in Amsterdam this past October. With lessons learnt and motivation gained, we’re excited to see where his journey leads him next and look forward to following him along as he promises more music and exciting projects ahead. So, a Producer and DJ to watch closely, make sure to keep up with Pammi Pasqual by following him across social media today.
Pammi Pasqual Online
