Contributing WriterPaul Donton has been an innovative electronic force for more than 15 years and under various different aliases. He has collaborated with a carousel of cultured peers, from Robert Owens to Orlando Voorn and has never been afraid to head into new, unknown territory across the sonic spectrum. This latest EP comes on the Triangle Records imprint that he co-runs with Orlando Voorn…
Hey Paul! It’s great to chat to you, tell us how you’ve been settling into 2025
Good afternoon, and thank you for the invitation! It’s been a wonderful and exciting start to 2025. Not only have I been working on various projects, but I’ve also been diving deeper into promotion and content creation. I’ve also recently rebuilt my home studio with some new equipment and plugins (Dune 3 / Serum and Roland Products to name a few), which has sparked more inspiration. I’ve been attending other events to check out the local scene and am planning to attend more, from Leeds to London.
Let’s talk about your upcoming EP on Triangle Records, ‘Positive Hunger’. What can our readers expect from this release?
This release is just a small taste of what’s to come. For a change, it’s a more techno-focused affair—perfect for leaving all the stomping to the dancefloor.
Reflecting on the creation of the track, my goal was to craft a unique flow by adding new ingredients and building the groove. Like many of my tracks, it went through the process mill— layering, removing, and adjusting until you can really feel the tension. I tend to write based on the mood I’m in at the time, which is probably why I’ve managed to create so much music over the years. I don’t like to revisit things; I prefer to follow the emotion I’m feeling in the moment. The dub version strips back some of the additional elements, giving it a more direct, minimal vibe.
Having one of my biggest influences, Eddie Flashin Fowlkes, on board for this project was an honor. His remix is everything I expected—absolutely incredible—and he really delivered a jam. It was a true pleasure working with him.
With this EP, I truly believe we’ve taken things up a notch. It sets the tone for what Orlando Voorn and I are doing with the label—releasing solid, quality electronic music. That’s what it’s all about.
Are there any musical collaborations you’ve been a part of that stand out to you? What impact have they had on your career?
I’ve been very fortunate over the years to collaborate and work with some incredible people. Along with my regular production partners, Rob Pearson, Daniel Mancini (as The Maersk Project), and Orlando Voorn, I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the biggest names in the business. It’s always been a pleasure to collaborate with those who have influenced me, including on the Positive Hunger EP with Eddie Flashin Fowlkes.Some of my previous projects include working with Robert Owens for our 50th release on my other label, Bombis Records, back in 2018. Another highlight from the early days was getting Adultnapper on board for his remix of Dave Brennan’s Drink Deep, which was also featured on Satoshi Tomiie’s Renaissance: The Masters Series album in 2008.
Looking through the discography on Bombis and Triangle alone, I feel it really speaks for itself. I’m proud of each release and the work I’ve done with my production partners, which has only strengthened our productions. Relaunching Triangle.Records with Orlando has been a major milestone for us, with two LPs already released, along with an entire discography of projects. Exciting times ahead!
You currently head up Triangle Records alongside Orlando Voorn; what’s the most rewarding aspect of running a record label and why?
For me, it’s all about knowing I’m making a positive impact. From the production process to mastering and seeing the finished product come to life—it’s always an amazing feeling. What really excites me is seeing who enjoys and supports the sound. That buzz is what keeps me going.
It’s the same energy we aim to create in the label offices. It becomes this addictive drive to release another track and push ourselves to raise the bar from the success of the previous one. Building momentum with each release it’s a rewarding cycle that keeps evolving!
In the last few years, vinyl DJing has seen a sharp rise in popularity with younger generations; why do you think this is?
Personally, I think it’s all about trends these days. I could say “back in the day” quite a lot when it comes to vinyl, as I was originally pretty stubborn about the whole vinyl vs. digital DJing debate.
It’s definitely a format thing. As you mature (if we can call it that), it becomes much easier to show up with a laptop and a USB drive and rock a set all night, rather than lugging around a heavy box of records—especially when you’re producing so much new music.
Accessibility plays a big role too. The current generation has found easy access to the music of the previous generation (the original tech house generation).
Artists like Peace Division, Get Fucked, Terry Francis, Eddie Richards, Jay Tripwire, and Rob Pearson have had their past works repressed, introducing this new generation to the sounds that influenced them, and that’s why we’re seeing another ‘peak’ of interest. Vinyl is really for the purists, but we’re still in an era where people don’t really care what format it’s on, as long as great music is playing on the dancefloor. At the end of the day, art is art.
Vinyl never really left—it just wasn’t the main focus for a few years. I still buy records to this day, though the problem is they weigh a ton and take up a lot of space!
What’s your favourite record of the year so far?
Currently I have a few favourites as I am addicted to some great music: This occasion, lets give a special mention to Steve O’ Sullivan – he is a regular in my DJ bag and always enjoyed his productions: An EP called Secret Chamber currently out on Salon Records
Do you have any upcoming projects or sets in 2025 you can share with us?
There’s plenty coming up:
Triangle.Records – My collaborative EP with Orlando Voorn, titled Arabian Funk, will be released soon on the label, featuring remixes from Reggie Dokes (who’s had releases on the legendary KMS Records and his own Psychostasia Recordings) and Trevor Rockcliffe (Primeval / Bush / React).
There’s also a new EP coming soon from myself and Rob Pearson, titled More Juice, with remixes from Samuel L Session (Cycle / Tritone / Rotation / Hardgroove) and Mark Williams (Hardgroove / Beard Man / Wack), which I’m really excited about.
Bombis Records – Paul Donton and Rob Pearson’s track Something Is Off will feature remixes from Orlando Voorn and The Maersk Project, marking the 90th release on the label. There are also some exciting new EPs titled From The Vault, where we’ve enlisted special guest remixers to breathe new life into some of our classic releases, giving them a fresh twist to fit today’s unique sound. These revamped tracks are sure to turn heads, so keep an eye out for some special gems coming your way!
Included will be Rob Pearson and I’s fifth studio album (currently untitled) will be released later this year on Bombis.
Konform – The Maersk Project will be releasing another series of EPs on the label, all featuring original tracks created in an analogue studio. We’re exploring a diverse range of styles, from deep to techno to breaks. It’s been an exciting project!
Eviltron Music – My solo projects as Eviltron will see several EPs released this year, along with three Slab Session albums, all featuring my own productions.
Contraflow – Due to the large number of productions I have on the shelf (and my machine mentality when it comes to getting music done), I’ve also created a new, unique label called Contraflow this year. It will feature all original productions from artists on board, includingEviltron, Orlando Voorn, Mohican & Falcon, and The Maersk Project. The style will be a bit more progressive than my usual deep, dark, and dirty sounds. It’s all really exciting, and there’s so much going on. I can already tell this year is going to be incredibly busy, and I’m definitely not going to be bored with all that’s happening and more!
Thanks again for the interview!
Follow Paul Donton: Soundcloud – Beatport
