Palms Trax

Talking with Palms Trax blurs a thin line between what’s real and what’s not. The Berlin-residing house head – once named Jay Donaldson by his parents – holds some peculiar ambitions. His eco-friendly aspirations might seem a bit too good to be true, but believe us when we say they’re not. We asked Jay what’s essential in house music, and spoke about having a dwarf in your backstage dressing room – the things that matter…

 

Interview by Sander van Dalsum, photo shot by Charlie Adams

 

 

“I’m sure I harbour some lofty ambitions…like finding the German equivalent of white bread flour”

 

 

Hey Jay, how are you?

Good. Skating around all over the place like a young Bambi with all this snow.

 

Is that something you do a lot aside from making music?

It’s up there with sourcing root vegetables and vitamin supplements.

 

Oh wow, I was going to ask if you were the type of person that lives a healthy, organic lifestyle, as we’re doing the ‘What Really Matters’ issue this month…


I think my first six months in Berlin would beg to differ. But I’m attempting to make a change for the sake of my extended family, who I’m sure would relish me having an extra few months of quality life.

 

It’s probably a good thing you’re thinking about where your food comes from. Is there something else you think every person should do?


A full head of hair should never be taken for granted. And since I just had my coat stolen, no one should steal. Even if it is cold outside and you’re only sporting a thin anorak.

 

Agreed, my coat got stolen last winter and I got sick after going home without it. Turns out someone took it with her by accident.

You know what? My girlfriend managed to find a scarf and £25 on the floor outside an abbey about a minute later, so God sorted me out with a taxi home and a warm neck.

 

You’ve got quite some karma. You said before that you want to live a quality life. What does that entail?

I’m pretty content at the minute. just got some bed sheets for the first time in two months and a couple of pairs of thermal socks. So I can’t complain. Guess this year it’ll just be nice to have some time free to make music and stuff, now that all of my things have gotten here from the U.K., and I’m not running around so much. Honestly, I’m just so happy to have found an apartment and be back in a room that doesn’t resemble a scene from Trainspotting.

 
 

“The best outcome is probably that they forget how they feel entirely”

 

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It seems like its the small things that make you happy.

Moving countries has definitely made me appreciate them more. But I’m sure I harbour some lofty ambitions somewhere too. Like finding the German equivalent of white bread flour, getting the next couple of records out, and procuring a small Tuscan barn; one step at a time.

 

That’s a tasteful list of ambitions. Is your tour rider as modest as your life’s requirements?

Yeah well, I’m in no position to be demanding a rider, and after spending one memorable evening a few years ago racing around London trying to find a pint of Crème De Menthe and some cotton towels for someone, I’m hesitant to put anyone through the same ordeal.

 

Ah, I’m curious…you wouldn’t be willing to tell us who that was would you?


Well, that’s going remain a secret but my friend once worked at an Eels concert and they asked for a dwarf dressed as Mrs. Claus to stand in their dressing room, holding a box of Cuban cigars. Maybe in a couple of years I’ll give it a go.

 

I suppose you could try the promoters in Amsterdam. They’re quite liberal.


Yeah, I was actually thinking of moving to Amsterdam. Never been there, but it seems like a place I’d enjoy. Not least because the promoters can apparently obtain a cigar holding dwarf at short notice.

 



I’d give it a try! Let’s conclude this chat with a little music-talk. What is essential to a house track?

I think it has to make you dance, like you physically can’t stand still to it. Then I guess I like it to feel completely timeless. It’s obviously debatable what qualities are timeless, but for me a lot of the stuff at the moment is concentrating too much on impact rather than emotion.

 


What does a dancer need to feel then?


Well the best outcome is probably that they forget how they feel entirely.

 

 

Palms Trax headlines Tribe Amsterdam’s Studio/K night this Saturday, 25 January. It’ll just be his second ever live show. The show is free for members before midnight. You can also catch Palms Trax at Pissing in the Wind #4 at EKKO, Utrecht on Friday, 24 January.