Derwin Dicker, better known by his stage name Gold Panda, is a British electronic record producer, performer, and composer from the United Kingdom. As a musician, Derwin has enjoyed the acclaim that comes with touring the world and selling out shows in Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo, Paris, London and many places in between.
The story of Gold Panda’s journey from an acclaimed debut record to now begins in 2009 with his first several 7inch and single releases. He was remixing tracks for Bloc Party and turning the ears of tastemakers. This lead up to the release of his genre-defining debut album ‘Lucky Shiner’ (2010 – Ghostly International). Derwin has spent the subsequent years splitting the majority of his time between London, Berlin and countless excursions to Japan.
His most recent release, his fourth album 2022’s The Work continues his knack of merging serene emotion and engaging, danceable sounds.
FACTS
1. I’m not a panda
2. I’m not gold
3. I used to work in a sex shop
1. What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
Music I suppose. Hearing great or awful music and feeling motivated to get into my studio and start messing around. Any time I’m not making music contributes to a burning desire to make music.
2. How and when did you get into making music?
Hmmm a friend and I used to record pirate radio and remix it with a dual tape deck and do little comedy sketches when we were around 12 years old. My uncle lent me an Atari with cubase and an akai s3000xl sampler in 1996 and I’ve been hooked ever since.
3. What are 5 of your favourite albums of all time?
It’ll probably change every time you ask me but…
De La Soul – 3feet high and rising
.Snd – Tender Love (or anything by .snd)
Mobb Deep – Hell On Earth
Nina Simone – My Baby Just Cares For Me
Steve Reich – Music for a Large Ensemble
4. What do you associate with Berlin?
It makes me think of a man with too many pin badges on a leather wasitcoat.
5. What’s your favourite place in your town?
My town? Hmm probably the local library. The building is beautiful in my opinion.
6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
I’d probably enjoy all the things I miss out by being obsessed with music/creativity.
7. What was the last record/music you bought or listen?
‘homebodies’ by Telequanta
‘an honest meal’ by Unkle G
I bought from Bandcamp.
Listened to…
‘Mystic Islands Dub’ by Harikuyamaku
‘Exai’ by Autechre (well, the first 3 tracks then I had to pick up the kids from school)
8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
My friends and family.
9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
Oh as a spectator. I don’t know what my best is but I really remember
Lichens at All Tomorrows Parties.
10. How important is technology to your creative process?
Well, pretty important for music and visuals I guess but I don’t need the latest stuff. But I like drawing and writing too, so that’s less tech focussed.
11. What can we expect from your live show at Gretchen in Berlin?
Its some modular synth & laptop for music and some visuals I made that react to the music. The set is always different and there is lots of room for mistakes, even though its with a laptop its really quite “live”…. I promise!
