It all starts with the sea, a grandson of a sailor and guitarist, Sonny Rooney has used inspirations of his grandfathers tales of the rugged oceans to his multi-instrumental inspirations. Harnessing these moments into the social age we find ourselves sitting in today it has forced Rooney to look into an all hands on approach which he undertakes into his productions, his DJ sets and his all round musical intake. It is with this thought comes his guise Pinky Perzelle. With his excellent debut release about to drop “No Games”, a release dubbed: “a true labour of love and an ode to his total passion and dedication to multi instrumental record creation without compromise” we can honestly say that the Sky is the limit for Pinky Perzelle. A long time friend of the shop it was only right we bring in the release with Sonny and ask him to drop a mix for our friends and family series. We had a quick chat with Sonny about the mix and the inspiration behind his forthcoming debut:
Hey Sonny, Thanks for joining us! Can you tell us about your mix and what was the idea behind it? How and where was the mix recorded?
My pleasure! Thanks for having me 🙂 I had a bunch of great records to listen through and promos that friends etc had sent me. I wanted to place them together in context with some staples from my sets over recent years. The end result was me letting off some steam, zoning out and having some fun for an hour and a half in the studio!
Could you tell us a little bit about your background, perhaps where you grew up and what first got you interested in music?
I was born and raised in West London but all of my family are originally from Liverpool / Merseyside so I spent a lot of time up there too.
Music has always been instinctive and addictive for me. I was making drum kits out of pots and pans before I could walk. My old man would give me old 7’s and tapes to listen to as a toddler that I was obsessed with. My grandfather taught me how to play the guitar super young and I was making my own music and DJ’ing not long after. Certainly ‘in my blood’ wether I like it or not haha.
What’s your preferred method for finding new music—do you still enjoy digging around in dusty crates, or do you prefer to buy online?
I’m still always curious and on the hunt to find my ‘next favourite record’.. I spent much of my childhood getting dragged around record fairs and shops (Phonica included), but I’m surprisingly still obsessed with the process and potential rewards of discovery. It’s also an added bonus that I’m actually tall enough to see above the counter now haha. When I have the time I’m more than happy to spend a whole day in a shop. I also find a lot of music online these days, but nothing beats that human connection and physical process in my opinion. For me, some music sounds better when you’re alone, but often times is best enjoyed or discovered collectively, like good food! 🙂
We can’t get enough of your forthcoming release “No Games”, can you give us a little insight into the process of this record, what was the idea behind it?
Ah thanks a lot! I wanted my to give my debut the time and space it needed. It’s also the first release on my label Perzelle Recordings. The initial concept for ‘No Games’ came out of one of the first sessions Eda and I had together, which I then spent the next 3-4 years refining and tweaking until it was the best it could be. The bread and butter of the track were actually created very quickly. I played each instrument in full takes straight to my 4 track cassette recorder, initially as a demo, but ultimately all of which stayed on the final version. Eda’s vocals I later tracked straight to my laptop with a borrowed microphone. Later was Violin from Fotis Siotas and additional drums from Malcolm Catto (The Heliocentrics).
I spent the next year and half finishing it all. The Velvet Season remix was a natural ‘no brainer’ and a welcome addition! ‘Pinky’s Electronic Mix’ came together really organically. I wanted to add another electronic element to the record and create something that both myself and other DJ’s could play at a certain time of the night. It all glued together really well and I set myself a challenge of finishing it as quickly as possible. The following week it was mastered and cut.
What do you have up your sleeve for 2022?
More music, more gigs and more good times!
Thanks Sonny 
Thank YOU guys ! <3
1- Pinky Perzelle – No Games (Instrumental) – Outro
2- Ayden Vice & Andreas Rund – Come Back To Me (The Egyptian Lover Remix)
3- Through The Night – (Juice & Borat EDIT)
4- Warehouse Preservation Society – I Can Feel It
5- FYI Chris – Hair Of The Dog (Original Mix)
6- The Alma Negra Live Band – San Jon (Mehmet Aslan Soca Dub Remix)
7- Pinky Perzelle – No Games (feat. Eda Eren) [Pinky’s Electronic Mix]
8- Mr. Ho ft. NYPD – WRECKS 4 WAVE – 02 BMW (Remix)
9- Sandy B – Amajovi Jovi (Lion’s Drums Edit)
10- Muzzy D Pilot – Shay’mpempe – Amapiano mix [ft. DJ Mavuthela, Ribby De DJ & Rhino]
11- The Maghreban – Wrong Move
12- Anunaku & DJ Plead – Wheele
13- Simone – Rekka (Bonus Beat Chant – Castro’s Edit)
14- I Love The Night Life (Dub RMX Edit By Mr. K)
15- Decius – Bread & Butter
16- The Rhumbing Rose – Jonny Rock’s Oldschool Rider version
17- New Era – New Era
18- Bitter – Extended Jonny Rock edit
19- Nick The Record – I Appreciate Disco Edit NH002
20- Captain Sky – Moonchild (Peter Lewicki Disco Mix)
21- Jay W. McGee – When We Party
