The Records That Made Me: DJ Python

With The Records That Made Me, VF uncovers the vinyl releases that have influenced and shaped our favourite musicians, DJs and artists.

One of the most intriguing producers and DJs working today, Brian Piñeyro aka DJ Python, has deftly established a name through blending deep house and reggaeton sounds with downtempo introspection and rhythmic experimentation. Following the release of his XL Recordings debut, i was put on this earth, we catch up with him to discuss his favourite records.

DJ Python started collecting records primarily due to unfortunate circumstances. “When I was about 13, I lost my CD collection because it was stolen from my mom’s car. Then, I started buying records. Honestly, because I knew I wouldn’t lose them,” he explains. His early purchases came a “classic rock” shop and “a guy who had two house full of jazz records” and his sound system was a DIY job – made up of a TV that he would plug his record player into.

Despite transitioning from vinyl DJ to digital over the years, DJ Python has remained a keen collector, buying mostly “used stuff”. “I used to only DJ with records so that I would buy a lot of electronic music but the first few tours I did with records, a lot of them got stolen when I checked them,” he says. “So I stopped doing that, and now I buy digital music. With electronic music, I’ll still buy albums, more than 12-inch singles, but I mostly buy albums now”.

Read on to discover the records that made DJ Python.

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The Field

From Here We Go Sublime

(Kompakt)

I think it’s just the record I’ve listened to the most since it came out. I’ve probably listened to it multiple times a week since 2007, which is quite a long time. It’s just really, really good. The template is simple, but it’s impressive how good that record is. He’s obviously really good at finding and manipulating samples, but it’s quite repetitive in terms of drum programming. It’s cool because it’s almost like a shoegaze record as much as it is a dance music record. The emotional palette he honed in on is beautiful and real.

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Peel Dream Magazine

Rose Main Reading Room

(Topshelf Records)

Yeah. It’s a record I’ve really been enjoying lately. The production is really good, and the lyrics are beautiful. That’s really about it. I think the artwork is beautiful. It’s a really unique artwork. I like that it doesn’t feel trendy, it feels kind of timeless. I like it when art is its own thing and doesn’t follow trends.

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Current 93

I Have a Special Plan for This World

(Durtro)

It’s just a really ambitious record. The spoken word parts, the narrative, it’s really beautiful. It’s something I listen to a lot when I’m decompressing at home. Some people think it’s depressing, but I think it’s actually very humanizing.

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Lewis

L’Amour

(Light In The Attic)

It’s a really intimate record. The way he sings is so personal, and it’s really beautiful and unique. I haven’t heard anything else like it before.

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Ween

Quebec

(Sanctuary)

It came out when I was in middle school. It’s hard for me to pick a Ween record, but this one has amazing album art, and it’s really personal. I think it was when Gene and Dean got divorced, and they just recorded it in Quebec in one session. It has a lot of my favorite Ween songs on it. I’ve always been impressed by how, whatever style they decide to write, they do it better than whoever they’re inspired by.

DJ Python’s i was put on this earth is out now on XL Recordings. 

Read more of The Records That Made Me series here.