A Conversation with Perez Hilton Interview in The Hard Rock Lounge During SXSW (Better Late Than Never) – HuffPost 5.4.12

Mike Ragogna: Hello, Perez!

Perez Hilton: Hello!

MR: What in the world is going on here today?

PH: Well, I am here because I love coming to Austin every year for the SXSW music festival. This is my 6th year coming and my 5th year putting on a big event. This year, I’m especially excited because we’ve been able to raise $45,000 for the VH1 Save The Music foundation.

MR: Perez, can you go into that relationship?

PH: I had a light bulb moment. I was like, I’m doing this every year, I should also turn it into an opportunity to raise, not just money, but also awareness for a cause that I believe in. Also, as a side by-product, a good thing that came from that was that I can sell tickets, which can be a guaranteed admission to the party. In previous years, a lot of people wanted to go to my party but not everybody could get inside because we always had more people requesting free tickets than there was capacity. Now, people could buy a ticket, get a guaranteed admission, and support music education in America. We’ve raised over $45,000, which is more than enough money to reinstate a music program in the middle school or high school that has lost their music program. The great thing about music education is that it’s been proven that kids who study music in middle school and high school do better across the board. They do better in math, and if it weren’t for music and musicians, there would be no SXSW.

MR: Nice, exactly. In fact you have been a supporter of new acts for as long as you’ve been coming here.

PH: Absolutely. That to me is what SXSW is all about, it’s about new music. It’s not about the party, which it’s become a lot, and it’s not about the brands, which I am thankful for because it allows us to put on the big parties. But I always get frustrated when people say, “Oh there was no big headliner,” or “There was no surprise act.” Well, there is no surprise act at my party, I’m saying that loud and clear. But I’m also thrilled with my lineup and it does have some established people like B.o.B. and Timbaland, and some newer people that are also established like Devin, and some established people overseas that are really big internationally like Ed Sheeran who’s had a couple of number ones in the UK, or Cher Lloyd who’s also had some number ones in the UK. And then some young talent I think is phenomenon like Rosi Golan, singer-songwriter in that vain, or Cris Cab — I see him as a young John Mayer. I’m really excited to present these young talents to four thousand people in my venue, and also the millions of people who read my website every day, because I’ve been hyping this up for a while now.

MR: When you look back at the artists that you’ve introduced, do you feel proud of the fact that you helped participate in people’s awareness of them?

PH: Definitely proud because I would never take credit for anybody’s success, but I think that I have helped. I remember my first SXSW party in 2008. It was a pretty epic lineup. Back then, I had Katy Perry before she had released her album, before she had released her single. I also had Robyn, and it’s been great to see both Katy and Robyn skyrocket and become very successful, especially someone like Robyn who’s been able to become very well known in America with little to no radio play.

MR: And there’s also Kendra. When you’re looking at this new batch, are you watching a couple of them and going, “Hmm, I think this one is going to happen pretty big?”

PH: I think it’s going to happen for everybody performing at my party, and that’s why I pick them. I definitely select every single artist performing. I get everybody asking and lobbying, but I genuinely have to really love everybody performing, and I do.

MR: Perez, what advice might you have for new artists?

PH: I would say it definitely helps if you’re in Los Angeles, so move to LA. That’s one piece of advice that a lot of people may not give, but I think it’s easier trying to start if you’re in LA because that’s really where the music world has shifted to. It’s not New York any more. There’s a great music scene in Austin, but if you really want to be seen by the right people and have the right opportunities, you need to be based in Los Angeles. Then again, because of the Internet, anything is possible from anywhere. Unless you get lucky, it’s easier in LA, and I’m not saying it’s easy either. It’s not easy.

MR: Lady Gaga… you nurtured a relationship with her. How about these other acts? How personal does all this get for you?

PH: It gets very personal. I think I’m like a parent, a dad. I call myself “Papa Perez” to a lot of musicians, and they call me that. I love it because it’s more than just supporting these artists. I have relationships with a lot of them and I really care for them, and I give them advice. They ask me for feedback and input and I love that.

MR: Do you find that there are common things that they’re asking for all the time, when they ask for advice?

PH: They ask me to listen to music, to look at photos, look at music videos, everything really.

MR: You’re going to be doing this a lot longer than this year, right?

PH: Oh yeah. This is my 5th year doing this, and I have no intentions of stopping.

MR: Are you already looking at the next crop of new talent for next year?

PH: I can’t plan that far in advance. If you would have asked me a year ago who would perform at the SXSW party tonight, I would not have known because a lot of these artists weren’t making headlines, or on my radar last year.

MR: So you’re psyched for tonight’s performances?

PH: I am so excited.

MR: Thank you very much, Perez.

PH: Thank you!

Transcribed by Narayana Windenberger