By Nicole Falco
Panaghi's Omega Studios is a pro-level, private, studio equivalent to any major-label studio, he says. "If you shut the doors, you can't even hear a pin drop outside," Panaghi said.
The doors to Panaghi's studio are 200 pound solid birch. The walls are at least twice as thick and the acoustical treatments needed to create high quality sound give the room a "Star Wars"-like feel.
With more than 30 keyboards, a computer and mixer, Panaghi creates the unique sound that he has built his career on. Panaghi has produced, mixed and remixed songs for "pop" artists including Michael Jackson, Gloria Estefan, Jon Secada and Will Smith on major record labels including Sony, Epic and MCA. He has done the same for "dance" artists including Abby Lynn, D.J. Hott and Sarina Paris on underground labels including Playland, Blank Frank and ZYX Music. Panaghi recently started his own production company and record label.
"I don't take on every project. It has to be something I like that I think I can do something with," Panaghi said.
Panaghi wasn't the guy playing guitar in high school. He wasn't even in the high school band. The Central High School graduate was more likely found in the D.J. booth spinning and scratching a Run DMC record.
By the time he enrolled in Adelphi University, "The Greek," as he had come to be known, was DJing five nights a week at Long Island clubs including Malibu, Metro 700 and J. Sprats while pursuing a degree in marketing.
There came a point in his career when Panaghi decided he wanted to know how a record is made. With no formal training or music theory knowledge, Panaghi bought a drum machine and a keyboard and relied on his "ear" to mix the sounds he wanted.
While still in college, Panaghi released his first single, "Boriqua," on Third Millennium Entertainment. "Boriqua" helped Panaghi get his name "out there." Soon requests for remixes and mixes started coming in. Panaghi was approached by Epic Records to remix "Valga El Brillo De Tus Ojos," by Albita, a Latin artist. One thing led to another and most recently, Panaghi remixed tunes for Celine Dion and Marc Anthony.
The record company sends him just the vocals and Panaghi builds the chords around them.
"When you just get the vocals you can hear the artist breathing...bumping into the mic. It's wild," Panaghi said.
Panaghi works with top-level musicians to help him get the sound he wants. Jeff Hanc, a student of Julliard and Mike Nigro, who Panaghi calls an "in demand session keyboardist," are just two of the talented people Panaghi says he has had the good fortune to work with.
Panaghi's club mixes and remixes have earned him international fame as well as numerous gold and platinum certifications for records he has worked on.
"Outside of Valley Stream, New York and the United States dance music is taken more seriously. What the Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync are here is what dance music is to the rest of the world. To the rest of the world club music is pop music," Panaghi said.
Hearing one of his songs on the radio still gives him a thrill and getting off a plane in Canada and being asked for his autograph is exciting to Panaghi. Still, even more important to Panaghi is getting dance music heard.
Recently, Panaghi produced a remix of Bryan Adams' "Heaven" by Eyra Gail. The song, a favorite on KTU 103.5, had a little competition from the same song remixed by D.J. Sammy. Locally, the D.J. Sammy version can be heard on Z-100.
"Having either one of us on the radio helps the other one out. I just like the fact that dance music is on the radio," Panaghi said.
Throughout his career, Panaghi has been adding to his resume. Besides DJing, mixing and remixing music, Panaghi has began producing acts through his production company DJG Productions Inc. and has released music on his new record label, DJG Trax.
"I like to find artists who are young and talented, who don't know what to do or [don't] have the connections. Then I'll develop the artists as a whole. The ultimate goal is to get them a record deal."
Through his production company, Panaghi produced three singles for three dance artists that were released in September. Panaghi produced "Always Next To Me" by Jesika for Phat Cat Records, a cover of "Only The Lonely" by Ava Dayton and a cover of Pat Benatar "Promises in the Dark" as well as his own music.
"You always have to redevelop yourself and get to the next level. If you stay stagnant for too long people lose interest in you," Panaghi said.
To date, Panaghi has released numerous mix-CDs and has his own 30-minute "mix show" that is heard Saturday nights on KTU. The show basically simulates what a listener would hear in a club. Panaghi's KTU show is syndicated on at least 10 other radio stations throughout the United States. He was previously heard on Party 105 and WLIR 92.7.
To keep up with Panaghi and to find out when his next club appearance might be, log on to www.djgproductions.com.
