Discovering Calvin Harris
Mike Pickering grew tired of hearing "absolute turgid indie bands playing rubbish music" during his time as an A&R representative at Sony's Columbia label in the mid-2000s. During a phone call with a publisher, he noticed music playing in the background that caught his attention.
He "zoned out" from the conversation to focus on the tune — "The Girls" by Calvin Harris — and immediately sought Harris's contact information with the intention of signing him.
They arranged to meet at a Costa Coffee in King's Cross Station, where Harris, whose real name is Adam Wiles, expressed urgency about the deal, stating,
"If you're interested you have to do this deal straight away because I'm sick of stacking shelves at Marks and Spencer in Dumfries."
Pickering recalled Harris as "very gangly and geeky," noting that he looked nothing like his current image but rather resembled a typical young man from Scotland or northern England.
Despite Harris's modest appearance, Pickering recognized potential in him that would be valuable for his label.
Recognizing Talent and Vision
Pickering emphasized that Adam Wiles always had a clear vision for his music career.
"Adam always knew what he wanted to do, always, and I used to look for that in an artist,"he said.
He contrasted Harris with other artists who, while talented, often lack a clear direction, which can create challenges.
Although Harris did not initially envision becoming the world's top DJ, he had strong belief in his music and demonstrated considerable songwriting talent.
Their first meeting lasted about 20 to 25 minutes, after which Pickering shared his thoughts. Harris responded positively, leading to the signing of a deal.
"We've been very, very close in a working and a personal relationship ever since,"Pickering noted.
Early Career and Band Experience
Before embarking on a solo career, Harris was part of a five-piece band, all members hailing from Dumfries. Pickering described the group as fun and entertaining, remarking that five guys from Dumfries on tour ensured lively experiences.
Ongoing Collaboration and Success
Pickering and Harris have maintained a close relationship over the years, with Harris frequently sending tracks for feedback. Pickering placed Harris in a unique position between artist and DJ, highlighting that unlike many DJs, Harris writes, produces, and creates all his music, which consistently achieves global success.
He praised Harris as one of Britain's greatest songwriters, noting his record-breaking achievements, including surpassing Michael Jackson's record with the "18 Months" album.
"He's one of the greatest writers that Britain's ever produced. He's broken so many records - he broke Michael Jackson's record on the 18 Months album of hits from an album, I mean, it's just incredible and it keeps going."
Pickering remarked on the rarity of such longevity in the music industry, where most artists enjoy success over a relatively brief period.
"People don't normally have this time span of hits, when you think about it,"he said.
"They have like two or three albums in a five to 10-year period that they're still playing out now. Adam's still doing them - he's got another one in the can now. He sent it to me a few months ago - he wasn't too sure about it - I said, it's a smash, and that's coming out soon."
Pickering's Book and Harris's Contributions
Harris contributed to Pickering's new book, Manchester Must Dance, published by Manchester University Press. He wrote one of four forewords alongside Martin Fry, Johnny Marr, and Noel Gallagher, as well as a separate chapter.
Connection to Dumfries and Future Plans
Despite their long-standing relationship, Pickering has not yet visited Harris's hometown. He expressed interest in Dumfries, recalling conversations about a local club where Harris and his friends used to gather.
"When I first started going up to Scotland, they had that place in Glasgow but I always wanted to go to Dumfries,"Pickering said.
"There was a club there that they used to all go on about. I was like, I want to DJ there and they were like, no, you don't - you really don't want to DJ there."
Pickering acknowledged Harris's role in raising Dumfries's profile and suggested that a statue might be warranted in recognition of his achievements.
Currently, there are no plans for a statue or performances in Dumfries, but Scottish fans will have the opportunity to see Harris perform at homecoming concerts at Hampden next summer.
