KEEPING IT REAL WITH
Last month Laidback Luke touched down in Vancouver to teach a sold out Celeb- rities Nightclub a very important lesson. Live house music can and should still surprise audiences: during a Laidback Luke performance the only thing one can be certain of, is the uncertainty of what he is going to drop next. Born in the Philippines, Luke has been a staple in Dutch house music for over two decades. Receiving over twelve GB’s of promos per week, the Mixmash Records head still manages to stay undeniably grounded and connected to the grassroots dance music community. A firm believer that everyone deserves a good escape now and then, Luke’s Super You and Me residency at Cream in Amnesia Ibiza remains a cultural cornerstone amongst the mythical island’s yearly party-scape. We caught up with Luke ahead of his gig at Celebrities, this is what went down…
In the last few years dance music has undergone a heavy phase of Americanization. How has the transforming of what used to be called house music affected you as an artist?
To be honest, nothing much as an artist, although it really affected my DJing schedule in a good way. With America opening up, there’s a lot more work for us! In my country, I was always a mainstream name already. In terms of having it become very commercial, it’s really not. I feel the sound is still pretty much the same, although we’re still pushing boundaries.
In the last few years dance music has undergone a heavy phase of Americanization. How has the transforming of what used to be called house music affected you as an artist? "To be honest, not much as an artist, although it really affected my DJing schedule in a good way. With America opening up, there's a lot more work for us! In my country, I was always a mainstream name already. In terms of having it become very commercial, it's really not. I feel the sound is still pretty much the same, although we're still pushing boundaries."
Much of this expansion is due to the fact that EDM is a digital based culture heavily reliant on the internet. Do you see any down sides to an
Much of t xpansion is due to the fact that EDM is a digital based
culture heavily reliant on the internet. Do you see any down sides to an internet dependant community?
internet dependant community?
Not really. I think it’s awesome! It’s not ruled by a small elite that determines what’s hot, for instance like how the Grammy’s are being done. It’s ruled by the people. I’m all about the people and the internet is a democracy. What I do find hard is the ruthless amount of hate and disrespect that goes around on the internet. When people are not communicating face to face, they all of a sudden think they can be very rude to each other. We are still people. If you hate some- thing, either don’t spend your time bashing it, or just try and motivate, in good language, why you hate something. We should definitely have more respect in the digital realm. I feel Youtube and Facebook are the most evil places on earth at the moment.
"Not really. I think it's awesome! It's not ruled by a small elite that determines what's hot, for instance, like how the Grammys are being done. It's ruled by the people. I'm all about the people and the internet is a democracy. What I do find hard is the ruthless amount of hate and disrespect that goes around on the internet. When people are not communicating face to face, they all of a sudden think they can be very rude to each other. We are still people. If you hate something, either don't spend your time bashing it, or just try and motivate, in good language, why you hate something. We should definitely have more respect in the digital realm. I feel YouTube and Facebook are the most evil places on earth at the moment."
Venturing away from digitalism the new Daft Punk was recorded primarily with live instruments. People are saying they will help save EDM. What is your opinion on the situation?
It’s got nothing to do with EDM anymore. I can tell you honestly me and all my other fellow DJs were holding our breaths. We were really hoping for something new and incredible as all of us are fans. We wanted something futuristic that helped make our sound sparkle, like Daft Punk used to. I can tell you what Daft Punk brought to the table in the nineties that helped all of us progress: the overuse of compression (they were always very heavy on the compression), filtering, heavy beats, and some amazing dance floor energy and momentums. If you listen to how they programmed their ‘Alive’ performances, that’s bril- liance for the dance floor. With this album they took it back to disco. Not even filter-disco house—just disco. And they don’t have any of the above elements I summed up in there. So for EDM, it has nothing to do with that anymore.
Venturing away from digitalism, the new Daft Punk was recorded primarily with live instruments. People are saying they will help save EDM. What is your opinion on the situation? "It's got nothing to do with EDM anymore. I can tell you honestly me and all my other fellow DJs were holding our breath. We were really hoping for something new and incredible as all of us are fans. We wanted something futuristic that helped make our sound sparkle, like Daft Punk used to. I can tell you, what Daft Punk brought to the table in the nineties helped all of us progress: the overuse of compression (they were always very heavy on the compression), filtering, heavy beats, and some amazing dance floor energy and momentums. If you listen to how they programmed their 'Alive' performances, that's brilliance for the dancefloor. With this album, they took it back to disco. Not even filter-disco house - just disco. And they don't have any of the above elements I summed up in there. So for EDM, it has nothing to do with that anymore."
You recently launched Ones To Watch Records as a new division of Mixmash. As the label head what are you looking for in terms of new talent?
As for tracks to sign, it’s very simple: Anything that I would play during a set. And I play a wide variety of styles, not only the main-room set type of styles but anything from trap to techno. In terms of new talent, I’m looking for humble,
You recently launched Ones to Watch Records as a new division of Mixmash. As the label head what are you looking for in terms of new talent? "As for tracks to sign, it's very simple: Anything that I would play during a set. And I play a wide variety of styles, not only the mainroom set type of
www.djmag.ca djmag.com 047
Last month Laidback Luke touched down in Vancouver to teach a sold out Celebrities Nightclub a very important lesson. Live house music can, and should, still surprise audiences: during a Laidback Luke performance the only thing you can be certain of is the uncertainty of what he is going to drop next. Born in the Philippines, Luke has been a staple in Dutch house music for over two decades. Receiving over twelve gigabytes of promos per week, the Mixmash Records head still manages to stay undeniably grounded and connected to the grassroots dance music community. A firm believer that everyone deserves a good escape now and then, Luke’s Super You and Me residency at Cream in Amnesia Ibiza remains a cultural cornerstone amongst the mythical island’s yearly party-scape. We caught up with Luke ahead of his gig at Celebrities. This is what went down…
talented kids. Kids that do it because of their passion for music, and not because they want to be the next David Guetta. By the way Guetta is very pas- sionate about what he does and one of the nicest guys in this industry.
Over the years you have helped countless aspiring DJs hone their production skills through constant interaction on the forum section of your website. What made you start this daily routine and is it part of a larger philosophy relating to the dance music scene as a whole?
styles but anything from trap to techno. In terms of new talent, I'm looking for humble, talented kids. Kids that do it because of their passion for music, and not because they want to be the next David Guetta. By the way, Guetta is very passionate about what he does and one of the nicest guys in this industry."
Yes it is! I did this because I missed that coming up as a young producer myself, some good guidance. My example was Dobre from Chocolate Puma, who discov- ered me and taught me a lot. I wanted to be like him, but to anyone that asked. I’m a natural type of knowledge sharer/teacher anyway so this was something that I didn’t plan. My forum used to be just the guestbook section of my website. Due to the massive amount of questions coming in, and me answering, we switched it to a proper forum. I’m trying to instill this behaviour in the new kids that are coming up now. I never pressured guys like Avicii or Afrojack to do the same, and I feel it’s a shame they never got into it. I knew them when they were desperate and anxious kids, wanting to get a shot. They totally seem to have forgotten that now and are just enjoying the ride. I still make the effort, and will always try and do so. As I’m still that kid too! We need to help the new generation to keep this music and the scene alive. It’s a larger philosophy; to me it’s like life itself.
Any advice you can give new producers on how to stand out amongst the sea of big room sounds?
Over the years you have helped countless aspiring DJs hone their production skills through constant interaction on the forum section of your website. What made you start this daily routine and is it part of a larger philosophy relating to the dance music scene as a whole? "Yes it is! I did this because I missed that coming up as a young producer myself, some good guidance. My example was Dobre from Chocolate Puma, who discovered me and taught me a lot. I wanted to be like him, but to anyone that asked. I'm a natural type of knowledge sharer/teacher anyway, so this was something that I didn't plan. My forum used to be just the guestbook section of my website. Due to the massive amount of questions coming in, and me answering, we switched it to a proper forum. I'm trying to instill this behavior in the new kids that are coming up now. I never pressured guys like Avicii or Afrojack to do the same, and I feel it's a shame they never got into it. I knew them when they were desperate and anxious kids, wanting to get a shot. They totally seem to have forgotten that now and are just enjoying the ride. I still make the effort, and will always try and do so. As I'm still that kid too! We need to help the new generation to keep this music and the scene alive. It's a larger philosophy; to me it's like life itself."
Stay humble; always be open for any type of comments or criticism. Never, ever think you have made it because this will stop you from evolving. 50% of the opportunities you get in this industry are by people who are willing to give you a chance. So don’t be a cunt! Work hard every single day, this will never stop. People like David Guetta, and myself as well, still bust our asses every single day. What I admire in a handful of new talent is they are stubborn in terms of sound; this will create their own signature sound and style. I once told Angger Dimas to quit trying to copy Sidney Samson and Afrojack. We have those already. I told Avicii to stop copying Eric Prydz and Axwell. I told them to take that sound, and make it the futuristic version of that. That’s a very simple formula I can recommend.
Some people say that EDM’s sound is becoming homogenized much the same way as Hip-Hop’s did in the late 90’s. Do you think EDM is des- tined to follow the same trajectory and fade in prominence to become one of many mainstay genres?
Any advice you can give new producers on how to stand out amongst the sea of big room sounds? "Stay humble; always be open for any type of comments or criticism. Never, ever think you have made it because this will stop you from evolving. 50% of the opportunities you get in this industry are by people who are willing to give you a chance. So don't be a cunt! Work hard every single day, this will never stop. People like David Guetta, and myself as well, still bust our asses every single day. What I admire in a handful of new talent is they are stubborn in terms of sound; this will create their own signature sound and style. I once told Angger Dimas to quit trying to copy Sidney Samson and Afrojack. We have those already. I told Avicii to stop copying Eric Prydz and Axwell. I told them to take that sound, and make it the futuristic version of that. That's a very simple formula I can recommend."
Not yet. And I can honestly tell you that House/EDM became main stream in Europe in 1999. As mainstream as it is in the US at the moment, no wait, even bigger! We had tracks by Cassius in our national top ten, and these were straight up club tracks. That’s not even the case yet in the US so there’s still some room there. But yes, I am afraid that my music, I take my scene that personal, will walk the same path as Hip Hop. It would be a crying shame. Then again, what will be left of it will only be the real people: the ones who are doing it for the love of this music and trying to keep the art alive. That is something I miss by all the people jumping on board at the moment. Some kid blamed me of being a fake EDM DJ on my Facebook the other day. I explained him I’ve been loving this music since 1989 and have been producing this music since 1992. I’ve fought for house music to become this big! It deserves it as it touched me, and a whole generation of people. No matter what happens we’ll keep loving it, I’m sure of that!
Some people say that EDM’s sound is becoming homogenized much the same way as hip-hop’s did in the late 90’s. Do you think EDM is destined to follow the same trajectory and fade in prominence? "Not yet. And I can honestly tell you that house/EDM became mainstream in Europe in 1999. As mainstream as it is in the US at the moment, no wait, even bigger! We had tracks by Cassius in our national top ten, and these were straight up club tracks. That's not even the case yet in the US so there's still some room there. But yes, I am afraid that my music, I take my scene that personal, will walk the same path as hip-hop. It would be a crying shame. Then again, what will be left of it will only be the real people: the ones who are doing it for the love of this music and trying to keep the art alive. That is something I miss by all the people jumping on board at the moment. Some kid blamed me of being a fake EDM DJ on my Facebook the other day. I explained to him I've been loving this music since 1989 and have been producing this music since 1992. I've fought for house music to become this big! It deserves it as it touched me and a whole generation of people. No matter what happens, we'll keep loving it, I'm sure of that!"
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