QLisa you played your first gig back in 1997; a friend’s boat party yes? Could you tell us a little about what led you to that point? What was it that had you deciding to jump behind the ones and twos?
AI started going out with my friends clubbing in Birmingham (UK) where a lot of the clubs were after hour’s clubs, which would play the harder sounds of music. I would stand and watch the DJ that was performing for hours and thinking I would love to be able to be a DJ and control the dancefloor like the djs would so easily do. So I started learning to DJ when my friend bought a pair of Technics to my house, he wasn’t allowed to play them at his house as his mum said he was too noisy so I would buy records from charity shops and borrow tunes from record libraries and practice for hours and hours before I was offered my first gig at the boat party.
QCould you tell us a little about that first gig; any special memories connected to it that you’d like to share with us?
AIt was at that boat party I was lucky enough to get spotted by the promoter of a very iconic clubnight called Sundissential, he saw me play and booked me after. I later went on to become a resident and that was a really big milestone for me as it cemented me into the scene and opened up a lot of doors.
QIt seems that you’ve been inseparable from music since your teens; how would you each describe your relationship to it then, and now?
AI’m just as inseparable from music now as I was then, if not more. I still go out clubbing with my friends when I have a night off, it’s funny when fans spot me having a shimmy on the dancefloor, they assume I’m there to dj and are always so surprised when I tell them I’m out clubbing just like them.
QWhat drove you to decide to pursue a career as a professional Dj?
AIt was a combination of my love for music and clubbing and my admiration of the DJs that made me determined to make something of myself in the DJ world so I put in lots of time and effort and luckily it paid off!
QAnd when you began producing; what led you to that? Could you tell us a little about your path from playing to creating?
AI think it’s a natural progression for any artist to produce, although when I started producing it wasn't as crucial as it is for DJs today. It just felt like the next thing to do.
QWho were your primary influences at the time?
AWhen I first got into djing and producing, I was into hardhouse so my early influences were people like Lisa Loud, John Kelly and the late Tony De Vit.
QHow would you describe the evolution of your production style over the past decade, leading up to 2011?
AMy production style has reflected the musical transitions I’ve had over the years so in the beginning I was producing hardhouse, then hard dance and hard trance and now I’m producing my new sound which I like to call ‘Trance with balls!’
QAgain, have there been any particular influences at play?
AOver the past decade? Many! I take inspiration from many different things, it may just be a track that comes on the radio with a novel idea in it or a particular sound that I think wow that’s really unique I would like to take that idea and incorporate it in my own music. It always comes out sounding miles apart from the track that inspired me but that’s a very organic thing and lets me put my own stamp on it.
QYou’ve been behind the decks since the mid 90’s when, in the UK the primary sound of the time was hard house. Since then your sound has diversified and we can hear plenty of uplifting trance in your sets. Could you describe the transition of your sound from that time to the present for us, and what prompted you to take this path?
AI think to have longevity in any career you have to change your style to update it and keep on track of what’s going on in the outside world and I’m sure you will agree that your musical taste varies and grows all the time and you don’t listen to the same music you did years ago. So I’m just moving forward, merging the music that I’ve experienced over the years into what I want to play right now, slowing down BPM’s slightly but still keeping the energetic feel to my performances mixing up tech trance, trance and some crossover house material as well.
QHow would you to describe what you bring to your sets? What are you sharing with the crowd when you’re up there?
AI like to think I’m sharing my passion for great music while bringing an element of energy and fun to my sets. I always have a little shimmy behind the decks and interact with the crowd as much as possible. It’s important to me to make it much more than just another dj playing a few records.
QWith such an amazing portfolio of Dj’s and producers that you’ve played with over the years, can you manage to identify a standout? What was it that stood them apart for you?
ASander Van Doorn stands out for me because he bridges the gap between trance and house, he has a very unique musical style which I love.
QYou’ve been a regular headliner on the international festival circuit for years, and are a mainstay of massive nights such as Godskitchen, Gatecrasher and Planet Love. Could you pick one out as the most killer fest or night that you’ve ever played? Where were you, when was it and what was it that made it so memorable?
AI remember a huge festival in Australia I played at for Future Entertainment where they sent police in to stop the music as they said there were far too many people on the site and it could be a danger. They told me to turn off the music an hour before closing but I begged and pleaded for a few more tracks as I had only just gone onto the decks. They let me carry on for a while whilst they shut the other arenas and it was the best closing to a festival ever! The policeman even let me wear his helmet for the last song!
QLisa what should we be keeping an eye out for over the next 12 months? What have you got in store for us and where will you be touring? Tell us a little more about where that’s taking you and what you’ll be up to?
AI am very excited about releasing my debut trance artist album in the Summer, which is going to be called ‘Metamorphosis’ and will be shortly followed by remix version, featuring lots of my favourite producers. I’ve already got some great dates in the diary including a USA Tour, ASOT 550, Den Bosch in March plus tours planned for Canada and South Africa and much more to come so 2012 is shaping up to be a good year… and it’s only January!
QYour ‘Lashed’ podcast is blowing up at a phenomenal rate – 70,000 subscribers and it’s only recently commenced! What led you to create your podcast? For the uninitiated, what do they have to look forward to when they subscribe?
AWell without wanting to blow my own trumpet I’ve recently found out that it’s now nearing 100,000 subscribers which is amazing! I had no idea that I would get such a great response. The podcast was originally set up as an outlet for my new trance sound and to try and branch out to new audiences but it’s since become a great way for me to connect with my fans. I try to make my podcasts personal with lots of banter and interaction, not always about the music but I think that’s why people like it. I also mix the podcast live at home on the decks, usually with my slippers on, as I like to do the oldskool style of mixing which I’m known for as I’m able to put a lot of energy into my mixing.
QLisa, in your view what other artists should we be keeping an eye and ear out for in 2012?
AHeatbeat are definitely worth keeping an eye and ear out for this year! Their productions are smashing it at the moment and I’m very grateful that they agreed to remix my latest release ‘The Bends’ which was hugely successful and was supported on Armin van Buurens ASOT Show and Judge Jules’ BBC Radio 1 Show, so a big thank you to them x
QAnd on a final note...if we ask you to look into your record bag; what’s in your top 10 right now?
A1. Lisa Lashes - The Bends [Discover Dark]
2. Simon Patterson - Smack (John Askew Remix) [Night Vision]
3. Lange & Gareth Emery – This Is New York (Heatbeat Remix) [Armada]
4. Genix & Mike Koglin – Dyno (Original Mix) [Anjunabeats]
5. PPK – ResuRection (Paul Oakenfold Full On Fluoro Remix) [Perfecto Recods]
6. Sean Tyas – Lift (Lisa Lashes Remix) [Discover Records]
7. Aerofoil & Marc Simz – Blikkenslager (Original Mix) [Coldharbour Recordings]
8. Three Drives – Letting You Go (Greece 200) Dabruck & Klein Remix)
9. Sander Van Doorn & Laidback Luke – Who’s Wearing The Cap (Gianni Marino Remix) [New State]
10. Derb, Scot Project – The Sound (Scot Project Mix) [Druck Records]
Interview by When In Rome
