Spotlight: Tell us a little bit about the Lights Out Decade release?
SL: Well it's called Lights Out Decade because it's quite fitting to the sort of sound that I championed many years ago to darker drums with tracks really being built around rhythm. It was called tribal and all that shit, but it was really about rhythm being a key part of the structure of a record, and just as it turns out now ten years down the line that sort of sound has been reproduced again to a certain degree. In this kind of scene music always goes full circle, and that sort of heavily percussive based rhythm and track has really reared its face again in the last couple of years. It's very fitting that I did the ten year anniversary of Lights Out, and that I could put together a CD of new music and new producers with really keeping the same flavor as what Lights Out is all about.
How is this Lights Out album different from past releases in the series?
The whole album was put together in such a way that I either re-edited or re-arranged every single track that I used. Some of the tracks are exclusive and will only come out on the album. So, a very important part of producing this compilation was the programming of the sound, and getting the album to have a very specific sound to it. In some cases that meant rearranging tracks and sometimes layering certain sounds I created within the mix, and just giving the whole CD, almost the essence about one track.
It was really important to me for the whole album to seamlessly flow from start to finish. The sound I'm trying to achieve, and the continuation mix from CD 1 kind of builds gradually throughout, and then at the end of CD 2 you kind of get the “light at the end of the tunnel”, but that was purposely done that way because I wanted that to represent an actual set from myself within Lights Out. Other mix CDs that I've done I've done something quite different on one disc, but with this it was really about being like a set of what you would hear from myself in a club. There are some amazing producers on this album, and I'm really really happy about the outcome.
What do you think has been the biggest change in the scene in the last ten years?
SL: I think the scene has gone through some dramatic changes with the main one being, which changed the industry as we knew it, was the birth of virtual music. This really changed the way the industry worked completely from a record label's perspective. It really changed the way you can tour and travel as a DJ, and the way you can perform as a DJ. It massively created a new “scene within the scene” to a certain degree. And the fact that as a DJ you can travel now with a computer rather than four cases of records. After all the changes that have happened I really believe that the DJ's responsibility and job will become more about being as unique as possible and maybe to the point of just being an artist before we hear our music eventually. The scene has gone through some really exciting changes, and ones I've always supported and been behind. I take these sort of changes on board and embrace them rather then fight them.
So have all the changes been for the better?
SL: All the changes have been for the better. I was in the industry when vinyl was king, and that was beautiful, and I can't say that anymore specific. It was like going to a record store and going through this big pile of beautiful pieces of vinyl. The imports have shrink wrap on them. From sort of an authentic point of view, I traumatically miss that. It gives a sense of culture and real meaning to vinyl. That I miss. I don't miss carrying around four bags of records (laughs). But the scene has gone through a lot of good changes, and a lot of changes for the better for sure. I would hate anything that just stayed the same because I would get bored shitless. I'm one of those people that need things to move forward. I think it's really creative, the whole process of things developing is creative, and it excites me.
What are your plans for Ibiza this summer?
I'm going to be at Space mainly throughout the summer. I have I think eleven parties at Space. Some for Kehakuma, some for We Love, I think one for Carl Cox, some Viva parties, one for Come Together, and the opening and closing parties for Space. I'm also doing a party for my friend Pete Tong over at Pacha. So, there's all different kinds of things I'm going to be doing on the island this year. I really look forward to it. It's the most amazing place. I've never known anywhere else in the world to be as special as Ibiza.
