Exclusive Interview with Laidback Luke

Siam2nite had the opportunity to have an exclusive interview with Laidback Luke, shortly before his performance at Road To Ultra Thailand 2015 on June 12.

2 decades ago – in 1995 – your debut tracks were released and got immediately noticed. In 1997 you were voted ‘Most Promising New Producer’ by Muzik Magazine UK. In 2008 you entered the DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs list and have remained within its Top 50 ever since for 7 consecutive years already. Looking back on the incredibly eventful and equally successful 20 years as a DJ & Producer, what were your personal highlights; the best and the worst gigs you played and what were the funniest things that occurred during your performances?

That’s always a tough question, I do so many shows! Funny how you mention all of this above, I never really look back. What really keeps me going is what’s still to come. And I’m still loving every minute of it! Personal highlights, being supported by Carl Cox and Deep Dish back in 1996 which basically made my name a breakthrough one. Officially remixing Daft Punk in 1999. Having a Dutch National Charts hit in 2003 for the Dance Valley Anthem ‘We Can Not Get Enough’. Producing with the Swedish House Mafia in 2005. And wow, I can’t believe that’s 10 years ago already! Worst gig, DJing in the Netherlands up in the north of the country for 2 people who didn’t want to hear electronic music. Best gig, really too many to mention as I’ve been playing the biggest festivals since 1999 even.

At an early stage of your career you performed your tracks in a ‘semi live’ format – you took your studio on the road and re-created the music live on. Later on you focused on DJing only in order to be able to better interact with the crowd. As of today you are respected as one of the most technically skilled DJs and known to never play the same DJ set twice. Even Deadmau5 – who is better known for criticizing then praising – compared you appreciative with a Rally Driver as you are taking risks and not playing it save at your live performances. How did you get into DJing and music production in the first place?

I’m a producer at heart. I actually only started DJing about 4 years after I started producing. Purely to try and see if I could optimize my tracks to the DJ’s needs. I didn’t have a clue! Yet I was making this DJ music. DJing seemed very addicting and when I dive into something, I dive into it for the full 100%. So I made sure I got to know and learn all there is to DJing. I got into producing because I come from a musical family. Although not the best, I grew up playing the piano and guitar. When I found out I could make songs with the help of a computer back in 1992 I knew this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

You play and produce fun & energetic mix of Electro- & Progressive House. You are best known for your tracks 'Turbulence', 'Show Me Love', 'Leave the World Behind' and 'Natural Disaster'. What other tracks would you recommend to someone that is not yet familiar with your music?

I feel the world slept on We’re Forever, that I put out last year with Marc Benjamin. I feel it’s one of my best tracks ever. Not even in the way it’s produced, but as a song I feel it’s the best one yet. I feel sorry for the world, as you’ll see that in a couple of years the track will surface. I’ve seen that happen with other tracks of mine like Break Down The House and Till Tonight. I recently put out a club smasher with Tujamo called S.A.X. and my newest one called ‘Outer Space’ feat. Kriss Kriss is now available through Spotify. Please do keep an eye on soundcloud.com/LaidbackLuke to hear more!

As a reaction on EDM becoming increasingly repetitive and generic lots of your recent productions are “Future House”. You explained the genre once as follows: “Deep House is slower, and the mix down is not so loud. No climax and not so commercial. Future House is Deep House meets EDM”. Which of your tracks would you suggest to someone that is not yet familiar with this rather new genre?

My flirtations with Future house are tracks like ‘Bae’ feat. Gina Turner and ‘Stepping To the Beat’. My new collab with Chocolate Puma coming up called ‘Snap That Neck’ is future house too!

What are you currently and focusing working on?

In the underground or background I’m making quite a lot of Jersey Club bootlegs. I’ve always been up for looking into the future and 2015 is a real good year for Jungle Terror and Jersey Club. These styles mark the come back of the Dutch sound from the underground after mainstream America killed it. I also recently made 30 tracks in 30 days. We should have some great news about those very soon!

While excessive behaviour is partly expected and at times even glorified amongst dance music artists, you refreshingly stand out as a role model: You have 3 children, don’t drink and even compete at Kung Fu championships. Is it hard to maintain this lifestyle in your line of work?

When you live healthy, I live like an athlete, and stay grounded, it’s not! I’ve done the lifestyle of afterparties and drinking heavily and to be honest, it’s no fun. Not to mention undoable with a schedule like mine. Trying to be a dad on the side with a constant hangover is asking for trouble. Thanks to the Kung Fu I can handle the stress and pressure that comes with this DJ life.

You have performed in Thailand several times already, including Bangkok shows at 808/LED & Levels and at LimaLima in Pattaya. On 12th June you will return to Bangkok as one of the headlining DJs for Road To Ultra Thailand alongside Alesso, Knife Party, Adventure Club, Galantis, Nervo and Quintino. Did you keep your previous performances – and Thailand in general - in good memory? What can the Bangkok crowd expect of your upcoming performance?

Ah yes I remember playing in Bangkok. Levels especially as I dropped Levels by Avicii there ha ha. Expect the unexpected I always say. I usually go in fully unprepared! DJing to me is really about feeling out the vibe and the crowd on the moment. So that’s exactly what I’ll do and hopefully make it the best night of your life!