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ePaper created 2014-04-01, 00:50:16 | version 1.29.01
. 8 A Brummy boy at heart, how has growing up in the city influenced you and your music? To be honest, growing up as a kid I was listening to depech mode, erasure, new order and physcodelic rock like the doors.. as far as electronic music once I decided to follow this as a career and started to play at clubs, I was always trying to get out of Birmingham as for some reason this city had often lent it self to a more commercial cheesy sound. DJ’s like myself and Matt Booker spent most of our time playing everywhere else in the country and not that much in Birmingham and that was a concious effort. The only reason why I ever broke through was because I focused my efforts on gigs outside the city and through city’s like London, Liver- pool and Manchester. There were some good things going on in Birmingham like Wobble, but they had there own fix of Dj’s they booked and at the time to get gigs in Brum I sometimes too, played the odd piano classic. At Wobble though the loft was the place to be, it was amazing with at the time one of my favourite DJ ‘Si long’ playing squelchy acid house, and Phil Gifford would invite some great guests like Justin Robertson, Josh Wink etc to play that room. Downstairs was a little more piano house but with my friends if we went to Wobble up stairs we would hang.. and sweat.. A child of the acid house generation, how has your musical style evolved over the years? Its evolved as far as the music I play as has technology, and if any DJ’s says they ha- ven’t evolved then they’re a classics Dj, which would bore me to shit. No way could I play the same records for 20 odd years! I would rather be a plumber! I play new exiting music and I play some classics and I play edits. I have always embraced the future and respected the past. I get exited by new music, I get exited by new chal- lenges, it gives me focus and ultimately keeps me with the energy to work as hard as I do. I still do honestly believe that my “style” has stayed the same, and by that I mean the “way” I play music the “way” I structure a set and program my music, my taste as far as what I look for in a track that I like has ALWAYS been the same.. I am obsessed with the groove, weather its deeeep house (I mean proper deep house, not todays interpretation) or a techier side of house, or garage or dub, or progressive or techno or what ever anyone else wants to tag something with their opinion to me its all electronic music and house music, but if it has an infectious groove where you can loose yourself and get hooked.. thats what I always love always have and no doubt always will. Having played at Rainbow before, what is it about the venue that excites you? And what are you expecting from MADE? In my opinion, they put Birmingham back on the map since Wobble, and I am person- ally very happy about that and the reason is because the people behind it, love it, eat it, breath it and sleep it (when they sleep). They do amazing party’s have a great taste in music and a huge respect to the scene. Again this is just my opinion but The Rainbow and its whole complex of venues is the best thing Birmingham has seen for a long time and is I’m happy to say inspiring a new generation and even bringing back the old. The Viva Warriors brand continues to go from strength to strength, what is the ethos behind the parties and what can a newcomer expect? Its a party, that was born in Ibiza 3 years ago at a time when it felt that the island apart from DC10 was getting more and more commercial and more serious, not saying the names of other nights but they were getting so serious and at clubs where there were more rules than a football match. Almost like the music scene in Ibiza was becoming like a blue chip company. I decided to go against the grain with Warriors, built the concept around the cult 70’s movie which was about gangs of kids doing things there own way, children of the night, fuck the establishment and run wild, and that’s what we did and continue to do. Taking the night into a club that supported our wishes like having no visible security everywhere you turn, not ripping people off with prices for drinks and telling people that cant dance too hard (like believe it or not some places do now in Ibiza, again saying no names! This summer sees Viva Warriors return to Sankeys Ibiza for a third year, why do you have such a soft spot for the club? As I say above its the right place for us right now, the venue has the right attitude shares our belief and foresight. Our concept on year 1 was doing graffiti around the island (being respectful to the island, using Ibizian artists) spraying our Warriors tag everywhere, like they do in the film to mark their territory and Dave Vincent the owner of Sankeys loved our vision and decided to graffiti the whole club, if we get that kind of support, then that’s the right club for us Tell us about this years residents and how important are they to the Warriors night. I have always believed in residencies and the importance of a resident. We set the standard that guests have to follow, we wet the music setting for our own nights. We create our own sound, without residents the night would not have the same focus and identity. The musical integrity and identity of any club/night is down to its residents so choose them wisely. Something else that is important is not just the music its the people behind the music and something we have learnt is we need a family of good people not just great DJ’s and talented producers but people that share our sentiments and togetherness and help and support each other not just in it for their own gain. Its a team effort. Alongside myself the residents we have now we whole-heartedly believe in and support and very proud and honored that we are all together for this coming season. They are the very talanted Detlef, Anek, Zohki & Roozlee, Italoboyz, Marco Farone, Randall M, Philip Bader, Sante and the legend that is DJ Ralf. We will also be joined by a couple of guests each week as we are opening the whole club with all its rooms and want to give our crowd the opportunity to experience these guests playing in our home. Having recently become a father, how do you balance the vigorous touring schedule with family life? Can we expect little miss Lawler to follow in your musical footsteps? haha.. no way, I would like her to have more sense than to find her self in a hard and sometimes cold industry and that’s the truth. Do I want her to follow her dreams like her father did? Yes, absolutely. If that so happens to be music then she will, like with any choice she makes, have my full support. Its a shame that music is in the music industry because music is a love affair and the music business can be harsh and cruel. On a lighter note, she does love music, and always even at just 11 months tries to dance when she hears Daft Punk - Get Lucky, at least she has good taste. Its not easy juggling both but they are two big loves in my life so its worth all the sleepless nights and juggling I have to do. As somebody who spends much of his time professionally partying, what are your three go to tracks to wind down to after a wild night? I have many tracks that I like to wind down too.. so how about I give you some albums and they are.. sorry giving you just 3 is harder than climbing Mount Everest for me Planet Caravan Special edits by DJ Seef Ollano - Lattitudes James - Wah Wah BB King - Anthology Daughter - If you leave The Doors - american prayer Gina X - Performance Guizmo - C’est Tout Joni Mitchell - Both Sides now.. and last but not least my own Dj live mix Live at Ketama Moscow after hours set, this was actually and after, after, after hours God there are soo many, so much amazing music out there.. steve lawler: a house music veteran Steve Lawler is one of house musics veterans. He takes to the turntables with artistry, with nothing but love for the music. With a wealth of experience under his belt, having played all over the UK and Ibiza, there are few who can throw a party as well as him. The last three years has seen his spirited Viva Warriors brand tour all over the globe, showcasing some of the best artists on the planet. For MADE Birmingham we see him return to The Rainbow to host what is sure to be another unique and unforgettable event. Catch Steve Lawler at MADE Sun 4th May. Tickets available at: www.m-a-d-e.com/tickets interview by: Mike Taylor