Everyone needs a good downtempo groove, and this cat’s got them by the bucketload. We discovered him after receiving some interesting looking promos from a label called Smokin’ Sessions (you can guess the sort of tempos they deal with), and after repeated good shit kept on landing in our inbox and this chap’s name kept on popping up, we decided to investigate. Turns out he’s from London, his name really is Lewis B (crazy huh?) and we hope you will check out some of his wonderful, eclectic beats. From instrumental hip-hop to trip-hop and more leftfield experiments, it’s all tasty stuff, and we’d like to see him hook up with some vocalists in the future.
How and when were you first infected by dance music?
Probably like a lot of people my first introduction to dance music was at school when everyone used to swap tape packs from raves we were too young to go to. However, I can't say I was really infected until I went to my first drum and bass night; Movement at Mass in Brixton. Hearing bass on a proper system as opposed to through a canny walkman was a bit of a revelation.
When did you start making music / producing, and how long was it before you started making tracks that you were really happy with?
I started making music at high school, but mainly playing in bands rather than producing. I didn't start that until college, where we used to have Cubase lessons. It's hard to say how long it was before I was making tunes I was happy with. Probably in the last couple of years I've really started being a lot happier with my tracks. My main problem at the beginning was never finishing things - nowadays I try to be a bit more pragmatic to get things done.
What have been your personal favourite tracks / productions so far?
I really like Pinball, Take 2 and a few others yet to be released. So keep yer eyes peeled on Smokin' Sessions.
Where does your name come from?
It's my name.
I see. Who would you most like to work with?
Herbie Hancock.
What have you got in store for the coming months?
I think I'll probably be cooking up some more beats and enjoying the summer.
What can we expect from one of your DJ sets or live sets?
A good time or your money back*
*disclaimer: you will not get your money back
Good thing we didn’t pay in the first place then. If you weren’t a DJ/producer/artists, what would you be?
Umm.....no idea, probably asking people for spare change outside a tube station somewhere.
Which other producers and DJs and artists do you really rate?
Too many to mention. I think it's really important to listen to as much stuff as possible. For every genre I could name 100s of people I really rate.
OK then, how about gabba jazz?...
www.myspace.com/lewisburke