Steve Lawler on his thirty-year DJing career
Legendary house producer Steve Lawler discusses his lengthy career as a producer/DJ.
Steve Lawler has always been a DJ who isn’t afraid to break boundaries. He first emerged into the music scene back in the early 1990s, hosting several of his notorious parties under the United Kingdom’s M42 motorway – attracting the attention of many locals.
DM: What drew you to the career path of becoming a DJ and when did you begin?
SL: I had no desire to do a “proper job” and nothing else caught my attention except music. I never set out to be a DJ it just happened naturally. I was too young to get into clubs at the age of 16, but going to raves back then, no one cared about your age and I got to experience this music on a big scale.
I was hooked instantly on this music and started collecting records, buying house and techno from record shops all around the country. Then I began playing on illegal pirate radio and then doing my illegal raves, which turned out to become a thing of legend in the midlands.
DM: What are some of your musical influences regarding your tracks and other producers?
SL: Influences changed over the years, but I would say, in the early days I was a fan of Sasha. I used to travel around the country to see Sasha. I developed my own sound in the late ’90s after visiting New York & San Francisco.
I was hugely influenced by the west coast tribal sound and the New York after-hours sound. Which I championed then throughout the UK which became known for Tech House, myself & Craig Richards championed this druggy darker sound.
We called it tech-house because it was music made with instruments commonly found in techno along with being built around a groove rather than a vocal along with the arrangements and tempo of house music.
DM: With these influences, how would you describe your style? What is your distinct factor as a DJ?
SL: My style as a DJ is about the groove, my sets are a journey, from deep to hard, but all maintain a continuous relentless groove throughout.
My sound has evolved over the years as it absolutely should as I like taking on new ideas and using new technology, and that is what evolves sound, it's the equipment that is available at that time. I’m not one for hanging on the past but use my history to introduce old ideas into new sounds and new ways of bringing something back.
DM: Entering the third decade of your career, what has been a career highlight for you?
SL: It’s so hard to really single out any one highlight because I’m fortunate enough to say I have had many, My infamous 11 year residency at Space in Ibiza, 7 years residency at The End in London, monthly residency at the mighty Twilo in New York, Recently when we started Warriors at Sankeys in
Ibiza. I have literally lived the dream and still do. I owe electronic music everything, I am beyond grateful for the experiences I have had and how I still have them now.
DM: Have there been any struggles or challenges that you have faced as a DJ? If so, how did you overcome them?
SL: I have pretty much lived with anxiety my whole career and had to learn how to live with it. I refuse to take medication; I believe we can be strong enough if we go deep enough into ourselves.
It’s not been easy but somehow, I’ve managed it. Once you have made it, the struggle is to keep your fame and to maintain some kind of healthy balance in your life. Life of a DJ is a good one, very rewarding spiritually and mentally, but it is taxing on your health, your relationships and your ability to have balance.
DM: What is your message to aspiring DJs who want to make it into the industry?
SL: Do what you feel is right, regardless of whether it's being done by others or not and do not give up. It is much easier in this day and age to make music, to perform music, the whole industry has been made easier by technology, but you will still find it’s not as easy as you may have thought.
