CHRIS LAKE: "I was a postman for a while...that was good fun."

With a new album on the way and a heavy touring schedule, Chris Lake sits back with Eventvibe to talk about his accomplishments.

EV: You started out as a bootleg remixer and then blew up the dance charts with tracks like "One Too Many", "Release", "Changes" and "Carry Me Away".  What was going through your mind when your named started to travel around the world?

Chris: As a producer I guess it’s what I’d always dreamed of. I remember a good friend of mine asking what the ‘buzz’ was like from playing to an audience as a DJ. I told him the experience from a night can be exhilarating, but knowing your tunes are being played in clubs around the world is one of the most incredible feelings I’ve ever felt.  
 
EV:  When and where did you get started in electronic music?

Chris: Ah... the day of the synth! I was at a mate’s house playing around on his Roland synth; I was only about 13, I think. Anyway, since that day I’ve never looked back.   
 
EV: What kind of jobs did you have before deejaying/producing?

Chris: I was a postman for a while... that was good fun. I was always out and about during the day, then working my ass off in my little studio all night. Those were simple times and I look back on them with a smile.  
 
EV:  You fuse electro, house and techno in your productions.  Name 3 artists/groups/bands that influence your style when you produce?

Chris: I get this one a lot and sadly my answer never changes. I believe that influences come from everything that is good and bad in day to day life...they are timeless. If you rephrase the question to ask who I’m enjoying listing to at the moment, I’d go for my mates Lys, the Mau5 and Seb[astian] Leger. But then there’s Beni and Thomas Schumacher too – I’m loving their stuff at the moment.   
 
EV: You use Ableton Live for your production and studio mixing.  What did you use before Live?  And what do you use in addition to it?

Chris: I've tried out most of the sequencers actually.  I've used trackers on the Amiga, Sonic Foundry Acid, Reason, Cubase, Logic etc.  Live is my favourite out of them all though.
 
EV: Being one of the hottest producers and deejays in the world, you also are one of the most business savvy. What were your goals when you created your two record labels?

Chris: Quite simple really. Rising Music was set up for me to release my tunes and various collaborations. Whereas, Rising Trax was built to help new and emerging artists (that we as a label respected), get their music out and hopefully, get noticed. Lys is great example of a recent success story; last summer we put out his track ‘Speechless’, it got smashed all over BBC Radio 1 and ended up on a couple of Ministry of Sound comps... happy days!
 
EV: What's been your best experience when on tour?

Chris: Ha... that’s a good one. Obviously completely destroying dance-floors at venues like Warung and

Privilege are up there, but I just love experiencing the different cultures you know? Brazil’s watermelon juice... Oh my God, how amazing! Back in January I was in Indonesia and Korea – the promoters took me to some amazing restaurants – no idea what I was eating but it tasted great! Here’s a video from that one
 
EV: What can fans expect to see from you in the upcoming months?

Chris: Touring, and lots of it! I’m getting ready for the better part of two months in North America to promote my first album ‘Crazy’. I really can’t wait for it all to kick off and we’re working with the lads at Nervous, so I think we’re set to have a quality time!  
 
EV: Everyone's got favorite producers and labels that they look for when searching for tracks, who catches your eye?

Chris: Well aside from the guys I mentioned before, I’m loving the stuff coming out on Tiga’s label Turbo.  
 
EV: Are there any trends that you see emerging in production or deejaying that you think will become popular this next year?

Chris: I’m guessing more artists will go ‘Live’, so to speak. As producers and DJs develop, most are looking to challenge themselves. The way I see it, is with the rate of technological advancements, the opportunities to diversify the method in which you communicate music is changing every 6 months. It’s fascinating seeing what can now be done in a ‘Live’ arena by only one person. I mean... look at the Mau5!

Cheers for having me!

Globally recognised as one of the most exciting, forward thinking and cutting edge producers on the scene, Chris Lake's rare ability to create tracks that fuse elements of house, electro and techno has not been lost on his fellow peers.

His innovative productions continue to receive wave after wave of support from such luminaries that include Sasha, Danny Howells, Justin Robertson, Sander Kleinenberg and Carl Cox, whilst Pete Tong leads the way in championing the unique sound that has established Chris as one of the world's elite.

An avid producer since 2001, Chris's breakthrough came in 2005. His tracks 'One Too Many' and 'Release' caught the attention of the world's press and A&R bosses, but it was the release of his smash hit 'Changes' that catapulted his name into the record boxes of DJs across the planet.

'Changes' became Radio 1's 'Essential New Tune' twice, reaching number 27 in the national charts and picking up column inches in tabloid papers and magazines; turning the once underground buzzer into a worldwide hit.

Chris's DJ schedule duly sky rocketed and over the past 2 years, he has travelled to all four corners of the globe taking in Asia, South America, USA, Australia and Africa. He has graced some of the biggest clubs on the planet that include Ministry Of Sound, Space, Warung, Spybar and Amnesia together with countless festivals – Global Gathering, Creamfields and the Extrema festival in Holland.

In 2006, Chris set up Rising Music as an outlet for his new productions. Rising swiftly became the benchmark for pure underground house – releases that included 'One Too Many', 'Fantasy' and 'Release' have set the standard, whilst Chris has also shown that his A&R head is amongst the best in the business by signing artists that include Sebastien Leger, Micky Slim and Deadmau5.

Chris's success continued in 2007 with his track 'Carry Me Away' hitting the coveted number one spot on the USA Billboard Dance Chart, thus etching his name into the dance history books and propelling his US profile into the stratosphere.

Further collaborations in 2007 with Deadmau5 on 'I thought inside out' and Sebastien Leger 'Word/Ghost' once again proved Chris's versatility in the studio, and with both productions hitting the Beatport Top spot, Chris continued to cement his status as one of the world's finest producers.

And of course there is the small matter of Chris remixing some of the biggest names in the music scene. Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue, Mark Ronson, Lily Allen, Deadmau5 and the Rogue Traders are amongst some of the names to have received sublime workouts from Chris, and support has been immense; not only from Radio 1, but every major radio station around the world.

Radio 1 has also allowed Chris to show his unrivalled ability in the art of DJ'ing. His Essential Mix in August 2007 was yet another defining step in his career as he unveiled two hours of sublime techno, electro and tech house to keep a worldwide audience of millions captivated. His mix was voted as one of the best since the inception of the Essential Mix series, and reminded everyone why Chris is at the top of his trade.

Now as 2008 moves into gear, Chris's relentless DJ'ing and studio schedule shows no signs of slowing down, and with demand for his sound even higher than ever, you can be sure to see his name up in lights for many years to come.