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Interview With Live Act Saytek
17th Dec 2008
On 16.12.08 Zoo project Ibiza resident and underground hero SAYTEK is releasing his debut album a feat for any DJ, but hes gone one step further, this ones been recorded LIVE from the Zoo Project, Ibiza. Working with what can only be described as a banquet of musical equipment from the most extreme technology to the most bizarre, he produces a sound instantly recognisable as the deep, driving techno he is famous for. By artistically linking up loops, riffs and drums with unimaginable precision, the music he creates is consistently amazing dance floor gold dust. All summer he has played to the crazy, party loving and extensively musically educated crowd of Ibiza, and if its good enough to keep them coming back to the Zoo week in, week out, you can only imagine how it will fair on these shores.
We caught up with him to chat about the album..
Your debut album, Live from the Seal Pit, is out this month, in a nutshell what can people expect to hear from this?
Its a live performance that captures the deeper driving side of my live repertoire .It was recorded after sunset in the Seal Pit at the Zoo Project Ibiza. So far the feedback has been amazing and I was honoured when IDJ a magazine that I respect a lot gave it 9/10!
Who or what inspired you to start performing live? Where was your first ever gig?
The live thing was always natural to me in the days of the hardware studio I was always jamming on the mixing desk and I always had groove boxes , it just wasnt possible to do the full live performance in the way I wanted until Ableton came along. So when it did I jumped on it! My first Gig was at an illegal party held by Second Cell, the London underground house Collective. Those parties where really something special.
Your sets are a seamless mix of genres which do you prefer.
I dont think in Genres, music is visceral to me if it gives me that feeling then it goes in. I love good stripped down music with chord stabs, rolling bass lines, strong dark melodies and solid percussive grooves. To me good music makes the hairs on the back of my neck stick up, makes me dance or blows my mind.
Your Performances show high skill and diversity. For this album how did you go about putting your set together or is it mostly improvisation?
Due to the nature of the hardware and software I use, things have to be put in a certain order so I try and make it so a set will work when played in this order I like to at least know the structure for the first 10 minutes then I Improvise. Like a DJ I try and judge the crowd and see what they need next , its a two way connection so its less of a thought process as it kind of happens intuitively when every one is vibing of each other.
How does playing live differ from regular DJing?
The major difference is that its all my own music. Its like DJing with all the elements that make up tracks , so rather than having 10 records in a set its made up off 100s of individual loops and patterns. So for example I am mixing that kick drum with a different bassline whilst layering a hihat from another pattern.
Is there anything new technically youd like to explore in your next album?
The next Album I release will probably be another live one It makes a lot of sense because most of my energy goes into my live shows, I would really like to do a live down tempo leftfield album one day. I have been making this kind of material on the sly for a while and havent had a chance to play it out.
Youve known for turning up at a gig armed with a large amount of kit, if you had to do a set using only 3 pieces of equipment what would they be?
Roland Mc909, laptop with Ableton, DJm800!
Which other current DJs do you admire for their approach to music?
There are so many talented young DJs coming through at the moment, it really amazes me. I think DJing is becoming an art form again with DJs using software and DJ mixers to do a lot more than just mix records.
You have your own label, Machine Func Records, how is this going? Are there any new artists we should be looking out for?
To tell you the truth I have neglected it this year the constant material hungry live show has eaten all my time! I have got a release Ben Gomori and me finished of earlier this year thats scheduled to come out soon its been getting good props from a lot of DJs so I am looking forward to re-launching the label.
Your music has been supported by house music legends such as Laurent Garnier, Carl Cox and John Digweed, as well as leaders of the new school such as Claude Vonstroke how does it feel to have backing from such huge DJs? Amazing it really is an honour to have had these superstars play my stuff. I think the best moment for me though was hearing one of the techno originators Kevin Suanderson playing my track at The End! Hes a legend!
Youve played at some amazing venues including The End in London,, Sankeys in Manchester and of course The Zoo Project in Ibiza, which venue has been the best to play in and where do you always find an up for it crowd? Yeah this year has been amazing and all so many good parties . Its hard to make me choose between them all but if I have to the seal pit at Zoo project was like nothing else on this earth!
With a residency in Ibiza this summer you must have seen some amazing things, what was the best set you heard? And the craziest party?
Ha Ha once again far too many to choose from The Zoo project parties are all crazy! I thought Clive Henry was amazing though and Michael James warmed up the seal pit superbly!
Are you looking forward to your album launch in December? What made you choose The End to house your party?
I owe a lot to Charlie who Runs Players an industry night at the End/AKA, she let me launch my label at her night and we had 800 people in on a Tuesday night! Since then my performances have been going from strength to strength so Im delighted to return to launch my album.
What are you looking forward to musically in 2009?
The Live album tour and releasing some singles and E.Ps , if its anything like the year that I have just had I will be over the moon !
**SAYTEK LIVE FROM THE SEAL PIT A LIVE ALBUM RECORDED AT THE ZOO PROJECT, IBIZA**
CD OUT 08 DEC 08 EXCLUSIVELY FROM www.thezooproject.com AND IN ALL GOOD RECORD SHOPS FROM JAN 2009
CREATED AND PERFORMED LIVE USING: A ROLAND MC909, ABLETON 6, KAOS PAD 3, REDSOUND LOOPER.
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