Over the past six years, English producer and DJ Chris Lake has traveled the globe indulging his audience in the deeper throngs of electronic music. With crossover hits such as ‘Changes’, ‘La Tromba’, ‘Only One’, ‘Sundown’ and ‘If You Knew’ as well as presence in the darker and deeper side of electronic music, Chris has become known as a ‘champion of creative freedom’.
Lake first became recognized for his bootleg remixes of The Prodigy’s “Climbatize”, Leftfield’s “Phat Planet” and Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams”, which he did under the alias “Cristophe D’Abuc”. His 2006 release with vocals from Laura V, titled, “Changes” reached the UK Singles Chart, peaking at #27. The track was first released in 2005 on Alternative Route Recordings and was licensed to Universal Music for a full worldwide release in Summer 2006. It reached #10 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Airplay chart.
His 2007 single, “Carry Me Away” (featuring Emma Hewitt), topped the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay Chart. He scored his third consecutive top ten hit on the US dance chart with “Only One”. “If You Knew” featuring Nastala, became his fourth consecutive top ten single on the US dance chart.
He has been a noteworthy guest DJ on many radio shows such as Pete Tong’s Radio 1, who hailed Lake as, “the best thing to come out of Scotland since Mylo”.
Signed to a worldwide deal with NY-based imprint Ultra Records, his most recent releases include ‘Black Thong’, a stupendous collaboration with producer Michael Woods and ‘Ohh Shhh’. A career which is split in two with a major focus for Chris as the head honcho for his label.
Rising has become an avenue to grow and support young and talented artists, and Lake has proved his A&R skills by signing talents such as Nom de Strip and TJR.
Chris plans on spending 2013 continuing to tour the world, as well as releasing new music as a producer and supporting the acts on his imprint Rising Music. Get ready to catch the maverick on his tour of India, click here for details!
Hit past the break to know what he had to tell us about his influences, his record label, his view on the current trends in dance music, an addiction to Sofia Vergara & more!
Hey! We are “The Bangin Beats – thebanginbeats.com” – A leading dance music portal in India & we’re proud to welcome one of the worlds best, Chris Lake!
TBB: Hey Chris, its a pleasure to be interviewing you. First up, could you tell us a little more about your influences that inspired you to produce music?
Chris Lake: Thank you! Well, I got into music production when I was still at school, because I was in a music class where a friend of mine was playing music to people using a fancy keyboard with all these synthesiser sounds I’d never heard before. I started looking into how to make music, realised it was very expensive to do (at the time), so started saving any money I could to plough into music equipment, and the addiction started from there…
TBB: India, is considered a future hub of dance music by many artists; have you heard anything about the dance music scene in the country?
Chris Lake: Well yeah, a few of my friends have been out in India playing now. 2 that come to mind are Prok & Fitch, & Funkagenda, who all rave about the place. Myself, personally, I’m very excited to come and play there, and I see huge potential for dance music to spread to all corners of India. This genre has such a positive attitude, and makes people so happy so I think it will do well in India.
TBB: From a fan point of view an artist’s life seems like immense amount of fun but it also definitely takes a toll on your body apart from it not being easy to be away from family. Would you agree?
Chris Lake: Of course, as I’ve been doing this a long time now, I have to look after myself to be able to cope with being on the road all the time. I’m always sat down on planes, or in cars, and it’s bad for my posture and back so I have to exercise to counteract that, and eating healthy is super hard! I was in an airport in Italy this morning and I walked around every part of the airport to find any type of food that was even remotely healthy, or that didn’t have bread. I found nothing….
TBB: It would be very intriguing to know from an artist of your stature about what is your view on the current dance music scene? Do you reckon there is a need for a change in any of the current existing trends?
Chris Lake: You know what, the scene is in a very good state right now, with lots of super positive things going on in it. As usual though, there aren’t many real innovators in the scene, who move it forward musically, and they are the artists who keep the scene really healthy, and everyone else on their toes. Too many artists choose the safe option in their career, and make mundane music, but this has been the case ever since I’ve been in the scene, there’s just more people in it now! I love how genres keep evolving, and how consumers are getting a lot more for their money now. This is a good thing.
TBB: What’s the one thing from back home that you always carry with you on tour? Any special charms you fancy carrying with you?
Chris Lake: Ha, well my wife is always giving me little trinkets and lucky travel charms to fly with. I think I have 3 in my bag right now, fully charged with good wishes from Mrs.Lake! I also travel with medicine to get me better quickly whenever I get sick.
TBB: Rising Music is one of the biggest imprints in the market today and already boasts of an artist like TJR. Could you tell us what are some of the challenges of running your own label? How is the discovery process for finding talented producers?
Chris Lake: Well it’s not scientific. I just look out for great artists that bring something different to the table, and try help develop them musically, and in all other aspects of their career. You can’t force finding artists like TJR, or Nom De Strip. It just happens.
TBB: You’re also a part of Mau5trap! Could you tell us a little about your relationship with Deadmau5 and what it’s like to work on the label?
Chris Lake: Well I’ve known Mau5 since the beginning of his career as Deadmau5, so we get on well, and when he wants a track that’s right for Mau5trap, I give it to him. It’s a very relaxed arrangement. We have the same management which also makes it easier.
TBB: Tell us about your guilty pleasures – any favorite TV shows, or songs people wouldn’t normally see you listening to?
Chris Lake: Ha, well I love Modern Family. I have an addiction to watching Sofia Vergara. I think she’s awesome!
TBB: Any upcoming releases, remixes or collaborations you’re currently working on?
Chris Lake: Yes, my next single coming out on Ultra is with Steve Aoki and Tujamo called ‘Boneless’, and after that I’m releasing a track featuring Neil Ormandy called ‘Nobody Told You’. I also remixed the next Duck Sauce track called ‘It’s you’.
TBB: Since we are thebanginbeats.com, we have to ask you our traditional question; what are your (current) top 3 #bangin tracks?
Chris Lake: Ok, specifically bangers right? I’ll choose some of the tuff cuts I’m playing;
Nicky Romero – Underground
Tracques – Click Track (Chris Lake edit)
Dilligas – Slow things down
TBB: To round things up, any final words for your fans here in India?
Chris Lake: I can’t wait to arrive in India. Come along and lets make these shows something to remember!
TBB: Thank you so much for taking time out and speaking with us. It’s been an absolute pleasure!
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