A Buzz Chart #1 for the globetrotting disco and house music connoisseur
Interview by Simon Tillotson
Hi LeVis, thanks for taking the time to chat with us – sounds like you’ve had a busy few months?
The whole of 2015 has been pretty much non-stop to be honest. I made a conscious decision to really go for it back at the end of 2014 so I have been working really hard this year to try and get my name and sound out there.
Your new single – ‘With You’ – has had plenty of people talking: a Buzz Chart #1, support from Kiss FM, Triple J, Sick Individuals, East & Young and Majestic, and we hear it led to an official Armin Van Buuren remix too? How did all this come about?
The idea for ‘With You’ came about from a vocal that I was playing around with, the original mix was really deep and it’d been getting really good responses when I was playing it out but just before I sent it out to labels I decided to do a peaktime mix and that was the one that everyone seems to have picked up on. DMC picked it up via ADE and that helped hugely to create a real buzz. It ended up getting picked up by Spirit Soul who had smashed my summer single ‘New Way To Be Happy’ and it’s been doing rather nicely on radio and picking up loads of DJ support.
Your production output over the summer months has been solid, and it’s been done with a DIY ethic – just how do you go about getting so many tracks signed?
I’ve been really lucky to work with some really great labels this year and that came from a combination of friends referring me and just sending out tracks blind to some of my favourite labels and following up till they listened to them. Perseverance is definitely the key. Luckily as we’ve moved through the year I’ve had a lot of success on the charts on Beatport, Juno and Traxsource which has helps greatly when trying to get tracks listened to.
And then in addition to this, your mixtapes are very special, so special in fact that they’re now featured on British Airways’ flights! Bet that was a huge ‘pinch me’ moment? What can people expect to hear from the Travelogue series?
The British airways tie up is pretty amazing, I supply a new Le Visiteur Travelogue mix every month for them which means I need to be really focussed on making sure I’m looking for good tracks all the time. The mixes are usually around 1 ½ – 2 hours long and are a combination of straight upfront house from some of the best labels in the business and some of my favourite all time classics, they tend to be deep but packed full of groove and a combination of dubs and vocals, I’m really conscious that I want them to be a really enjoyable listening experience so I always try to develop them throughout the mix.
Your sound has evolved a lot over the last 18 months, and now you’re quite focussed on the deeper side of house – do you feel like the Le Visiteur moniker would allow you to continue to adapt or are you happy with where the Le Visiteur sound is at the moment?
This year I have released everything from disco edits to groove packed deep house to peak-time tech house and they’ve all done really well. I have a real love of many different styles but 2016 will definitely see a more refined Le Visiteur sound, I think I have a really good idea where I want to go with my sound and a bunch of ideas that I am developing just now for release next year. I will also be working on some more vocal tracks for release in 2016 to run alongside the more club orientated tracks.
Somehow, you manage to run your own blog on the side…how do you manage to keep on top of all the promos and everything else that you’re working on?
I love working on the blog and I have found some really incredible music through it but as it’s grown in popularity it’s become increasingly difficult to keep up with sheer volume of promos I get sent daily, especially when I have singles coming out and need to work on the PR side for them. It’s a real mixed bag as well from bedroom producers to industry legends and a real mishmash of styles but I try to listen to everything I get sent and support where I can.
And from the blog side of things, any exciting producers or DJs you’re keeping your eye on?
One of the stand out musicians who I found this year whilst looking for tracks for the blog is Tom Misch, his Beat Tape 2 is seriously brilliant it’s a combination of house, soul, hip hop and jazz which also features some of the best vocalists on the scene including Sam Wills and Zak Abel. I am also really impressed with look and the output of Greg Wilson’s label Super Weird Substance they have a really cool dynamic about them and have released some fantastic music. On the DJ front Man Without a Clue and Black Coffee have been on fire this year.
And finally, what else is coming in the world of LeVis?
I have lots of ideas about how I want to develop the Le Visiteur sound and live shows and 2016 will definitely see another stream of hot original music and edits. On the DJing front I plan to get out and about a lot more so expect to see a Le Visiteur show near you soon and time permitting I also plan to give the blog a revamp with more interviews and articles.
Armin Van Buuren – Strong Ones (Le Visiteur & My Oh My Remix) is out now on Armada
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