One of the most prolific, creative producers dance music has ever seen teaches us another lesson
Interview by Dan Prince
Lodewijk welcome to DMCWORLD…where on planet earth are you today?
“Hi Dan! I just got back from Luxembourg actually and I am at my home now in Amsterdam, taking a break!”
A really exciting time for you right now with the release of your new tune ‘Teach Me’ that smashed to the top of The Buzz Chart last week! Please talk us through the sound and history of the track…
“I was actually thinking a lot about music the last months and tried to find the definition of my sound. I found out that I shouldn’t be thinking about music too much, and that I just had to get my ideas and inspiration from the music that is closest to my soul: soul, gospel, blues and jazz. I started browsing my collection of gospel songs and found this old sample of Shirley Ceasar that I really loved. I started working on it right away and finished the track that same day. For me it’s a song with power, right from the heart. I thought it would be cool to bring back the disco strings too.”
And the goodness keeps rolling! Talk us through your remix for the new Labrinth tune…how did you approach ‘Jealous’?
“I get a lot of remix offers and I always listen if the original does something with me. In this case there was no doubt, I really loved the original by Labyrinth and I couldn’t wait to give it a ‘Bakermat’ touch. It took me a while though, because the entire multitrack was all recorded without metronome, so I had to warp every single second of every sample. For me it was worth it though. I tried to respect the original sound of the song and still give it that dance floor twist.”
It was your uncle who gave you your first jazz record on your 12th birthday…a few years later you happened on the idea of combining saxophone and trumpet solos into a deep house track. What did your uncle make of your new music?
“He’s actually one of my biggest fans! Strange thing is, when I finish a new track, the first one who hears it is my mother. When she thinks it’s cool I send it to my label and friends. She’s an opera singer and has a great understanding of music.”
You love the American jazz tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins – this is the dude who taught Miles Davis how to play ballads!! Do any of your fellow DJ friends have a love for this sound?
“I don’t know many. I know that the Goldfish guys have a great interest in classic jazz too and we talk about it all the time.”
Tune of 2014?
“Disclosure – ‘You and Me’ (Flume Remix).”
A producer you would love to spend 24 hours in the studio with?
“It’s officially not a producer but a great composer: Ennio Morricone.”
DJ set of 2014?
“Nico Pusch at Tomorrowland, I was actually dancing my socks of in the crowd myself.”
Ah our favourite festival! Other memories of hosting your own stage at Tommorowland?
“Hanging out backstage with all the invited DJs, dancing in the crowd, obviously playing there myself.”
Your live band show of 2014?
“The Bakermat Live Band! Had a lot of fun playing with 5 musicians on stage (violin, piano, percussion, vocal, saxophone).”
A big quote from you…DJs have the best life in the world, they do! But it’s also a lot of work. There’s no moment where you get to rest.” Well there must be!! What do you do to chill away from the madness?
“I get together with friends and family. I eat, watch a TV series, read the paper, drink coffee, go on dates, read books, drink wine. Pretty standard stuff.”
So the new album is done and dusted. Artwork ticked. Ready to go. What can you tell us about it, direction/collabs/release date etc.
“It’s a big blend of every sound I love. The tracks contain elements of jazz, blues, soul and gospel. I think it’s really diverse. For example, 1 track is just a ballad without any drums, it’s just a piano and vocals. I also have a 100 bpm track. With this album I just want to show that it’s not all about the saxophone thing, I don’t think that defines my sound. My sound is defined by a kind of feeling, uplifting, inspiring and soulful. There’s no release date yet, but probably somewhere in the first months of 2015.”
What are the big 5 tunes in your box this weekend?
Chet Faker – I’m Into You (Monkeyneck Remix) – this is my favorite right now
Tez Cadey – Seve (Original Mix)
Monkey Neck – Be There (Original Mix)
Inpetto feat. Bryan Finlay – Never Too Late (Original mix)
Dolan – Home (The Him Remix)
What are the plans musically live and in the studio for 2015?
“I hope to go next level in 2015. My dream is to play with a ‘band’ of 4 people in total, so I’m working on finding long-term musicians to realize it. I also hope to do some interesting collaborations in the studio with artists that I find interesting.”
What is the record that…
Reminds you of your childhood?
“Paolo Conte – ‘It’s Wonderful’. My dad used to play this whenever we were on our way on a holiday in the car.”
Always gets you jumping around?
“Digitalism – ‘Blitz’.”
Reminds of you having your heart broken?
“Labrinth – ‘Jealous’.”
You wish you would have made?
“Disclosure – ‘You and Me’ (Flume Remix)
And finally as you look back at a great 2014…what has been your proudest achievement?
“Finishing my album with a full tour schedule. Hosting my own stages on prestigious festivals like Tomorrowland and Panoramas. Still having a lot of fun in what I’m doing and always following my own feelings.”
