The King of the Warriors looks back at a monster of a summer at Sankeys
Interview : Dan Prince
Hey Steve welcome back to DMCWORLD, where in the world are you right now?
“Hi Dan, I’m in Ibiza getting ready for the weekend of shows, then back to the isle on Sunday for Warriors.”
Well it has been an astonishing summer down at VIVa WaRRIORS in Ibiza, let’s kick back to pre-season though. There was a lot of shuffling around in the Sankeys camp, new nights and names coming in, more DJs getting barred from playing thanks to clubs such as DC10. What were your thoughts over the winter, you moved to Sundays, made sure the line up’s were really tight…were you confident heading into the new season?
“I was really confident coming into this season, not only have I been resident on the island for many years carving my own sound and niche group of followers, but also we had a really strong season last year with Warriors – in fact last year it was the most successful night at the club, so that also gave me confidence and as well the sell out events that we did around Europe.”
Who have been the new stars down at the club this summer, who were especially pleased made such an impact?
“I am really proud of my artist Darius Syrossian, with the right things in place he could go far and Warriors has given him a platform to show people what he has to offer. Also Detlef who we signed this year has gone on to wow so many that come to the club with his defined sound and talented live shows.”
Going head to head with We Love…up the road, was the European market more in your mind than the Brits, or didn’t the Space factor enter your head at all?
“It didn’t enter my head at all, we have our own crowd and I believe musically we are different nights so this was never seen as competition.”
Anthem of the summer?
“‘Work it to the Bone’ by myself and Detlef, it’s a bootleg of an old 1988 classic we did – it’s available as a FREE download from my RA page. I hear it everywhere in Ibiza, at DC10 you will more than likely hear it 4 or 5 times in the day, Carola, Cox, Dice, Tanzman, Squillace, Dubfire, Hawtin, Luciano, everyone is playing it…which make me and Detlef very happy.. It doesn’t matter how many records you make its always a great feeling when you walk into a club and hear your track”
What has been your favourite night of the summer to date?
“Honestly there isn’t one favourite, every week at Warriors has been incredible. We’re packing the club every week and with a great crowd of people that come to hear good music and dance and let themselves go. We have a night that is serious about music but fun to be a part of.”
From a promotion point of view, what have you learnt on the island that perhaps wasn’t a factor in 2012?
“We don’t need to be a part of the ridiculous promotional race that most other party’s have. We can’t compete with the likes of Space, Ushuaia, Pacha and Amnesia, these are all big clubs with big income. So we do things differently. Like DC10, we hope to achieve something organic with people that come who know about the night based on it’s merit not based on how many stickers we have on every car, how close we can get to the airport with advertising, how many posters we have stuck all over every door and wall or every restaurant, shop and cafe.”
How do you think Sankeys has progressed this year, is it now a major force in Ibiza?
“Yes it definitely is a major force in Ibiza now, Sankeys is a true success story and one that honestly Dave Vincent truly deserves. He is dedicated not only to clubs but to music. He works incredibly hard, has a great vision and he risked everything on Sankeys Ibiza. So I for one am very happy for him. Ibiza needed another underground venue, another alternative to the big super clubs of Ibiza.”
It seems that this summer all of the clubs have done well, there hasn’t been any real casualties. What’s your take on Ibiza 2013 – a good year?
“Myself and Warriors have had an incredible season, a personal amazing year for me with the birth of my daughter and the continued success of my other baby Warriors…”
Aside from VIVa, how have the other gigs you’ve played at been on the island, interesting to know what you thought about Wisdom of the Glove…
“I feel incredibly blessed, all the gigs I have had on the island this year have been amazing. I had a great time at Pacha, Pacha has changed quite a bit now, it’s no longer the main commercial club on the island. It is a super club and with that these days comes the table clientele, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be good, Pacha has a good mix of both of these crowds. I had a great time when I played at Wisdom of the Glove and also Insane.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
1.Steve Lawler – Do Ya – Unavailable
2.Steve Lawler & Detlef – Work it to the Bone – Bootleg
3.Anek – Come out to Play (Sante Remix) – VIVa MUSiC
4.Einzelkind & Robin Scholz – Clubnight – White
5.Todd Terry – Bounce to the Beat (Steve Lawler Remix) – Hard Times
6.H Foundation – Hear dis Sound (Adam Shelton Remix) – Siesta
7.Philip Bader – Untitled – VIVa MUSiC
8.Detlef – Wat it duzz (Steve Lawler Edit) – Defected
9.Adam Shelton – Mindscape – Back to You
10. Lil mo ying yang – Reach – Strictly Rhythm
October 4th of course brings us a VIVa WaRRIORS reunion of sorts, taking over the mighty Electric Brixton in London with all of your Ibiza residents up on show. Will this be the chance to REALLY let your hair down, what are you looking forward to the most from this show?
“Friends, Music and Good Times on a big scale. Warriors shows are always an exiting gig for all of us because it is our time to party with everyone, to get involved and really bring a vibe to the room no matter where it is.”
Two weeks later you take over Transformatorhuis in Amsterdam as part of the crazy ADE week. How important has ADE become now on the dance music calendar, it’s great that musically it is now spreading it’s wings…?
“I missed it last year due to my World Tour, but I made sure I made it this year and we have an incredible venue. This really is one of the best venues in Amsterdam, so I’m really exited about this party.”
What is coming out next from you release wise?
“My next release is called “Upsidedown” which I actually made two years ago! But it’s now finally going to see the light of day on the mighty Siesta Recordings out of San Diego. Coming with remixes from H Foundation, Hector, and Okain”
I have asked some of your other residents at VIVa the same question, who is the craziest in the WaRRIORS camp, who is always the last man standing?
“Philip Bader!!!! Zee crazy German! It’s always more a case of last group standing! Ha ha we fall together”
And finally Steve, you’ve played some great gigs this summer – but has anywhere come close to VIVa WaRRIORS at Sankeys in Ibiza?
“Quite Simply NO. We have what I believe is one of the best vibes on the island. I couldn’t have asked for more.”
VIVa Warriors @ ELECTRIC BRIXTON
Steve Lawler announces Electric Brixton party with Ibiza residents Darius Syrossian, Philip Bader, Detlef (live) and Anëk
Friday 4th October 2013 (11pm-7am)
Electric Brixton – Town Hall Parade – Brixton, London
http://electricbrixton.uk.com/index.php
