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 We managed to catch up with one of trance music's all time icons the one and only Christopher Lawrence. He's just polished off the very first 'Rush Hour' compilation, named after his monthly radio show, so we went to find out what's what...
With the rumour of an artist album in the pipeline and a brand new mix compilation due for this summer it's about time we caught up with Christopher Lawrence. He's an artists who we regard here on i:Vibes as one of the best in the electronic dance music industry and one who in recent years has pushed the underground sound to the surface. His trance is like no other, have a listen to his pounding 'Rush Hour' radio shows or experience the energy live in person and you will know what we mean. He has been around on the scene since the early 90's and has crossed paths with some of the scene biggest names, artists, producers, clubs and everything in-between. His own Label Pharmacy pushed out nothing but quality and seeks out new talents to showcase their tracks, expect some sizzling hot records from the label over the next few months to.
This summer he takes the 'Rush Hour' concept into compilation territory with a superb mix release featuring future 'Rush Hour' classics and firm favourites. It's out on the 22nd June on Moist Music and we will be bring you a review over the next few days as we've got our mitts on it already. You won't be disappointed by it I can guarantee you that! Right, enough from me its about time you heard from the man himself, welcome back to i:Vibes Mr Christopher Lawrence!
i:Vibes: It’s an honour to have you on i:Vibes Christopher, as one of the biggest electronic artists on the planet and a true trance pioneer. Coming from the United States what was the drive that got you started with dance music?
Christopher Lawrence: The music itself. I grew up with a love of music. Music was the soundtrack of my life. But when I first heard acid house music at a party in San Francisco in 1990, I knew that I had found my calling. I had never heard such incredible music with so much power and emotion with no vocals, only twisted electronic sounds. I began collecting records and DJing because it brought me closer to the music.
i:Vibes: Being one of the DJ’s who many idolise and inspire to be who were your inspiration’s growing up?
Christopher Lawrence: My main aspirations were the first DJs I heard in San Francisco. Guys like the Hardkiss Brothers, Jeno and DJ Simon. Later it was DJs like Sahsa & Digweed, Sven Vath, Paul Van Dyk and John 00 Fleming.
i:Vibes: You came up through a time when Trance music was just being defined as a genre in its own right, what early memories got you into the sound looking back?
Christopher Lawrence: I got into the scene thru acid house and techno but as the music and the scene evolved I began hearing music out of the UK and Germany that was more intense, more hypnotic and more powerful. That was the sound that I was attracted to. That sound became known as trance.
i:Vibes: Throughout the nineties you emerged as one of dance music’s biggest exports, especially within the trance scene. Your popularity in the states is huge and as we look back you scooped ‘America’s Best DJ’ a few years ago. When did you first do a DJ gig outside of the states?
Christopher Lawrence: My first gig outside the US was in 1997 at Ministry of Sound in London.
i:Vibes: In the last few years things have been taking off for you. The launch of your very own label Pharmacy has seen some stunning releases but were a few teething problems getting the label off the ground at first?
Christopher Lawrence: It isn’t as easy as you would think to start a label. There is a whole business side to it that I was naïve to. To set it up properly you have to incorporate, set up bank accounts, have attorneys draw up contracts, find a distributor, build a website and then find good music to release. Everything took twice as long because I am on the road three weeks out of four so it was a miracle when we finally had our first release.
i:Vibes: Your based in the states but the label is based in Australia, why is that?
Christopher Lawrence: I am actually based out of Melbourne, Australia now. I moved there two and a half years ago so I brought the label with me.
i:Vibes: Not much is written about the Australian dance scene but there have been some fantastic artists and producers emerge from down under in recent years. Who for you stands out?
Christopher Lawrence: Dirty South for one. He is a fantastic DJ and producer. I am also really into Empire of the Sun and The Presets – both good Australian bands.
i:Vibes: The last release on Pharmacy was a double EP by the immensely talented Jonathan Allyn. What’s next coming up on the label for this summer?
Christopher Lawrence: The next few release include tracks by Magnus, Sean J Morris and myself.
i:Vibes: It’s a quality over quantity with Pharmacy but who gets the final word on who and what track gets on the label’s next release?
Christopher Lawrence: At the end of the day it is my decision. So far I have been very fortunate to have some talented guys producing some great music for the label. I am always open to knew artists. I think that is what makes Pharmacy stand out.
i:Vibes: What other labels for you have been pushing out the best music over the course of the last year?
Christopher Lawrence: JOOF, SPX, Discover, and Iboga.
i:Vibes: Your sound edges on the underground style of Trance with that psy/progressive style to it which many feel is the ‘real’ trance sound. It’s a sound that has become more popular over the past few years and one that really sets a Christopher Lawrence set apart from the rest. Do you ever thing the sound will come out of the underground?
Christopher Lawrence: I do see the psy/progressive sound coming out of the underground. Most people that go out to clubs or parties have never heard it because psy trance has always remained underground and completely separate from mainstream clubbing and festivals. John 00 Fleming is another DJ championing the sound and we have found that once people hear it they are hooked. It is just so groovy.
i:Vibes: Let’s get into Rush Hour, which is the name of your super monthly showcase of the latest in underground Trance with a special guest for company each month. Currently in its 25th episode where did the idea for Rush Hour begin?
Christopher Lawrence: I had wanted to start a radio show and podcast for some time and once I came up with the concept and format for the show I was ready to launch. The idea is to present new music and interesting music, some of which I can play in my sets and other tracks that are great but may not fit into my sets. It was a way of getting that music out there as well as gaining exposure to new DJs and resident DJs that most people may not get a chance to hear. The Rush Hour title comes from the name of a single I had back in 1998.
i:Vibes: How much of a head scratchier is it picking tracks for the show every month with so many new records to choose from?
Christopher Lawrence: It’s a really tough job to put together the final mix. Every month so many great tracks are sent in as promos as well as the tracks that I find on line. Fortunately I have someone that helps produce the show. DJ Ismael Rodriguez from San Francisco has the difficult endless job of filtering the promos. It is a extremely time consuming but my goal is to present the best in new and underground trance every month.
i:Vibes: We have seen some storming guest mixes on the show since episode one, how do you go about picking a guest mix each month?
Christopher Lawrence: There have been some fantastic guest mixes over the last two years. Some of the favourites are Nicholas Bennison, Ismael Rodriguez, Magnus, and Dirty Loud. When I am choosing the guest, I am looking for resident DJs that I have played with overseas that people outside their respective countries may never get to hear and other DJs that I hear when I am on the road that impresses me.
i:Vibes: You are just putting together the first ever ‘Rush Hour’ compilation CD for release this May. What’s the idea behind the compilation series?
Christopher Lawrence: The new Rush Hour compilation series is an extension of the Rush Hour radio show. It will be a series based on the best recent tracks from Rush Hour as well as some new and unreleased tracks. I think it will tie in nicely because people always have their favourite tracks from the show.
i:Vibes: Will we see any guest mixes for the compilation?
Christopher Lawrence: There will be no guest mixes on the initial compilation. But there is the possibility of a guest mix series.
i:Vibes: Do you go about mixing a compilation as you would a live set or preparing a mix for the radio show?
Christopher Lawrence: When I traditionally have done mix compilations I have tried to recreate a night out. But with the Rush Hour series I have a little bit more freedom to play a set more like what you would hear on Rush Hour. Not every track needs to be peak time banging. Rush Hour will be like the radio show, a listening CD as opposed to a souvenir of a night out.
i:Vibes: Have you plans in the pipeline for a new Christopher Lawrence producer?
Christopher Lawrence: I have a new track called “Little Rush” which features Susy Del Vecchio on vocals. I am also currently working on a full length artist album.
i:Vibes: Your last release ‘Lie To Ourselves’ in collaboration with Dave Aude’ with the gorgeous vocals of Jen Lasher took on a very rare vocal style for you but hit the sweet spot. Will we see more vocal productions in the future?
Christopher Lawrence: Yes, I have just finished another vocal track featuring Susy Del Vecchio who sang on one of Paul Oakenfold’s latest releases. This new track is more banging than Lie to Ourselves but with a great vocal line in it.
i:Vibes: You have just announced the winners for a remix competition for ‘Lie To Ourselves’ with a clean sweep by Australian producers. How difficult was it deciding a winner out of all the entries put in?
Christopher Lawrence: It was very difficult to choose the top three winners because there were so many good remixes turned in. The final three were all quite unique. The winner turned in a very good progressive track while the second place remix was a completely different direction. He turned it into a full on rock song and it sounded amazing.
i:Vibes: We have also been hearing that you are working on a new artist album for this year, have we been hearing correct?
Christopher Lawrence: Yes, I am currently working on an artist album, although it is coming together slower than I had hoped because I am on the road touring so much. But I am happy with the tracks I have so far.
i:Vibes: On the road, I don’t think there is a major club night you have not been to. From the colourful surrounds of Burning Man to the dark confides of the Ministry of Sound and sunny beaches of Miami. Where have you most enjoyed playing over the past year?
Christopher Lawrence: My two favourite places would have to be Burning Man, Los Angeles and Pacha in Buenos Aires. My following in Buenos Aires is fanatical. They really know how to party in Argentina.
i:Vibes: What upcoming events are you rubbing your hands at to play this summer?
Christopher Lawrence: Creamfields in Melbourne, Shanghai, Bagkok, Electric Daisy Carnival in Los Angles, and Jakarta.
i:Vibes: When you will be appearing again under your ‘Mr & Mrs Smith’ alias again? It’s one of the first we can recall that a couple have performed live behind the decks, is there ever a domestic over who plays the next track?
Christopher Lawrence: WE have a date in June in Los Angeles with more to be added. And, no, we never fight over who gets to play which tracks. Generally whoever finds the track get’s first pick on playing the track That seems to keep it fair. Besides we are a team it is not meant to be competitive. We are just looking to have some fun and party.
i:Vibes: What styles of dance music do you like that a lot of people won’t be aware of?
Christopher Lawrence: Obviously I like electro as that is what I play when Sara and I play as Mr and Mrs Smith. I also like house music without vocals – it can be very trancey. I am also fond of acid breaks.
i:Vibes: Who for you have been the most promising artists to appear on the scene over the past few years?
Christopher Lawrence: Nick Sentience, Danny Powers, Steve Birch, Jonathan Allyn, Magnus, Dirty Loud and Carlo Colabro to name a few.
Finally, we like to round off here on i:Vibes with the ‘Quick Fire Five’.
i:Vibes: What was the last restaurant you went to?
Christopher Lawrence: Oh Mexico!
i:Vibes: Where are you right now?
Christopher Lawrence: On a plane somewhere over the Pacific on my way from Melbourne
i:Vibes: Favourite alcoholic beverage?
Christopher Lawrence: Moscow Mule. It’s a popular drink in Melbourne
i:Vibes: Next guest on Rush Hour?
Christopher Lawrence: Steve Birch
i:Vibes: What’s one of your favourite gadgets?
Christopher Lawrence: My iPhone. I couldn’t live without it.
i:Vibes: Thanks for joining us here on i:Vibes Christopher, we are a regular on Rush Hour each month and eagerly await the debut compilation as it’s sure to be deeply immense! All the best for the summer and keep the good music rolling!
Christopher Lawrence: Thank you for the opportunity to do this interview and thanks again for all the support.
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