For almost 3 decades, DJ and producer Steve Lawler has been moving dance-floors around the world. During the early 1990s as a teenager in Birmingham, England, Lawler gained notoriety for his illegal raves thrown in tunnels beneath the busy M24 motorway. In short order, these parties were topping 500 guests, and Lawler soon found himself behind the decks in proper clubs, never leaving behind the passion behind those infamous parties.
In the years since, Lawler’s become one of the world’s most sought-after DJs for his workmanlike ethic and wide-ranging taste in music. With residencies at renowned clubs like The End in London, Twilo in Miami and Space in Ibiza (where he handily earned the title The King of Space), Lawler is also a regular on the festival circuit, a regular at the likes of Creamfields, Parkline, Lovebox and Hideout Croatia.
As an artist, Lawler’s music has been released by top-tier labels including R&S Records, Systematic, Drumcode, Harthouse, Cocoon, MBF, OVUM, Sci+Tec, Tsuba, Be As One, Kostbar, Soma, Hot Creations, 8bit, Moon Harbour, Knee Deep in Sound and Play it, Say it, along with his own VIVaMUSiC.
As label boss, Lawler’s released tracks from the likes of Jamie Jones, Reboot, Audiofly, Simon Baker, Davide Squillace, Bushwacka, Livio & Roby, Ilario Alicante, Tiefschwarz, Waze & Odyssey, Doorly, Denney and Christoph. His VIVa Warriors—just Warriors now—is the flagship event of Sankeys Ibiza, held each Sunday of the season with a stunning roster of guests.
Do you remember the first time in your life a song really grabbed your attention, inspired you to make music?
Yes I do, it was first hearing the song by New Order called “Blue Monday”—now an all-time classic record, but back then in the late 80s, hearing music being produced essentially by electric machines was all new, and this record just resonated with me, I have no idea why but it just sounded like what I had been waiting for; I was 17 and just left school, so this was the beginning of not just my attitude towards music, but also towards culture.
How did you first get into the scene? What inspired you to start DJing, and what were some of those earliest gigs like?
I was collecting music from the age of 15. When all my friends were going to soccer matches, I was saving to buy vinyl. Music was just my thing. It felt like a way to be myself, to express and to escape. So being a DJ was what came as a natural progression. I worked on an illegal radio station when I was 18. I worked in a record store when I was 19. So DJing was just the obvious part of my passion for music.
You’ve been DJing for more than 2 decades, from your famed teenage-guerilla parties under the M24, to some of the biggest festival stages and most esteemed clubs in the world. Where do you feel most at home?
In clubs—of course I love big events, a festival—but as a DJ who believes music is about expression and losing yourself, that music is to experience, not just listen to. That’s how I feel and in a club environment—you can be more creative and more expressive.
As someone who’s thrown literally thousands of them, what are the ingredients for a great party?
First and foremost, people. A good crowd of music lovers who will set the atmosphere, excitement; people being excited creates good vibes. Then of course the sound and the lights. The tools to create another world. These are without a doubt the most important because essentially you can throw a party anywhere as long as you have the above ingredients right. Your party will be amazing no matter where it is.
When you’re choosing music, what grabs you about a track? What do you look for, when you look for new (or revisited) music?
It’s all about the groove for me, it always has been. This is the foundation of what both house music and techno were built on: creating that relentless groove so the listeners can get locked in and only then start to lose themselves.
VIVa MUSiC has been turning out killer tracks for more than 10 years, and releases music from some of today’s best; what’s ahead for the label in 2020? Any releases you can tease?
Thank you. We have some incredible stuff lined up from all 3 of the labels—VIVa MUSiC / VIVa LIMITED and iVAV Recordings. We have Themba, Maur, John Digweed, Darius Syrossian, East End Dubs, Leon, Jesse Perez, Nathan Barato and Guti, to name a few.
What was the impetus to start VIVa MUSiC in the first place? What did you want to accomplish with the label? How about for yourself? Can we expect new music in 2020?
When I started VIVa MUSiC in 2006, I wanted to be the first person in dance music that started a digital-only label, as that’s where I saw things going, and I was the first and made a big statement about doing it; I had a lot of critics slagging me off for doing so, but I was right—look today, 99% of labels are digital only.
Yes I have several productions lined up for this year and some of them on VIVa MUSiC. I have a track called “Screw” / “Jus Sayin (Ecstasy)” / “In Da Club.”
In your time DJing and producing, electronic and dance music has undergone some huge changes. What do you think of the state of things now, with dance music making millions on festival stages? Is it a mixed bag?
The positive is, our music is touching millions of people and this is and has always been a long dream of mine. The negative is, the more something happens, sometimes it means the quality of it gets more and more diluted. There are definitely far too many DJs out there that actually can’t DJ, and far too many fakesters out there not making their own music, and far too many promoters out there putting on shows to solely make money. You just have to keep true to yourself and make your choices wisely.
Looking back, I don’t miss anything, really. I suppose the authenticity of certain things is lacking in today’s music industry, but in general there are some incredible things happening with music and events… all in all times are great. A great time to be alive. I’m a futurist, not nostalgic. This is where my hunger to stay at the forefront comes from.
A true performer and music-lover through and through, Lawler brings his dynamic style to El Paso on March 15 at Club Here I Love You, part of Late Nite Social Club’s 10-Year Anniversary series. Don’t sleep on this one—grab tickets at www.nightout.com.