Over the past couple of years artists like Low Steppa, Disclosure, Duke Dumont and many others have been on the forefront of the emerging UK garage scene that's won over millions of listeners around the globe. Branching from an almost indecipherable lineage of UK forbearing genres and producers that helped craft up this unique sound, Low Steppa is helping to push this genre to new heights.
Playing to a packed crowd last night at NYC's Slake, fans greeted the UK producer with open arms and insatiable desire to dance all night and his performance delivered on this well deserved hype. Over the past month he's released an EP and a guest mix for Rinse.FM set, all of which have been receiving a great deal of praise. Between his touring and other plans it's hard to catch this guy having some free time but we managed to secure an interview with this artist on the rise.
Between your Rinse.fm set and your new tracks coming out/pending release you've had a great month, how are you feeling about 2015 so far?
Im so happy right now, everything is falling into place, I'm working really hard and making lots of music and the people seem to enjoy it, lovin' life right now.
How long have you been at this? Where did your passion for electronic music stem from?
How long have you been at this? Where did your passion for electronic music stem from?
Been DJing since around 1999 and making music from around 2002. Its been a long journey but I feel what I do now is true to what I love and I think thats why it works so well. I got into electronic music when I was about 14; jungle, drum and bass, rave, then moved onto house when I was about 16.
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UK bass and garage have started to make an imprint in the US. What are your thoughts on this?
Im really excited to see the reaction people have to this music, its a great feeling and I'm chuffed that the USA is embracing this vibe.
Have you noticed a change in the crowd/reaction to garage and UK bass in dance music’s new age?
Its always been around in UK so its hard for me to say but I think USA has always liked it too as I've done projects in the past and people have embraced them too.
As a contemporary pioneer of the sound, where have you drawn inspiration from, to develop and champion your sound?
A lot of it comes from my love of the garage sound from around 1997 and also from soulful house, funky house, vocal house, jackin house, its basically a little bit of everything form of house music that I've loved for the last 15 years.
Your label, Simma Black has had some great releases, how do you choose your releases? And do you have any suggestions for artists trying to grab your attention?
We just pick music we love and that we want to play. I don't like to tell other artists how to make music, I don't believe in that so if we aren't feeling it we just wont sign it, we wouldn't tell people to change what they do because its art.
We just pick music we love and that we want to play. I don't like to tell other artists how to make music, I don't believe in that so if we aren't feeling it we just wont sign it, we wouldn't tell people to change what they do because its art.
The past couple of years have shown us many genres that have come and gone because of trends. How do you feel about genre classification? I think people get way too caught up in that, just let it be and let it evolve, people have to name everything and that kills stuff off too early sometimes. I just label my music as house music, simple.
All of your other projects have their own unique sound, same with Low Steppa, what makes you decide the direction you're going in? Do see yourself returning to projects from the past? I try not to think about it too much, as you can mess your head up. I just sit down and make beats and make music and the vibe im into at that point in time will come through in the music.
In that same vein is Low Steppa going to be your main focus for now? or do you have other genres you want to dabble in? No its all about Low Steppa for me now, its my thing, I enjoy it and I've never been so into music as I am now![soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/186487116" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
Who's the most recent unknown artist that has sparked your interest?
Really hard to pick one, so I'll pick a few.... Mono4, Ovis, Mike Millrain, U Know The Drill, Truth Be Told, Newbie Nerdz, and thats not to say they are unknown, just newer guys that I love.
What artists do you predict will take off this year?
Hopefully any of the guys releasing on Simma Black!
Check out the photo above to see if Low Steppa is coming through your town on his US tour and head over to his Facebook, Soundcloud and Twitter for the latest updates.