Thing is, its not possible to talk to Sio and not talk about Jackie Queens nor Luka. There is just something about the trio that you just cant pin point. Could it be that they are so humble, or the work ethic or is it that they were all willing to hop on the DHLA bandwagon? We'll keep wondering.....
Ladies and Gents, we bring you the Anthony Kasirivu aka Luka DHLA innerview
DHLA: It seems house music Djs/Producers that have some sort of disability, have a 6th sense or some sort of "extra ability" that ordinary people don’t have. You look at the work of Nathi Maphumulo (Black Coffee) and Siyanda Makanya DJ Kabila to name a few. Whats your take?Luka: Not really. I think if you have passion and your willing to work hard enough to be the best about you do you always stand out regardless of who is doing what when and how.
DHLA: We had Sió Roi King Sió on our platform not so long ago. Why havent we got an album from both of you already?
Luka: We both have quite a bit going on in terms of work as individuals. Her as a vocalist and myself as a producer. However, something is in the pipeline but it is still far from complete. We building a body of work slowly and release it when we feel the work is enough to warrant it being a full offering.
DHLA: Also on Sio, her song writing is mind blowing. How has yo'll's experience been especially during production?
Luka: It’s been an amazing experience to be honest. Each of us are both good at what we do and because we trust in our ability it makes the creative process so natural. It’s still amazing how each project just gets a life of its own regardless of the genre. Her voice is exciting, her song writing ability 2nd to none.
DHLA: When did you start producing?
Luka: You I started producing way back in 2004 when a close friend of mine Art Jones, who passed away some time back, introduced me to reason. I don’t really take it seriously as I was more focused on engaging with the vinyl at the time. But after my neck injury in 2008 I got back into production seriously in 2009. Haven’t looked back since really.
DHLA: Why house music in particular?
Luka: Well house is where it all started even though it’s not where my production style has evolved to right now. I produce a lot of music for TV and media use called library music and what that is that has helped me open up my mind to a whole new range of genres and with it a different way to express myself. House however was the foundation to everything am doing now
DHLA: A lot of songs get messed up during mastering. Take us through your process?
Luka: I’m not sure about the messed up (part) because mastering can only accentuate and bring out more of what is done in the mix down process. The mix down is where all the magic actually happens. Back at the end of 2009 I spent almost about 3 to 4 months just researching production techniques as well as the manual for reason. That gave me the foundation to be able to break down what encompasses a well-mixed song from there I just develop my own techniques from what was done traditionally. I’m not an expert don’t get me wrong.
I do a lot of things that are wrong technically but work for what I’m trying to achieve. The most important thing is to have a grammar standing of the space you give to each element in the tweaking applied to those elements that will in turn affect the space they occupy. Once you grasp this concept it’s really up to you.
DHLA: Would you say house music is growing. Why?
Luka: House music is definitely growing but to what end only the market will dictate. It’s not easy to make a living off music today even as a performing artist that is always booked. At some point bookings dry up. It gets even trickier when you are just a producer that doesn’t DJ but it’s not impossible if you get the right mix of revenue streams on royalty to generating platforms as well as endorsements and sponsorships which seems to be the growing trend. As long as people want to hear music there will be a way to make money from it those that can adapt will survive and thrive those that can’t will have to find other means to fund their passion.
DHLA: How would you describe your sound?
Luka: Well initially I would say my sound was a
fusion of genres.
My house music in the beginning had a mix of elements from all sorts of
genres like jazz percussion kits with drum and
bass synthesizers and dubstep bass.
But when I started experimenting with production styles outside of house and not just using different kits and sounds I began to start bending genres to the point where you couldn’t place the productions in a box. I just go where (the) idea takes me.
There’s so much freedom in going where that
idea takes you
rather than trying to achieve a certain type of
song.
DHLA: You have a record label. How and when did it start? Is it where you want it to be right now?
Luka: We go deep started back in 2012 in partnership with FOMP records out in the UK. I then started a company which took care of the library music I produce for TV and media use and made it the parent company to We go deep at the end of 2014. I formally trademarked the name as well as the logo and I plan to utilize that trademark and other ways down the line once the right foundation is laid to do so.
DHLA: What do you use for your production?
Luka: The only thing I used to produce this Reason. Cubase, I mainly use for mastering purposes.
DHLA: Whats your dream equipment or software?
Luka: I wouldn’t say I dream of a certain type of
equipment. In my case I have to use the most functional pieces of equipment I can find as I can’t use my fingers as yet since my accident.
I basically produce all my music with a pencil strapped to my hand so a small 25 key MIDI keyboard works as my main controller when producing. So, had to learn to use what I have to
the best of my ability from the start.
DHLA: We are celebrating youth month. What does it mean to you?
Luka: A lot of black youths died in 1976 so that we could experience a much more open education system for us all that were oppressed at the time. Whether were using all the resources that are available to us to fully realize our potential is another conversation. We relegate mindsets and ways of living to certain days and months as opposed to making it part of our everyday lives. If we respected and celebrated each other more the world would be a much better place.
DHLA: What are the top five tracks that you currently listening to
Luka: Sir - Queen, Early Winters - vanishing act, Charles Murdoch - frogs, Lyves - no love and Marika Hackman - before I wake
DHLA: Is there a particular house album or song that you feel should be re-released?
Luka: Blue Six - beautiful tomorrow. That album was way ahead of his time
Luka: Well the reality is that certain online stores delay in making out quarterly payments on time. With certain stores, they could be a full quarter to even six months behind. Others could be two months behind. So, it’s up to you to follow up on these happenings so that you ensure that you are aware of why certain payments come out less than they should be when statements are received.
Another problem is that with the introduction of streaming people are buying music lesson listening more so banking on high payouts from sales even when you in the mainstream is not a wise thing to do.
DHLA: Do you Dj? Whats on your performance rider?
Luka: Since my accident I do any performances or DJ.
DHLA: Will you be signing artists on your label. Who is currently part of you?
Luka: As it stands I work with a lot of independent artists and I prefer working that way.
All the artists I work with own the songs equally with me so every project is more of a partnership
then them just providing a service. I won’t be changing the way I work in that regard any time
soon.
DHLA: 3 vocalists that you recommend and 4 producers?
Luka: Jaidene Veda, Sió, Jackie Queens and Jullian Gomes , Jazzuelle , Charles Webster , Keys Snow
Luka: It is quite a dangerous for house music now. The genre is not really being pushed outside of its box hence we get a lot of monotonous songs coming out with different vocalists. Not to say that there something wrong with a producer producing a similar sound to someone else but it creates clutter and many quality songs get lost in clutter. Nowadays producers need to be seriously consistent putting out quality music to ensure they stand out which is not easy to do especially when you feel that your underrated making the motivation to produce quality almost impossible. Sure, you can stay underground and grow your fan base slowly till your sound becomes a thing but even by then you could be tired of producing that particular sound and then become stuck producing it. Quality can still shine through so not all is lost.
DHLA: Remember that tribal house period of between 2007 - 2010. What would you say lead to its demise? Will we ever see that genre fully become "mainstream" again?
Luka: After a while it all just started sounding the same. That simple really. It could always come back if it becomes a trend again.
DHLA: Tell us about you?
Luka: I’m a simple person really. I use music to express myself and I enjoy being outdoors and hearing the sounds of nature.
DHLA: Would you say there is good synergy amongst producers and Djs within our genre?
Luka: Not sure what you mean by synergy but those DJs that are able to work together and put out good projects is always good for the industry. It’s not easy to do but it could be done a whole lot more on a wider scale.
DHLA: Soul Candi has rebranded to just focus on events. Do you believe thats were the money is at?
Luka: There is money in events and I think Soul Candi is just doing what’s best for them.
DHLA: Are the labels that we are sleeping on?
Luka: No not really. People always look for the music that speaks to them. So, I wouldn’t say they are labels that have been slept on but rather labels that are not yet discovered by the majority of music listeners.
DHLA: Your message to aspiring producers?
Luka: Keep experimenting, keep learning, keep researching and create music that really speaks to you first, so that covers listening to your music can actually relate to you through it. Don’t worry too much about working with big artists or big vocalists rather keep growing your craft to the point where those collaborations happen naturally because your work spoke for you.
DHLA: Your future projects?
Luka: There’s a couple of projects under construction. I have a Jackie Queens project coming out sometime in August if there are no other delays, and a couple experimental genres outside from house will be coming out to. My sound has taken a new direction so I am going to see where that goes for a bit.
DHLA: Whats your prediction for the future of house music genre
Luka: As long as their brave producers willing to stay true to the music house will be in a good space.
DHLA: If, hypothetically, you were to get a chance to remix 1 000 memories by Jullian Gomes and Sió , would you? Or is it a case of monotony for you, seeing that you work with Sio a lot
Luka: If Julian asked me to remix 1000 memories I’d be honoured. That being said I probably declined because I think the remixes that have been done for it do great Justice. And never work on a vocal that I feel I can not add a totally new dimension to. The original itself was already a masterpiece I even think the Stained-glass project scratched the surface of what Sio can do. There are tracks we did for her solo EP that will totally change what people finishes capable of doing.
.
DHLA: What you say "stained glass" with Sio is your best work so far?
Hmmm ‘’Stained glass’’ was not best so far, it just scratched the surface of what Sio and I can do. There are tracks we did for her solo EP that will totally change what people finishes capable of doing.
DHLA: Which tracks have you remixed to date?
Luka: The latest remix is for a track by Keys snow which am looking forward to coming out. Other than that, I haven’t done that many remixes since the 2015 period when I was doing quite a few for UK labels.
DHLA: Owning a record WE GO DEEP, is currently a highly sort after achievement within the house music industry. How does it make you feel? Why "we go deep" of all wording choices?
Luka: It humbles me that people appreciate the music as much as I do. All of the music produced represents a time I was going through something so hope it helps those going through something similar. We go deep came about from a lot of rejection actually. In the early days and I was looking to get music on labels I kept being told my sound was too deep for the market. I guess I heard that so often from labels that I decided to start my own label and call it just that. If going deep was what I did then my label would have to represent that. It became a We instead of I because I wasn’t doing it alone. All the people I work with in collaboration with my label are part of everything I do whether signed to me are not.
DHLA: Would you say there is demand for sounds that are produced outside Gauteng? Could it be that Jozi is currently going through a creative block phase?
Luka: I wouldn’t really know enough productions coming out from Johannesburg to make any clear-cut observations or generalizations. I will say that hip-hop right now is in a very good space so maybe that is overshadowing the house music coming out from that region at the moment.
DHLA: Social media handles?
@Luka_WeGoDeep
https://www.facebook.com/LukaWGD/
#ThatsAwrap
#LukaDHLAinnerview #DHLAinnerviews #DHLA
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