Lee M Kelsall is a fast rising producer who has recorded for labels like Hot Waves in the past. His creamy house and disco sound is a long way from the gritty Northern town he grew up in, but already the man’s sounds are picking up plenty of support. Now finding himself on Lucid Dreaming Records, he turns in Transitions, a slo-mo house groove that shines with bright disco synths and floats an airy female vocal right up top.
We caught up with him for more…
How did you get into Production?
It happened by accident .. I heard a track and automatically thought id love to chop up a vocal and add some bass behind it. I had the idea but didn’t have a clue where to start however a friend I met at Uni owned a music studio so I sat in with him and he showed me the ropes …. I’m still learning and think I forever will be but I enjoy it and I love how I can go in the studio and whatever mood I’m in that day is the music I produce so French, Deep, Disco and Garage is what I’ve created so far.
And how long till you started sending stuff out?
Erm… I never actually sent my first track out. My friend Miguel Campbell came over to my Apartment for a BBQ one Summer day and I played him what I had produced and he said he wanted to sign it to his Outcross Records Label, however with me moving to Australia and him getting signed to Hot Creations we never went through with it.
How did the Hot Waves hook-up come about?
Well I was heading back to the UK for a few months and I had a track that I’d made in 2010 that needed updating. I sent it a good friend Matt who remixed it and brought it up to date, then I sent the track to Lee Foss by email and within the hour it was signed to Jamie Jones and Lee Foss’ Hot Waves Label!
How has your year been so far?
Its been a great year so far I’m still pinching myself .. At the beginning of the year I was contacted by Nervous Records (NYC) who asked if they could take me under their wing and manage me, now in my opinion they are one of the most iconic house music labels the world has seen over the last 25yrs so this was an amazing opportunity to be offered.
From this obviously came a booking agent (Kumasi Music, London) which in tow allowed me to play music around the world including an Australian Tour, Dubai, Sonar Festival (Barcelona), Ibiza, Hideout Festival (Croatia), Amsterdam, Rotterdam and a MEXA Records Showcase Tour of the UK.
In terms of labels .. I’m now signed to Louie Fresco (No.19) & Climbers (Culprit LA) label MEXA Records, Nervous Records (NYC) and Lucid Dreaming (Australia) so I have got plenty of new material coming out in the next few months
What have been the highs and lows?
Highs: What I’ve just mentioned above plus having the likes of DJ T personally message me saying he is liking what I am doing etc is a big achievement for myself.
Lows: No lows … I’m always high as a kite!
And what’s been influencing your music taste most?
I’m really into 90s House and 80s Funk ….. So this shows in my work, My MEXA Release broke the boundaries when I produced a Soulful House track as a follow up to the Hot Waves release. My new stuff includes, 90s MK sounds, early 90s stripped back House Music and sprinkles of Garage too.
What else you got coming up?
Transition is my latest release on Lucid Dreaming (Australia) with remixes from BUBBA (Hot Creations), Clinton Houlker (Lower East) and Ali Scott (Love Not Money), following that is my Nervous Release in Aug which has been causing a storm on the dancefloor watching a 1000 people bounce to it at Hideout Festival was an amazing feeling.
I’m also working on a collab with a well know french house producer who has been in the game for years … We are working on a Funk EP – I’m not one to stick to just one genre and why should an artist?
In terms of Gigs I’m playing a few cool places, a festival in Bali, NYD in Sydney and then onto BPM Festival, Mexico.
What do you like to do outside of music?
I like to cook…. A few years ago when I lived at Uni with my housemate Morley Dave I was terrible but I am getting better and it makes me happy so if there are any ladies reading this feel free to get in contact and you can come over to my apartment on the beach in sydney and ill make you an amazing BBQ – Homemade Sauces, Bread – The Lot !!!
LEE M KELSALL Chart
1) Cameo Culture – Night Calling : No.19 Music
2) Ornette – Crazy (Noze Remix) : Get Physical
3) Newbie Nerds – Third of September : Dialtone Recs
4) Tough Love – Night is Calling : Unreleased
5) Flex Cop – Been Looking (Lee M Kelsall 90s Mix) : Lucid Dreaming Records
6) Andre Crom – Reality (Dusky Remix)
7) Ivan the Terrible – Warm Bark : Unreleased
8 ) Lee M Kelsall – Transition : Lucid Dreaming Records
9) Tom Trago – Use Me Again ( Carl Craig Remix) : Rush Hour
10) Lee M Kelsall – NY Shuffle (Kreature Remix) : Nervous Records
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Interview courtesy of Juke Box PR
