Apprentice Turned Master: This Dutch DJ Teaches Some Of World’s Biggest
Once trained by the best in the business, Laidback Luke [Luke van Scheppingen] now trains the best in the business. With apprentices including Afrojack, Bart B More, Avicii and Angger Dimas, in his own words, van Scheppingen is quite simply creating his very own personal army. “I’m looking at what Afrojack is doing at the moment, and I have to say he’s the one I’m the most proud of right now. For one, because he’s really invented his own little pitchbend trick and has contaminated the world with it. Secondly, because he works a lot with David Guetta now ever since I introduced him and he’s been making the biggest stuff thinkable. Of course, there are a lot of other guys out there, like Bart B More, Max Vangeli, Avicii and Angger Dimas, for instance. Every one of them make me really proud too. It’s priceless to see house music thriving from the people I have trained!”
And it’s been a privilege to pass on both the life lessons and musical tricks of the trade to up-and-coming producers after himself having been taught by legends of the house scene. From Swedish House Mafia, van Scheppingen picked up invaluable production techniques that have helped him shape his own trademark sound. Meanwhile, from Chocolate Puma, the DJ acquired an appreciation for modesty and keeping his head together when the world around him turned to chaos in the midst of his meteoric rise to fame. “A huge thing I got from Dobre from Chocolate Puma was to stay humble and stay grounded no matter how much craziness was going on,” says van Scheppingen. “He was such a big name when I bumped into him but he never had an inch of arrogance. It really inspired me to mentor kids like that as well. A lot of my production tips that I share with others have come from learning through trial and error. Some of them hint at the way the Swedish House Mafia produce, but I can never fully tell, of course. Although I don’t have as much time for it nowadays, I still just try to give as much feedback as I can to anyone that posts a demo on my forum. I’m keeping a close eye on the kids that can keep up and can handle my honest and direct feedback. I’m always looking for new talent. Sometimes they need a lot of training, but sometimes they’ll be production-ripe already! I think what kids should realise is that hard work never stops.”
In fact, the moment you stop it all slips right out of your hands, according to van Scheppingen. A life-long passion, unique talent and the right kind of never-say-die mentality is what it takes in this business… Oh, and being comfortable within the confines of small closed-in spaces. “You’ve got to be okay with keeping yourself locked up in the studio for long periods of time,” laughs van Scheppingen. “That, and passion and attitude. I’d like to think I’m creating an army here! I’ll tell you what, though – it’s all about the 10 year rule. Just like in sports, or any craft, really, after you do something for 10 years you become a master in it. This seems to be the same for careers in music too. After 10 years of struggle, you hit success! For me, my biggest revolution was teaming up with Steve Angello and seeing the way he produces. It sparked and revamped me into the producer I am now.”
Producer? Yes. House superhero? Definitely. With Show Me Love, Leave The World Behind and Blau making up just some of his worldwide clubs smashes, Laidback Luke is arguable one of the biggest names in dance today. And while some are busy complaining about the mainstream direction of house music of late, van Scheppingen reckons the more exposure, the better. “The funny thing is that I don’t care about being ‘too commercial’. Even if something is commercial it can come from being a huge track on the dance-floors. Tracks going over-ground will just help spread the house virus and keep it lasting longer! One advantage of being ‘too commercial’ would be people’s interest shifting to the cooler genres of house or electronic music. No matter who you bump into, if you ask them what got them into house music, they will probably name one of the biggest and most commercial tracks out there. Even if it’s from back in the day. Think about it – commercial is a lot smarter and longer-lasting than trying to keep it cool for a select group of people in the underground.”
As far as Laidback Luke goes, it’s a mixture of both. Equally as fitting for the mainstream as it is for the underground house scenes, new and original tracks Turbulence [feat. Steve Aoki and Lil Jon] and Chiuso [under Scheppingen’s Nouveau Tourican alias] are a case in point of how versatile the producer really is. “I can’t wait for Turbulence especially to come out!” enthuses Scheppingen. “I did that one with Steve Aoki and Lil Jon and it took quite a while! It will be released soon and it’s looking good for 2011 overall. This year to me was all about Congorock, I’m in love with his sound! I’m always testing out new tracks and remixes. Currently I’m very much into making new originals. I’m working on a remix for Jump Jump Dance Dance and Benny Benassi. Plus there is a large amount of new music I’m discovering and singing to my label Mixmash which is a treasure! There are always plans but they keep changing. I have about 75 percent of a new album finished already, but I’m insure if it’s a good move for this day and age. I’d rather focus on the big singles for now.”
According to Scheppingen, it’s been a massive relief to see house music hit the mainstream in America recently. And while he agrees Australia was into house way before the ‘States, he still has a piece of advice for Aussie producers and clubbers.
“Even in the markets that house used to be slow in, it’s amazing right now, like in America. Australia has always had a good scene, way before the ‘States. However, I do feel the festival culture there has destroyed the club scene. To me, this is a major flaw in Australia – you guys should get back to the clubs and develop that once again.”
Laidback Luke [NED] plays Billboard The Venue on Friday February 4.
