A Quick Chat With...Luke Solomon

Luke Solomon is an individual whose role in London’s rave story is one of understated significance. As part of the wave of DJs who established the sound and scene that is inherent to our disco he’s an artist that refuses to look back and wallow in the past constantly remaining focussed on the next project. Moving to London at the beginning of the 90’s he soon hooked up with a record shop in his new home of Barnet, where he met not only our resident Terry Francis all those years ago but also many artists from across the pond and the prodigious Kenny Hawkes, someone who although he’s sadly no longer with us but, partnered on legendary mid-week party Space for most of the 90’’s and who to this day Solomon attributes a constant inspiration. With another force of house music legend Derrick Carter, Solomon set up the now seminal Classic Music, a label that introduced DJ Sneak, Tiefschwarz, Isolee and Freeform 5 to the larger populous as well as launching Solomon’s band Freaks, an outfit that perhaps some of you may know him best from their lives sets on our Room One stage. Solomon’s is respected unanimously among what is real and true in the UK’s house scene, whether that’s putting his masterful ear to work as an engineer in the studio, producing under his own many aliases, remixing, label managing or DJing. We caught up with him to talk about what he’s up to now and with two full artist albums due for release in the next six months, as along with a killer remix package that features Audion, Ryan Elliot and Tom Demac in full effect as well as a new label Little Creatures, there was plenty for us to talk about before he joins his long time friend Terry Francis in Room Three this Saturday. You’ve had such a rich history, but are really busy right now moving forward with current projects so I don’t want to look back too much – can you summarise your influences and how you got into much for us in one neat paragraph please? My main influences are my friend, then assorted musicians and then life experiences. Naming names would take me forever. You have quite a few aliases, why do you feel you want to release certain tracks under different names? I only have 4 including my own and Freaks, Luke SOlomon, Lukatron, The Digital Kid and Freaks A different hat for different moods. You recently rebirthed Classic Recordings, the label you co-run with Derrick Carter –what made you guys feel it was time to start pressing vinyl again? Vinyl solidifies the release and the label, it makes in tangible and material and marks as an archive for the future generations. Can you tell us about Little Creatures – it’s a very new imprint you’ve set up yourself right? Yep, it’s another vessel for music I guess…I have loads. I see we’re both share an appreciation of the sounds of Kris Wadsworth, what was it that first put you onto him? He’s remixed for you on the first LC release, What other younger talents do you think have something special to offer right now? He's a dude…I like him…we share a similar spirit. There's tons of new peeps like Mic Newman, Jordan Peak, No Dial Tone, Mikey V and there are some old ones too, all with a lot to offer. But they’re all individuals in my ears. This November we can look forward to the next and last release from your Digital Kid alias – why have you decided to draw a project to a close? Can you tell us a bit about where the album came from? It felt like a good time to bookend the project with an album, all good things come to an end. It was just another moment of ideas that incorporated other producers that I wanted to work with. You have another ready to go in not so long too, what name is that under can you reveal anything about it to us yet? Yes. It’s a new Luke Solomon album called ‘Timelines’, 5 years in the making and probably my last Luke Solomon record. All vocals, a lot of live music and electronics, plus a remix album to go with it featuring a host of people that will hopefully see things go out with a bang. You’re back at the club this weekend – you’ve known Terry for a long time right since you first moved to London in the 80’s – how did you guys first meet? We actually met through Kenny Hawkes…I think Terry may have come to a record shop I worked at in Barnet with Ty Holden. We had a big connection with the wiggle crew. Like minded people. Tel used to play for us at Bar Rumba also. Terry and me were friends but we actually ended up becoming really close after Kenny died. Tel's a brother to me. I this isn’t the first time you’ve shared the booth at our disco – can you recall for us any stand out moments in your history playing the club? Freaks in Room Three has always been a blast, the most moments was Freaks live band in the main room though…that was special. WetYourSelf! was a special moment for me too. You’re very well known for having passion at being a ‘good DJ’ at having worked hard and gained years of experience mastering the technical side of the craft – what does playing in Room Three bring out of you and demand of your skill? I like it in there, there’s no pressure do what you want vibe…i think it brings out the best in me