Introducing: Low Steppa And His Shaded Shot of Four Four

There are many elements involved when it comes to finding success in the electronic music world; no doubt talent has its part to play but having true passion and commitment to the craft are of just as high in value. When it comes to Low Steppa he’s got the balance just right, already having years behind him of the utmost dedication and a future forward sound that he’s built into a highly successful career. Following these years of hard work, Steppa crashed into the spotlight when his darkside remix of Route 94’s summer house hit My Love dropped last year, a pretty slick result of the endless work he’s put in at the studio and on the decks. Judging on this record it’s no surprise then, that his particular shade of four four has become increasingly sought after, being called on to remix for the likes of Hardrive and dropping his own sterling club cuts to much acclaim last year. Set to join us in Farringdon next month (May 27th), where he'll be heading up Room Two alongside a delectable gang of selectors, he's not only gifted us with a brand new promotional mix but he's also taken some time to answer a few of our questions so we could officially introduce him to you before his afore mentioned set. Download: Low Steppa - FABRICLIVE Promo Mix What have you been up to as of late? Well I've thrown all my Muller yogurts and pizza out and I'm on a health vibe at the moment, the Ibiza season is upon us so I've decided to get in shape. It’s hard when you make music, as the best music comes from eating Haribo, drinking Pepsi and sitting down in the lab not burning much energy, unless maybe I threw my chair away and stood up. Since you first started producing, what have been the greatest moments for you so far? The time I got booked for Global Gathering to play the Roger Sanchez stage in around 2007 springs to mind. I was working a day job at the time and read the email and nearly fell off my chair. It’s an addictive job, you are always chasing that buzz you get when you have good news, you get the show you want or the radio play you wanted. Low Steppa has definitely brought the best moments. I believe in the music, it represents what I love about house music and it’s made the last 16 years all worth it, there have been lots of highs and lows. Have there been any challenges? I think relationships are the biggest challenges because as producers we are all very passionate about music and we love music, we have to give our life to the music to succeed and we need people around us that understand this. I've worked so hard for as long as I can remember. It can be exhausting but most people don't see this, they just think you turn up to the a club a few times a week and play some records. What do you think has been key to your success so far? I think my work ethic, wanting it so much and also enjoying the music and doing what comes naturally to me. I love DJing more than ever and everything has just fallen into place. I've got a great team around me: great management, label manager and agent, and obviously family and friends. I work day and night on stuff: mixes, interviews, radio shows, producing music, social media. It’s endless but when the people go mad at the shows it’s all worth it. Would have you done anything differently? Well you are always learning and I look back and see so many obvious mistakes I made in previous projects, remixing the wrong records, playing the wrong shows, making music I wasn't truly passionate about. You just get wiser as you carry on. So take us back to the beginning, how did you first begin to make music? Who or what influenced you? Back in around 1999 I began to DJ but I think it was around 2002 that I began to mess around sampling disco loops on my Akai sampler. But it wasn't till around 2007 I learnt more and pressed a few bits to vinyl. I was very much into Richard Earnshaw, Jazz N Groove, Grant Nelson, Soulfuric, Joey Negro, Kid Creme, Junior Jack. Around 2007 though was the electro era and began to make that kind of stuff. That’s why Low Steppa has worked because I feel like I went back to my roots with what I always loved. And how have you got to where you are now in the world of electronic music? Do these same things and/or people influence you now? Or do you look elsewhere for inspiration? When I listen to older music, house or drum and bass or garage I realise that it’s all influenced me without even knowing it. I take influences from old and new music. The most powerful tool is to be inspired, and this generally comes from new music though. If I'm expired then I can get to work and I just feel like that’s when the good music comes. What else do you do other than Low Steppa? I play guitar, I play some vinyl, I watch some UFC, I jog and I'm a dad as well! This is the biggest challenge of all, to be a dad and to be Low Steppa. Finally, can you tell us a bit about the mix you’ve recorded for us and your track selection? Is it an indication of what we can expect from you next month? Yeah the mix shows the dirty side of house sets that I can play, I mix it up, sometimes I might play more techy, or more bass driven and this set leans more towards the bassier side of Low Steppa which I feel will show what I will do at this party. Really excited for the show, see you there!