Interview: Steve Lawler
After a short break from touring, Steve Lawler is back and ready to remind the world why music is the heart and soul of a performance in this ever-changing industry. He touches on advice for aspiring artists, his residency at Blue Marlin Ibiza, and the inspirations behind his new music.
Let’s start with your comeback to the industry after your break.
How does it feel to be back on the decks and back into the groove of DJing?
It was more the touring, I took a break from it at that time, and I did mainly US-based shows; New York, Miami, LA, Chicago, etc. I also focused on my management company, TalentF1rstManagement and a lot of studio time.
I never left the decks, but I had to take some time from touring post-COVID.
You have your own documentary, ‘The Art of the DJ’, which can be found on your website. It covers 30+ years of your life in the industry, the good, the bad and the reality of DJing.
What are the key messages you want to send out into the world, especially to those just starting in the industry?
Well, things have changed so much in the music industry that the same rules don’t apply at all. The things I learnt, patience, skill, endurance, these don’t really apply to the new music industry model anymore. Now it’s really, if I had to give someone advice on how to make it in the current climate, it’s sad but true, focus on your social media. That’s it. Unfortunately, the music, which was always the number 1 thing, somehow slipped into insignificance behind popularity.
This year, you will be a resident DJ at Blue Marlin Ibiza. It’s the first residency you have taken on the island since 2019.
How does it feel to be back as the beating heart of the party isle?
Super, super happy. Ibiza was always my second home for 20+ years, so to be back on the island living there is something my family and I have dearly missed. And, coming back on my own terms, exactly where I want to be.
I had a handful of offers from clubs, but I really don’t want to fall back into the same boring circuit that everyone else either does or is climbing to do. The same DJ’s doing the same things really doesn’t move me in any way now at all.
For me, I wanted specifically daytime, and I wanted a minimum of 3-hour sets so I can at least create magic while I’m playing, which you cannot do at other places where they stack the line-up with DJs. You’re lucky if you get a 90-minute set! That just does not appeal to me anymore whatsoever.
Blue Marlin Ibiza is an Ibiza original, and they trust me; they gave me what I want to do. I can also play after hours in the small club when I’m finished doing my main thing outside, so effectively I can play 3-6 hours every week. I feel this is really going to be something special.
Is there a particular memory that you always come back to when you are feeling doubts or anticipation about performing?
What brings you back to the idea that, ‘yes, this is the right path for me’?
It’s just who I am; music has been such an integral part of my life literally since the age of 16, and performing became an integral part of my life. But touring can get tiresome and uncomfortable; however, playing music, I just simply can’t live without. So, now, after all these years, after taking a short break from touring, I finally found the sweet spot.
Touring is a huge part of your career. How does this fit into your life, balancing around your family, friends and even your personal life?
I finally found the balance I was looking for, striving for, in fact. I was suffocating from being on the road constantly. The truth is, you can’t have a life outside of touring if you’re playing 10-15 gigs a month. This just becomes your life, and whatever time you have around it, you're normally exhausted, so you can’t really be present.
It was the COVID lockdowns that all of a sudden stopped everything, and when going back on the road as I have done before, it was glaringly obvious to me that things had to change. I was finally able to break away from the constant drive to tour.
Now that you are back and ready to share your talents once again, can you tell us about your new music being released later this year?
I have a ton of new music coming out all year, which was all made in the studio at the end of last year and the start of this year. I applied for a USA Green Card, and during that time, I couldn’t leave the country for 7 months, so I dedicated myself to the studio.
It was also a great time for me as I was inspired by so much love around me in my friend circle, and our new life has been so amazing; it really fed my new desire to write more emotional music than ever before, and as a result, I feel I have made some of the best music in my life.
Website djstevelawler.com
Instagram @djstevelawler
YouTube @djstevelawler
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