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From Birmingham to the Bahamas, Chris Lorenzo's a bass head the world just can't get enough of
Ahead of his UK tour starting in February, we touch base with Chris Lorenzo.
Few producers have smashed it as fast as Lorenzo. His bass riddled riddims have been setting off crowds in Europe and across the pond in North America for the last few years. The Brummie has definitely earned his stripes and propelled himself from fresh-faced bass producer to line up regular alongside Zed Bias, DJ Zinc & AC Slater.
At the tail end of last year he dropped the long awaited Bass Mentality 001, featuring tracks from himself & Cause & Affect (another project he's been heavily involved with). The dust has just about settled on that EP, and he's heading on tour across the UK with dates in Manchester, Bristol and London. Before that all kicks off, Lorenzo caught up with Guestlist.
What’s got you motivated right now?
New music. I finally have my studio sorted and the sound, it’s pretty much spot on now so I can just come in here and create. Other producers will know it’s tough to get your room ‘just right’, so when it clicks it’s a great feeling.
How was your NYE?
Great - I was in Manchester at Victoria Warehouse. I actually did the countdown as well. My tour manager, and one of my oldest friends, actually has his birthday on Jan 1st so we gave him the night off and had a double celebration!
Set yourself any New Year’s Resolutions?
Loads - they’re all there to be broken though right???
True that! Let take a quick look back to 2017 though. You finished it off on a high after dropping the first material from your brand, Bass Mentality. You’ve been sitting on those tracks for a while though, right?
Nothing was planned - we knew though that if me and Kane (the other half of Cause & Affect) reunited for a special b2b then we had to bring some new material to show. It’s never about just playing old material. So we sat in the studio together for a few days before MADE Festival and VIP’d some old stuff and also created some bits. We didn’t even film the shows ourselves - it was literally clubbers filming on their phones and then online the questions started ‘What’s this one? When’s it out?’. We didn’t have a release date so the hype just seemed to build and build.
Speaking of MADE, you in Mike Skinner from The Streets to your stage!! HUGE!
I knew Mike would smash it, and he did. He’s a great DJ… a proper DJ. He switched between genres seamlessly and he smashed it at MADE. He had this mix of Donae’o ‘Lock Doh’ into ‘Fit, But You Know It’. The place went crazy.
Favourite tracks from The Streets?
‘Dry Your Eyes’ probably but it’s hard to choose cos there’s so many bangers in there. 'Blinded By The Lights’ is a special moment as well.
Back to your Bass Mentality EP, most of the tracks on the release are from Cause & Affect. Are you still involved with that, or is it a solo venture from Kane now?
Live, it’s just Kane on his own. If you’ve watched him play I think you’ll agree he’s fine without me there! Production wise - we just take it as it comes. Some stuff is solo. These one’s on the EP we did together. I love the project and Kane is one of my closest mates but with the solo stuff growing, I just physically didn’t have the time to commit to it 100%.
What ideas have changed your life?
Hard graft will get you everywhere… Nothing comes without a struggle.
You’ve started your year with Holy Ship over in the States? How was that?
It’s an amazing vibe as neither you, the other DJs, or the clubbers can escape so you’re literally together for 4 days straight. It’s an experience like no other as you spend so much time hanging with everyone on board that you build much more of a connection with people than if you just played a set at a festival or club. In an era where people try to sell you the ideal of ‘super star DJ’ and then ‘the crowd of fans’ it actually takes things back to the origins of dance music where we all come together and the DJs and clubbers are one together. Plus who can argue with a cruise round the Bahamas in January right???
Not much to argue there! Back on our murky shores, from February you’ll be kicking off your UK tour. Do you have a favourite venue to perform at in the UK?
I don’t like to pick venues as they’re all great for different things…. some places have great sound systems / great lights etc but the shows that always stand out are where the crowd energy is amazing. All the venues are empty boxes until you put people in them. They make the show what it is and I just try my best to make them go as mental as possible.
You’ll be touching down in London on March 1st at Brixton’s Phonox for the next instalment of Southbound. Have you performed at that club before?
No I haven’t. That’s the one show that will be me playing all night. It’s a different approach for me and one I really relish. Turning up to a club and playing an hour of my own music at peak time is one thing… but being able to go on a journey for 6 hours and play records that have influenced me and stuff I just love without and boundaries will be great. Lets see where it takes us!
Tickets for Lorenzo all night long at Phonox, March 1st
What are you most in love with right now?
Life - I’m feeling very blessed. Especially since I get to do what I love for work everyday. I’m in a very fortunate position.
If you could fill a swimming pool with anything, what would that be?
Bass!
You’ve had a huge career that exploded in the last few years, what’s been a moment where you had to pinch yourself to make sure it was real?
Playing Reading and Leeds festival last year was pretty special. Just the energy of the crowd was amazing on both days. Festivals like Shambala in Canada as well - I’ve been privileged to play there several times now and the vibe is just something so unique. It’s one of my favourite places in the world.
You’ve done a lot over the years, performed across the world, released huge tunes. Is there anything that you still want to achieve?
Everything!!! There isn’t ever a start or finish. It’s an ongoing process and evolution. I just want to continue growing as a DJ, as a producer and just as a person. But definitely the ability to be inventive and push boundaries constantly is the driving force. Being able to take new music to new people who have never heard it is one of the best things in the world. I’ve never played Asia so going to play in Japan and China would be amazing!
Chris Lorenzo
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