Lee M Kelsall is a fast rising producer who has recorded for labels like Hot Waves in the past. His creamy house and disco sound is a long way from the gritty Northern town he grew up in, but already the man’s sounds are picking up plenty of support. Now finding himself on Lucid Dreaming Records, he turns in Transitions, a slo-mo house groove that shines with bright disco synths and floats an airy female vocal right up top. We caught up with I’m for more…
Tell us about your recent Transitions single…
The sound of Transition came from nowhere … I popped into a friends Studio one afternoon and we just started playing with a few sounds etc. I created a moody beat that I liked and from there found an amazing vocal that at the time had so much meaning to me personally that I loved it . I’ve had so many people contact me saying they listened to the words and could relate to the track …. Moving on , Starting Fresh – Making that Transition.
And how did you hook up with Thabo for vocals?
Thabo is in a band called Extra Curricular who are signed to an Electro DJ called Doorly. Doorly and I worked together years and years ago when we both ran club events in the UK. Anyways I dropped Thabo a message saying I think his voice would suit House Music … He replied and we hooked up in the studio and created some amazing stuff together . This guy is a true professional and has an unbelievable voice!
How is it working with vocalists? Harder or…?
All depends on who the vocalist is … Unlike many producers 95% of my productions all use live vocalists – So the last 3 tracks I have worked on have included Maria Luisa, Thabo and Flex Cop vocals. It can be time consuming but you know your product is original . I’ve recently had a vocalist called Lana in the studio , I originally saw a youtube video of this girl singing Miguel Campbell’s ‘Something Special’ track just her and a piano and I loved it. I got in touch shortly afterwards and when I last visited Leeds met up and invited her into the studio …. Expect a big 90s inspired track very soon !!
Do you set long term goals for yourself, or take things day by day?
I try and not plan things in life then if something happens that’s good, it’s a bonus, however I have set myself some goals … Number 1 is to play at Miami Music Conference in 2013 and it looks like that is almost 100% confirmed so I’m over the moon plus to make sure my new releases cause some havoc in the download charts.
I have a management team now that looks after the business side of things and for me as an Artist and I couldn’t have really asked for a team more experienced. At the beginning of 2012 I received an email from Nervous Records (NYC) saying that they wanted to manage me as an Artist. Nurvous only look after 8 Artists worldwide so this was an opportunity I could not turn down and so far its been great, they look after all the contracts , negotiations etc as well as giving advice, feedback and contacting labels so my stuff is getting signed to the more established labels to boost me as an artist. I’ve got some amazing new material out on Nervous also in the coming months.
Any more releases line-up?
Yeah its non stop this Summer … My Something EP came out on Louie Fresco and Climbers MEXA Records label last month. This month my Transition EP on Australian Label Lucid Dreaming drops, followed by my NY Shuffle EP on Nervous Records beginning of August. Finally 2 Remixes to end the Summer are being released on Love Not Money & Lucid Dreaming.
So yeah 5 Tracks over Summer is busy but I’ve been holding onto these for a while and wanted them all to drop whilst I was in the middle of my European Tour …. I’m currently sat in a hotel in Amsterdam answering these questions … I have 2 gigs today alone – I’ve DJ’d in 8 countries in the last 3 weeks - It has been very busy but wouldn’t change it for the world. I love music!
What’s most important when producing, the production itself, a feeling, a groove, or making people dance?
I make music I like … So if you look at my releases and future releases , I don’t stick to one genre. If I wake up and feel like I was to make funk I will do (Watch this space by the way … big collab coming up .. we are almost finished – funk ep with a well known French House DJ) Or Garage or Disco or House . As long as the production is tight and sounds great i’m a happy person. Then its up to the remixers if the label wants a deep house / nu disco track adding to what they originally signed.
Who or what inspires of influences you the most?
My biggest inspiration as a producer is MK … I don’t think anyone can compare to 15+ years of consistency – One unique sound that formed 90s house/garage and so on. I listened to a mix of his before finishing a remix for Lucid Dreaming .. The track is by a guy from Brisbane, Australia called Flex Cop he does his own vocal and I was sent the original and asked if I would be interested in doing the remix , after listening I had so much confidence it would do well I agreed and it sounds great … Very MK inspired check it out here http://soundcloud.com/spacetoast/been-looking-lee-m-kelsall-mix
What are your top 3 records of the moment?
1) Cameo Culture – Night Swimming (No.19 Music) – TUNE OF THE SUMMER !!!
2) Newbie Nerds – Third of Sept (Dialtone Recs)
3) Tough Love – Night is Calling (Unreleased)
