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James Lawson: Australian Tour Diary
Reported by James Lawson
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Submitted 16-07-04 08:40
An overview of the past few months
This year has been an exciting year so far with what seems to be a total reshuffle of the whole hard dance scene. Much of the change around has been talked about on this site and you've probably seen it yourself. There has been loads of gossip (some true, some not), labels and DJ agencies changing their rosters and clubbers starting to ask themselves what has happened to the good old fashioned "lets have some fun" vibe. However, as it turns out, the scene does need a shake up and, bar some predictable negative comments from certain fraternities, you can rest assured that the whole process is actually very positive.
There are now new successful club nights holding their own alongside the already well established nights, and many of these have reinvented themselves with great results. There's new music, new producers and new record labels all of whom are jostling for space alongside those that pioneered the scene in the first place. You may not have heard most it of yet, as its only just starting to do the rounds on CD, and some of the labels haven't even launched yet, but the music is fresher and more innovative than it has been for a while.. It will all be hitting the shops and even websites for download (such as www.trackitdown.net) when the traditional summer downtime is over. I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but roll on autumn, as the extreme side of music is back and it’s more exciting than ever.
Speaking of the word extreme, its probably worth mentioning that it is now an adjective that is now quite significant to my working life. The reason for this is not that I have started base jumping and canoeing the length of the Amazon, but because a couple of months ago, along with Andy Farley and Ed Real, I decided to change my management to better suit both my current needs and future plans. I am now a part of a brand new DJ Agency called Extreme Management - an off shoot of the world renowned Most Wanted Agency that has helped make superstars of the likes of Mauro Picotto, Jon 00 Fleming, and Marco V. It was created to look after the tougher side of dance that we all know and love, and so far things have been going really well. I do, of course, have my fingers crossed that one day I might be able to wear my underpants on the outside of my trousers with a big superstar S on my t-shirt too!
Seriously though, things are on the up. As well as plans to tour Holland, Canada and Japan being put into motion, I have bookings at Godskitchen, Slinky, Storm, Euphoria, Feeling of Life, Innovate, and Lashed to name a few. I am of course proudly continuing my long-term residency at the mighty Twisted (which is currently creating a massive stir in London with its fresh new approach to clubbing) and also at Tilt, the undisputed leader of daytime clubbing, with whom I have hugely enjoyed being part of since the start just over a year ago. And as I write this, it is almost time for me to save this file and jump on the plane to the southern hemisphere for a tour of Australia. However, before I do, I have been receiving many emails from people asking about what new records I have coming out, so now is probably a good time to tell you about my plans....
I have been working with lots of interesting people in my newly updated studio. In the coming months you can expect solo projects and remixes alongside collaborations with artists such as Nick Sentience, Andy Farley, BK, Ed Real, Matthew Williams, Phil Reynolds, Rob Tissera, Steve Hill, Dave Parkinson, Dave Randell and of course as a part of the mighty Edison Factor. More information will be made available about those tunes as and when the release dates are set.
In the meantime, thank you to harderfaster.net for asking me to do this tour diary and I hope that you get some enjoyment out of reading about what I got up to.
The names have not been changed to protect the innocent.
James Lawson's June 2004 Australian Tour Diary
PART ONE
Weds 2nd June 2004
I have just about recovered from the madness that was Homelands - a mission of hedonism that started at around midday on Sat and didn't really properly finish until 6am Monday morning. I should be feeling a lot worse I guess, but the fact that I am heading to Australia to do a quick tour is probably helping to destroy those midweek blues (apologies to those left behind to recover!)
Today was quite hectic in the end. I had to do all the things everyone has to do before going away plus I had to mix down a new track that Steve Hill and I did for his new label last time he was over here as I can’t miss the opportunity to have a brand new track to play that no-one else has.
By the time I finished the mix-down of James Lawson & Steve Hill - Inside of Me (Massif Records) it was time to jump into the taxi to the airport. First stop is Singapore, then after an hour stop over its Australia here I come.
Thurs 3rd June
I'm now on route from Singapore to Melbourne as I write this. Not sure if it is actually Thursday where we are (due to flying across all the time zones), but I'm pretty comfy where ever I am. I managed to get 4 seats to myself on the way to Singapore, so it was in with ear plugs and down with the sleeping tablet. Now that’s the way these long haul flights should be done.
It will be Friday morning when I get there, so I have decided that as I am playing that evening, I will stay awake on this part of the flight and sleep when I arrive and that way I will be fresh for my gig. All is good though as there are some pretty good films on the in-flight entertainment and, as I recently invested in a laptop designed for making music on the move, I also have plenty of time to start making a tune. I had prepared some loops before I left so I think I'll load those up and get started on a remix that I have been asked to do for Elasticman Records. I still have 3 seats to myself (next to the window this time) so thankfully no-one will be disturbed by my music making 
Fri 4th June
6am... I have arrived in Melbourne and I am now at the Hotel. As per usual I am being well looked after by the promoters in Oz. However, despite wanting to sleep I'm not tired yet, so I have decided to set up my laptop and continue working on the remix. And you thought us DJs did no work while we on tour!
The mobile studio set up in a hotel in Melbourne
It’s now 10.30am and I am fading fast. Have done a fair bit already though. I’ve got the groove going and the bass line sounds phat, anyway, its time for bed.
5pm and I wake up to the sound of a Japanese electro Dogbot barking its strange little annoying head off Well not quite, but it sure does sound like it. As I sling the alarm clock across the room I vow to myself to use the alarm on my mobile from now on, but then, as the clock hits the neighbouring wall, I remember why I avoid using my phone to wake me up whenever possible. I mean it just couldn't take that sort off abuse everyday could it
Once I'm up its time to meet with Phil Reynolds. He is also on tour, but he left the UK a week before me. We are both playing at Frantic tonight. Next stop is for us both to meet up with party girl and great friend, Belinda. She is already planning to come along to Frantic, but first stop will be dinner at a local restaurant that she knows.
7.30pm - Dinner is fantastic. Turns out we have the whole restaurant to ourselves and the food is great – beats the London cuisine and is always well worth flying half way round the world for.  We catch up on all the gossip going on down under and by 9.30pm Phil and I are back at the hotel. Belinda has gone to meet up with her fella and they will meet us at the club later.
Phil, Belinda & James
Whilst waiting for our ride to the club Phil goes to get his records and freshen up and I fire up my computer to do a quick intro for my set. I have a speech from “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” that I want to use, so I start with a big explosion and some pads before using a break beat as an outro. I have decided to kick things off with Nick Sentience’s new remix of Rowland & Wright’s - "Laws of Progress" (Heat Vinyl) and, as that starts with a breakbeat, I figure it will sound great mixing it into my new creation.
10.30pm - An hour later and Phil arrives at my door just as I am burning the CD off. The intro is only about a minute and a half long and quite minimal, so it didn't take to long to do, but it has put me slightly behind time, so he laughs at me as I rush around the room grabbing my tunes and getting ready. Me and my last minute ideas, hey!
As I am rushing around Brett Little (local DJ legend and good friend) also turns up. He will be driving us to the club and, while I finish getting my stuff together, we catch up on the news and he informs us that he has decided that we should arrive at Frantic in true Aussie style. We have no idea what he means until we get down stairs and cram into the front of a Ute!. At 11.30pm we arrive at Room nightclub and the tour has properly started.
James and Phil arrive at the club Aussie style
In The DJ Booth at Room Nightclub , Melbourne
Sat 5th June
6am on Sat morning and we all pour out of the club. Frantic was wicked! The Melbourne crowd were well up for it, so Phil and I had a great time. Steve Nichols was on before me and did a fantastic job of warming everyone up. The new tunes (including the one I did with Steve Hill) seemed to go down just as well as the classics. Phil followed on from me with more of the same and Kane (the promoter) was a happy man. By the time the club closed it only felt like mid-afternoon…..so we have decided to go to an after-party…..well it would be rude not to wouldn’t it??!
The view from the DJ Booth – Frantic - Melbourne
The after-party is a small but cosy affair and, again, it is lots of fun. I am enjoying meeting up with a few old faces from the London scene, but time is moving on so we leave the after party and go to the hotel to pick up our bags. Then it’s a quick ride to the airport for the flight to Sydney. By the time we arrive at the hotel in Sydney it is 4pm, but my jetlag is telling me that its midnight, so it’s off to bed to catch some z's.
11pm and there's that alarm sound again! What is it with alarm clocks in Australia? I'm sure that, they're much much louder. Quick shower, change of clothes and some room service (steak - very nice) and then it’s time to go out again.
James and Endorphin Emma
12am - I arrive at Frantic Sydney having teamed up with my good friend Emma (who used to co-run Endorphin in London) and, as I'm not booked to play tonight, we get stuck into some good old fashioned raving. As per usual the event is at Gas nightclub and the place looks wicked thanks to Brad (the lighting and sound engineer) - how many lasers?! On arrival Steve Hill is belting out one of his trademark sets, so I go up to the DJ box and give him the final mix down of our new tune. Steve takes the CD and mixes it straight in - I now have a massive grin on my face due to the crowd reaction  (see pic below). Phil Reynolds follows Steve and plays another trademark stormer.
James Lawson & Steve Hill – “Inside of Me” kicks in at Frantic Sydney
Next up there's a bit of a surprise as Marty (promoter for Frantic Sydney) comes up and asks me if I'd like to play. At first I'm not sure as I don't want to take anyone’s place, but then Sydney’s resident, Yoshi, suggests we do back to back with me during his set time and it seems like too good an opportunity to miss out on. I loved playing at Gas last time I was here, and this times it’s no different. The enthusiastic welcome from the crowd when the two of us step up is awesome, and in amongst Yoshi's scratching and blending I am slamming down some of the winners from the previous night, we're having a blast!
Sun 6th June
All too soon and it’s that “6am but feeling like it’s the middle of the afternoon” feeling again, so in true tradition we go to the after party. Again, we keep bumping into people we know well from London and new people that we don't and i'm really enjoying myself as we decide to head on to Bondi Beach. The Hotel is just two minutes from the beach so this seems like a good idea. It is winter here at the moment, so its a chilly 18 degrees (ha ha!), so after pouring a couple of bags of chips on a friend of ours that is having a little snooze (you know who you are!) and watching the sea gulls dive bomb him (which is highly entertaining), we go to the pub…..This is where the day ends…..
Bondi Beach as seen from hotel window
Mon 7th June
Slowly drift out off the beautiful slumber that I have been in without the aide of an alarm clock. The silence is golden, but as it’s now one in the afternoon and with the weekend definitely over, it’s probably about time that I give Phil a call as we're supposed to be starting a new tune together today. By two I have eaten some brunch Phil has arrived at my hotel so we start some tunesmithing.
By 7pm we're doing well. Good beats, nice bass, and even the start of the melody. Not bad for 5 hours work, but we are both feeling a bit knackered, so Phil heads off to meet some friends for dinner while I watch some TV. I learn loads about D-Day as the celebrations are on over here and I feel duly educated.
Tues 8th June
It’s now 6am and I haven't had a wink of sleep and I probably know more about D-Day than the guys that were actually there! Jetlag is obviously doing its thing so I decide to stop fighting it and go for a walk by the beach, which isn’t all together unpleasant! Then it’s back to work with Phil at the hotel for 11am and some more hard trance magic.
After a couple of hours things are going well, but now disaster strikes. My laptop has started playing up. It’s a fairly new addition to my arsenal and hasn't been behaving itself particularly well anyway, but this is the worst it’s been. Technical failure for a Producer is the same as being suspended form work with out pay! Also with tight deadlines on remixes etc it can also be our professional reputation on the line so any glitch can spell disaster. We struggle for about an hour to sort things out, but in the end we decide to give up. It is now about 2pm and I am really tired by this stage, so we have decided to continue with the track when we get back to London. So, Phil makes like an executioner (heads off!) and I go to bed. I successfully manage to fall asleep and then suddenly wake up after having a dream about mending computers. Can't get back to sleep again as thinking about the problem, but suddenly figure out a solution. Turn the computer back on, and a bit of system maintenance and a lot of luck later it seems to be working again. Would much rather have slept though!
6pm – Having fixed the problem I sleep very soundly until I am up again in the evening to go and visit Endorphin Emma and her boyfriend Ben at their new place for dinner. One of the best things about playing in Australia and New Zealand is the fact that you can keep up with friends both sides of the globe so Goodbye can actually always mean see you later. Dinner is superb and its nice being at their house rather than at a bar or club. I have a great evening and I am very jealous of their apartment compared to our London pads! By Midnight however I'm back at the hotel and in bed as I have a lot to get through in the next week – its not all party party on tour you see…...
Swiss Grand Hotel in Bondi, Sydney
Watch out for Part II of James's Tour Diary coming soon 
James Lawson can be booked via Lee or Kate at Extreme Management.
Tel.01895 255 050 lee@extrememanagement.co.uk
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Other Features By James Lawson:
Innovate @The Fridge Sat 21st May preview: interview with Simon Rutherford
The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
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Comments:
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From: zimbolicious on 16th Jul 2004 09:02.56
Nice one guv
tho I thought I was your caddie-biatch? 
From: Richard Launch on 16th Jul 2004 09:41.30
Lawson you legend...!!!!
From: Simon Rutherford on 16th Jul 2004 10:09.29
What the fcuk is a YUTE Lawson?! You bloody geezer! It's a UTE!!!!!!!!!!!! 
From: Olly Perris on 16th Jul 2004 10:30.16
excellent stuff james!!!
From: James Lawson on 16th Jul 2004 10:35.02
That what I said you monkey ;o) ha ha
From: Stevi D on 16th Jul 2004 12:01.46
Nice work Jamo, love the travel bag studio - WicKed!"
From: carl nicholson on 16th Jul 2004 12:34.55
Well done Jim Jam the Hard Dance Man! Can't wait for Lab 7 and 3/4's!!!! lol
From: Martin Begley on 16th Jul 2004 16:43.20
Good stuff Lawson! hopefully catch up soon mate. PS what did I say about laptops?!
From: Craig Jon on 17th Jul 2004 05:57.44
Good to see you out here again spreading your gospel.
From: Adam Symbiosis on 19th Jul 2004 07:46.24
So when can we get a copy of Inside Of Me??
From: Steve Nichols on 19th Jul 2004 11:55.33
I think we still have a pair of the purple Y front from provocation if you want to use them for your super hero outfit.
From what I hear there seems to be a bit of the story missing from the Melbourne afterparty too. I trust you are feeling better now
From: Beks on 19th Jul 2004 13:41.44
Wicked narrating style. Love your work & deffo look forward to hearing your new track!!
From: James Lawson on 19th Jul 2004 13:50.44
Hi Steve, yeah I'm ok now. It was a horrible thing to look at wasn't it (hence my digust ;o) )
From: Tin Tin on 19th Jul 2004 14:49.21
Excellent writing style and a really good read! sounds like you loving it over there and too right too!
From: Lizzie Curious on 19th Jul 2004 16:40.18
good stuff!
From: Letty Bird on 20th Jul 2004 02:40.05
Nice write up! So happy things are going great for you! Nice chattin' today and looking forward to ya! Oh yeah, one more thing--great pics!
From: Charlie Rox on 20th Jul 2004 14:24.01
wicked tour james, u truly r the superstar out there, here its another story, can u sweep the floor after your set and empty the bins thanx!!!!!
From: Web Ferret on 20th Jul 2004 14:50.59
Add your comments here !
From: Web Ferret on 20th Jul 2004 14:51.16
See you on the progression boat party mate !!
From: James Lawson on 20th Jul 2004 17:09.26
Hi Charlie, no worries mate, I will clean up after the carnage, and ensure that the bass bins are set back to normal for your delicate ears. I do think you should help though as they'll probably be a large number of your records (with footprints on them) noising the place up. - ha ha! ;o)
From: Nutz on 21st Jul 2004 15:51.45
I'm hanging on 'The Edge' in anticipation to hearing your new track ;-)
From: El Greko on 21st Jul 2004 20:11.57
Entertaining stuff mate, sounds the biz out there
From: sexyminx on 22nd Jul 2004 14:36.07
awesome write up, great pics aswell 
b good and  to you James
From: Maria on 23rd Jul 2004 07:08.32
(",) Nice one (",)
From: Red5 on 23rd Jul 2004 16:38.29
What a top read for a Friday arvo. Love the travelling studio and the ute story
From: voodoobass on 28th Jul 2004 09:17.07
hah, I remember Emma Endorphin -- a total sweetie if ever there was one... had wondered where she'd gone, suppose it was logical she'd gone back down South...
From: onthebass on 28th Jul 2004 12:13.58
Very entertaining read! Lets hope Brisbane can be scheduled into your diary later this year James
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