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Come and meet the world’s number 4 DJ — Christopher Lawrence
Reported by Getinpublicity
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Submitted 06-12-06 17:37
This year’s DJ Mag poll turned up some rather big surprises that have had message boards buzzing since the results were announced. One such topic that’s hot as hell is, “why and how the American DJs romped their way into the top 10, practically dominating it?!” Well, if you’re a follower of the DJ Mag Top 100 you should know it was very different five years ago. Our home bred jocks dominated the world’s biggest poll and did so for a long time. Then in came the Dutch, and now the Americans.
This year’s highest charting yank jock is the hugely popular Christopher Lawrence. He is no stranger back home in America, and is already regarded as one of their biggest DJ artists. Voted best DJ in the Dancestar awards, and named as the third best trance DJ in the world by BPM Magazine, these are just a few of the accolades he’s received over the past few years. In fact, the list is too extensive to go into! It wasn’t until Wednesday 25th October that he finally received the international recognition he so rightly deserves, being crowed the number four DJ in the world! Since then, he’s appeared at The Gallery, where he tore the place apart to a capacity crowd, and his European and international diaries have gone through the roof.
Christopher has just been confirmed for a number of Gatecrasher gigs, and is also the chosen DJ to mix the forthcoming Gatecrasher Live album, to be recorded this Christmas, LIVE in Moscow. There’s also a chance to win a trip to Moscow to hear Christopher, courtesy of Gatecrasher and DJ Mag, but more about that later.
HarderFaster caught up with Christopher as he prepares to deliver his ‘you won’t hear it anywhere else’ track listing.
Photo by Micah Smith
You’ve a pretty hardcore fan base all over the world, but for our readers who may not have heard of you, give us a five point intro on yourself.
1. I began DJing in San Francisco in 1992.
2. I relocated to Los Angeles in 1994 and became part of the West Coast rave explosion which then spread across the US.
3. I began producing for Scotland’s Hook Recordings in 1996.
4. I released two artist albums, ‘All Or Nothing’ and ‘Unhooked’ in 2004
5. Next up is the Gatecrasher Live album, which is being recorded in Moscow this December.
So, your DJ Mag position. How are you feeling about it? Did you have any idea you’d do so well, and can you recall the exact words that came out of your mouth when you heard?
It’s really humbling. I am also excited, and grateful to the fans that put me there. I was speechless when I first heard the results and didn’t believe it until looked for myself on the DJ Mag website. I had no idea that I would do so well, especially coming in after Tiesto, I mean, the man has DJed at the Olympics and has his own line of Reebok sneakers. I had been in the Top 10 two years ago at Number 7, but dropped back down to 14 last year. As most DJs will tell you, waiting for the results is a gut wrenching experience.
Photo by Justin Phillips
Did you put any marketing tools into practice, or was it really a people’s vote?
It was the people’s votes that put me there, but I am the first to admit that I harnessed the power of MySpace. I also have an active fan database of over 25,000 people that has been built up over the years that is very important. The trick is to be the first to contact people when the poll opens. Music forums are also important to get the word out.
I read in another interview somewhere that your website received the second highest number of hits, other than Tiesto. Is this still the case, and how do you do that?
That was the case after the launch of the website. Now that the website has been up for a while I imagine the hits have slowed down. I would like to take all the credit but that belongs to Eric Jordan at 2advanced. He is an amazing web designer. His company’s new website has just been named the Most Influential Website of the Decade by Flash and he is constantly receiving Webby Awards, which is the web design equivalent of an Academy Award. Readers can check out his website at www.2advanced.com — I have never seen anything like it. Eric is overhauling my website next year, which I am looking forward to.
Christopher Lawrence at the Ultra Festival
Photo by Sara Finlayson
What are your own views on the amount of American DJs in the poll this year? Is it about time, or do you think there is some kind of shift taking place?
I think it is great that US DJs are getting recognition. America is massive country with so many different markets and to be successful here takes intense touring over many years to build and maintain your presence. There are American DJs that never leave the country, but still tour and play to more people than some international DJs. Of course, the Top 100 has traditionally been dominated by British and European DJs because that is where most of the magazine’s physical distribution was. But now with the internet and the global community it creates, you see more DJs from a greater number of countries entering the Top 100.
It’s obviously going to be controversial when international DJs that people may not be familiar with start showing up in the poll, but injecting new blood into our scene is what will help keep it alive. I also see it as an opportunity for people to discover DJs that they wouldn’t normally be exposed to otherwise, plus it is a way for smaller countries to make their dance scenes part of the global community.
As a side note, I think DJ Mag does a great job with the poll, but they have become a target for criticism from people who don’t agree with the results, or the influence those results carry in our industry. Some of these issues are valid, but at the end of the day, DJ Mag doesn’t make the results up — they merely report them. They devote a lot of time, energy and resources to the Top 100 and many DJs, including myself, have benefited from it over the years.
Playing live at the massive Coachella Festival
Photo by Sara Finlayson
You were recently in the UK and in the studio with our very own John ‘OO’ Fleming. Care to tell us what you’ve got cooking?
We’ve got a huge tune to unleash after this last session; it’s coming out on my new label Pharmacy Music. John is one of my favourite DJs and producers. Working with him is a real pleasure. We are into a lot of the same sounds at the moment so our sounds mesh together effortlessly. You can definitely expect future collaborations from us.
As well as making music with JOOF, you managed to squeeze in a gig at The Gallery, which according to reviews went down a treat. What did you think of the crowd at The Gallery?
I have always enjoyed playing The Gallery, it’s a pleasure working with Tall Paul and I often get to play with Judge Jules, who is a lovely guy and has been very supportive over the years. The Gallery is one of my favourite clubs in the world because the crowd is so amazing. They are always up for it.
Photo by Micah Smith
Your forthcoming onslaught of our shores and Europe is going to propel your popularity even further, have you even thought about next year’s DJ poll?
HAHA.... No. One poll at a time please.
You’re the chosen one to mix the first of Gatecrasher’s new LIVE CD series, how did that come about and can you tell us where and when it’s happening, and what might be on it?
The idea for the CD came from David Lee at Gatecrasher and I was honoured to be chosen. Gatecrasher has a long history not just in the UK and Europe, but in the US as well. They were one of the first British superclubs to enter into the US market several years ago. I headlined their first tour in the US, and have played for Gatecrasher events around the world since then. Right now I am test driving tracks in my current sets to put together the ultimate set for the live recording in Moscow on December 23rd.
Photo by Michael Tulberg
I hear that DJ Mag is running an amazing competition, where the winner will travel to Moscow with you to be present at the recording of the new Gatecrasher Live CD. Can you tell us more about it?
DJ Mag is running a contest in their Christmas issue, which goes on sale the first week of December. They will also be opening up the contest for people to enter online at DJmag.com at a later date. One winner will to travel with me from London to Moscow to be present at the recording of the new Gatecrasher live mix at the Gaudie Arena nightclub. The winner will be armed with a high resolution camera and become the official DJ Mag photographer, and reviewer for the evening. Their photos will be featured in an article about the show in DJ Mag. It’s going to be a huge night and should be a lot of fun. For anyone who hasn’t been to Moscow — it’s beautiful, especially when it’s white!
You’ve a very supportive wife who plays a big part in the Lawrence machine, which must be a blessing considering the amount of time you are away from home. How hard is it to keep your career on the up as well as keeping things so sweet back home?
My wife Sara is amazing. She is really my manager, overseeing the day to day office work including my booking agents, publicists, travel agents, web designers, production schedules as well as our new label, Pharmacy Music. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her. It takes a lot of work to balance a chaotic tour and work schedule with a home life. Fortunately Sara is understanding.
Christopher and his super wife Sara at the Miami Winter Music Conference
Photo by Hugh Burney
What do you do when you are not working or travelling?
More work and travelling. Nothing ever really stops. We have a home in Melbourne, Australia, so I try to spend time some vacation time there, but the touring never stops.
You’ve clocked up more air miles than CNN’s Richard Quest — how do you keep yourself amused/entertained 46,000 feet in the sky?
My Mac PowerBook. I respond to email, edit tracks for that night’s event and work on music. I couldn’t live without my laptop.
Christopher at work on every DJs’ fave toy!
So, you’re a Mac person.... why?
If you own one, you know why!
What’s been the highlight of your career to date?
I would say coming in at number 4 in the DJ Magazine Top 100 would have to be at the top of the list, although any time I look out at a sea of people with hands in the air, that seems like the biggest highlight to me, each time I play.
Where do you want to be in 5 years time?
Right where I am… on a plane going to my next show!
Thanks so much for taking the time to talk to us. We look forward to welcoming you back to the UK soon.
Thank you for your support and the opportunity to answer some questions. I can’t wait to come back.
Don’t forget, you can win the opportunity to travel with Christopher to Moscow on Friday 23rd December for one night only, and witness his recording of the forthcoming Gatecrasher Live in Moscow CD, due for release early next year. Grab a copy of the Bumper Xmas issue of DJ Mag when it goes on sale on December 6th.
For UK, European and Eire bookings, please contact Jay Pidgeon Management — jay@jaypidgeon.com
For UK, European and Eire publicity, please contact Get In Publicity — info@getinpublicity.com
Christopher Lawrence’s award winning website is at www.christopherlawrence.com
All pictures are courtesy of Monster Media. Not to be reproduced without prior permission.
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Other Features By Getinpublicity:
Painting the town Red! Kelly Dayus Cook & Kate Hammond on their new artist agency
Harderfaster exclusive: Marco V on ‘Combi:Nations: II’ & much more
Paul Glazby — 8 hours & a lot more
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: Dubster on 7th Dec 2006 19:52.55
Hopefully this will see him play more in the UK now.
From: paul jack on 7th Dec 2006 23:20.13
he plays at the gallery from what i know
From: Mike Harris on 8th Dec 2006 02:30.03
Great dj, saw in Ibiza last year and he was awesome!
From: Prozak on 11th Dec 2006 17:51.59
he's been a wicked talant for quite a while, shame its taking uk so long to notice him...
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