Page 16 - Zone Magazine Issue 010

feature interview - netherlands
It's always a pleasure to interview a legend and someone that has produced music that has been in your own playlists over a number of years.
It's fair to say that the people that have been in the game for many years are the most grounded and also the nicest people that you'll get to meet in the industry. Lucien Foort is well and truly in that category. This guy has had music signed to labels such as Toolroom, Peppermint Jam, Azuli, Lucidflow, Big Love Music and many many more. Lucien also runs his own imprint Pivotal Sound Lab that's stamping it's mark within the music industry with some solid releases.
His career has spanned two decades and has seen him DJ at a huge long list of festivals and clubs worldwide. Back during the rave scene of 1991, Lucien's 'Quadrophonia' was firmly included within the heavy hitters record boxes during that period. You couldn't walk into a rave without hearing it and also being hammered across the airwaves of pirate radio.
Lucien provided an Essential Mix for Pete Tong's show on Radio 1 back in 2001 and hasn't looked back since. Lucien has held residencies at clubs such as Slinky, Gatecrasher, Zouk (Singapore), Cream, Pacha in Buenos Aires, Hoaman 17 in Jerusalem and currently plays at all of the biggest events in his hometown Rotterdam. Watch this space for Lucien Foort, he's on a roll at the moment and firmly placed in the 'heroes of house' category.
Lucien provided an Essential Mix for Pete Tong's show on Radio 1 back in 2001 and hasn't looked back since. Lucien has held residencies at clubs such as Slinky, Gatecrasher, Zouk (Singapore), Cream, Pacha in Buenos Aires, Hoaman 17 in Jerusalem and currently plays at all of the biggest events in his hometown Rotterdam. Watch this space for Lucien Foort, he's on a roll at the moment and firmly placed in the 'heroes of house' category.
Its fair to say that you've been involved with music from a very early age. When did your love for music start?
It started for me when I was about 4 or 5 years old when my parents put me in music preschool where I learned the beginnings of reading and writing musical scoring and picked up instrument study.
Can you tell us which instruments you can play and how this has helped your productions over the years?
I can play drums, a little guitar, saxophone, piano and sing. It’s helped me to harmonize complex chord structures either in applying or breaking rules musically and think ahead while playing out in clubs to program tracks logically so that a smoother transition occurs and the overall experience feels more natural and therefor less abrupt. This to me helps to add to the hypnotic nature of a well performed dj set.
Going back to 1991 and your release Quadrophonia was played at all of the raves back then. How did it feel to know your release was one of the biggest tracks at the time?
It’s a good feeling to have contributed to the then fresh housescene and grow along with it’s trials and tribulations. It was a fresh take on everything that was out at that time and I’m happy Oliver (Abbeloos) and myself tried to think out of the box. This philosophy is one I still live by today.
Tell us a bit about your early years, where were you playing and what was a defining moment in your early career?
I deejayed in Rotterdam at club Carrera in the early 90’s after the Quadrophonia mayhem around say ’95 and picked up how to lay down longer sets to an clued on crowd. Around 98 it
took off internationally when I played more progressive and travelled the world with an Essential mix in 2001.
Where is your favourite place to play in the world and why?
I actually still have warm memories when I played places like Melbourne and Wellington. Also Buenos Aires and San Jose were memorable. Anything I played went down really well and forced me to scope along the boundaries of my own creativity.
You have a busy schedule for the next few months, which events are you playing at?
I’m going to Bali to play Kudeta, which was on my hotlist for some time. I’m doing a few gigs in Ibiza playing at Lisa Lashes’ exclusive boat party. And am hosting stages at Outdoor Stereo Festival and at Maassilo under my ‘Lucien & Friends’ brand and am happy to reside at Rotterdam’s newest hotspot called ‘Trash’.
16 ZONE-MAGAZINE.IE
" I can play drums, a little guitar, saxophone, piano and sing. It’s helped me to harmonize complex chord structures either in applying or breaking rules musically and think ahead while playing out in clubs! "