Space: The final frontier

These are the voyages of the Starship, Enterprise
Its 5 year mission
To explore strange new worlds

To seek out new life and new civilizations

To boldly go where no man has gone before

OR

Space: The final frontier
Where you can find our man during the summer months of Ibiza
It's ongoing mission
To explore strange new worlds
To seek out new life and new civilizations
To boldly go where no tune has gone before

You would be wise as the world is flat to not know where we're on about. The sort of person that couldn't write dialogue for a porno, with a room temperature IQ to boot.
But we don't have readers of the nonsensical variety now, do we? So shimmy closer, aim your solar panels at the moon, and read to find out what Lewis has to say on starting your own record label and how even you (yes you, the one flooring it in neutral) can be resident at one of the worlds greatest dance music venues...



So Lewis...tell the truth, and nothing but... Is Lewis Ryder your real name? The surname Ryder comes across as a little too cool for school. All a bit suspect if you ask me...
It is indeed my real name. I've had a few people ask me this over the past couple years. And I can't help myself but laugh. There's an entire family of us Ryder's back home!


What brings you to Australia? Have you got some new releases floating about we should be paying attention to? 
I decided it was about time to get some gigs together in Australia so started working on it a few months back. Also a chance to get out of rainy London for a few weeks made it seem like a top idea :)
Currently I have a 5 track EP out on my label, Bigger Deer Recordings, that is getting lots of great feedback. Richie Hawtin, Gabriel Ananda and Danny Howells are among them. Also the next release due out in April on the label is from Tom Budden, and that includes a remix by myself.
I've got an EP coming out on Eukatech in May and another on Alec Marta's Cuatro imprint. The release schedule is very healthy and just getting busier & busier.


First time here? 
I went to Perth back in 2008 for just a week's vacation. So this time around is a little more full on.


How did you land working at Space Ibiza? 
I scored the residency after winning the Pioneer/Space Ibiza competition. There were a few heats and the final was judged from playing a set actually at Space. That was pretty special because I ended up meeting Danny Teneglia in the middle of his set and he got me to play a track with him in Discoteca. With Danny shouting my name over the mic. A month or so after that, I was made the overall winner.


Who's the biggest twat of a DJ you've ever met? (don't have to name names, but throw us a past experience at the very least!) 
One time pops in to mind, but since then I've found out the guy is just actually really shy even tho he's at the very top of the game. At the time I thought he was just being arrogant, and I guess me having a few too many vodkas didn't help the situation. But it's all cool now haha.


When in the studio, what helps you make the weirdest and most twisted of sounds? 
I like to be surrounded and submerged in my studio. Just get involved at any hour of the day or night. Mainly at night, like I sit up till about 5am every night of the week making tracks. My sleeping pattern is so upside down - this actually helps a lot when having to stay up all night to DJ too. So everybody's a winner. Apart from anyone else trying to sleep at 'normal' hours of the night.


At 23, you seem to have accomplished a lot, from owning your own label to working with some of the industries key players (including a DB favourite and all round nice guy, Laurent Garnier). For all the budding artists, how have you managed so much in so little time?! 
It's just full on creative passion. From very young I've always been interested in design and technology. Picking up computer skills at the age of 5/6 and playing around with the initial concept of digital music creation aged 11. So the key really is just putting the time in and progressing over years. My friend Javier Espanol used to compare it to playing a computer game - you just have to keep on putting the hours in and getting to the next level, but it's pretty much a never ending game ;-)


What advice can you chuck us regarding starting and owning your own record label? 
Do your research! For me the hardest part is all the business side of it. Like legally running a company. The music part shouldn't ever be the problem. You need a clear idea of the sound direction and for me it's mainly about the consistency. Across the entire project. Music and artwork have to work together. And I like to create all the art myself (being educated in graphic designer).


What are your plans for 2010? 
Currently on tour in Australia for 3 weeks, then as soon as I get back to the UK I'm playing in Cardiff, Wales. So am enjoying the traveling and gigging but mostly in the studio making lots of new audio.


Finally, when you're not DJ'ing, where do you like to go get Dain Bramaged on a night out, and how do you help pave the way to a quick and speedy recovery the next day? 
Usually lots of horizontal action, TV and take away. If it's a Sunday it's all about the Eastenders omnibus. I know how bad it is but easy watching makes the current state of affairs seem a lot more bearable. Even if I've been out partying for a couple of days I usually get home and fire up the studio and see what weirdness I can make and zone out to. This is when the sounds just seem to flow out in the right way.


Nice one brother!
You can catch Lewis Ryder tonight in Sydney at Chinese Laundry alongside Darren Emerson & Fergie, and again for DarkBeat's 7th Birthday in Melbourne at Brown Alley this Monday 8th April!