Today’s podcast extraordinaire is not only an exclusive to SHA, but features a contents completely unique to SHA and the inhabitants of London’s The Lightbox on 7th April 2012. The reason for this is that the artist in charge is one who has been receiving plaudits from the likes of Carl Cox, DJ Magazine, The Guardian and Datatransmission for his improvised live shows. So when the media is lumping together phrases like “one of the UK’s freshest and exiting acts” and “one of the most sought after live acts to arise from the UK in recent times”, and SHA was are offered the chance for a podcast and an few choice words, we jumped at the chance! Hopefully you will be drawn into the infectious enthusiasm and chocolate purism of Saytek as we were.

SAYTEK

Have you always desired to be a live performer? Was there a moment when you decided “that’s it, I’m not playing other people’s music anymore”? 
I was never a DJ, just a geeky kid who grew up with a passion for music & technology. I was releasing records about 10 years ago back in the days when people where shifting thousands of copies on vinyl, I released a couple of records which was really exciting as they all did really well! Then the bottom fell out of the industry, which was pretty disappointing for everyone involved, but I had been toying with the idea of taking my sounds out live for a while, so this was perfect timing to give me a kick up the arse! I had always enjoyed jamming with hardware and software in the studio, and it was around this time Ableton was released, so I synced it to my groove box and i have never looked back.

Who inspires you musically?
So much inspiration from early Detroit Techno, Rave music, Acid house, 70′s Dub, Aphex Twin & Squarepusher’s work in the 90′s, and the Jazz & Classical I grew up on where all my early inspirations. I worked a a technician at the Legendary End Club for 7 years, that was a very good time for musical inspiration specially from the house side of things. Also DJ’s in the clubs I play at always inspire me, my mates DJ mixes and DJ mixes from bigger names I download from Soundcloud … it all goes into the melting pot I suppose and gets processed and comes out in my music!

What is your preparation like for your live sets? What sort of things are running through your head as you are playing live?
My preparation involves me making loads of original music as loops and patterns. Going by musical intuition, I always like to just feel the music as i make it. I split the tracks into their basic elements, then I organise them so I can trigger them easily and in some sort of musical order.

Then I jam!

When I am performing it’s weird; I am so much in the zone that I’m not really aware of my own thought process, its so intuitive. I like to respond to the crowd and I like to think we go on a journey together … thats my aim anyway.

Your mix for SHA was from Spacetime @ London’s Lightbox; how did the gig go for you?
Yeah was a great gig, wicked crowd responsive and I really like the club, nice lights. The Space time 2000AD boys know how to throw a party as they have been doing it since the late 80′s.

What has been your absolute cream of live experiences so far?
Wow, the answer is no single one experience. I have been lucky enough to perform at some of the worlds most famous underground clubs and some lesser know ones. For me, its all about that connection with the crowd when the hands go up in the air or the heads are down in the deeper moments, and I can see the crowd are feeling what I am doing and going crazy. That’s what its all about for me. If i am giving people that special feeling only music can give me, then I am truly honoured!

2012: As the world is to end this year, what are your plans to cram in before it all goes up in smoke?
Ha hold on hasn’t the world been ending every year? I wouldn’t need to cram anything in at this moment in my life as I am happier than ever. I have overcome quite a few personal struggles and am winning the battle. I have a lovely fiancee, a growing career in what I love and a positive outlook on the world … what more could i need?

Apple have invented a ridiculous iPod; it costs £3,000, is made from Aloe Vera, has a one-sync-and-that’s-it rule, and can only contain one album: you have bought one, what are you putting on it?
If we are talking electronic it would have to be Aphex Twin’s Selected Ambient Works. No electronic album has touched me or for quite as long as this, still makes every hair sick up on my neck whilst being thoughtful, provocative and dark in the right places way ahead of its time!

Chocolate with nuts, chocolate with fruit: one has to die and you have to choose!
Both can rot in hell as far as i am concerned!!! Don’t really eat chocolate anymore but when I did I was a purist, so chocolate and fruit was a big no no. Give me 80% cocoa anyday! Also I am allergic to nuts, ha. [44f - I'm chalking that down as a win for nuts, may its rightful dominance continue]

Saytek [Live] Tracklist:
Recorded Live at Spacetime 2000AD @ The Lightbox London 7/04/12
All music written, produced & performed live by Saytek
Using:  Roland MC909 , Kaos Pad 3 , Customised APC 40 + Ableton 8 , Maschine,  Loop Sampler & DJM80

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD…

RELATED LINKS

SAYTEKLIVE.COM
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
SOUNDCLOUD
BEATPORT