Interview: Circus and Chibuku resident Lewis Boardman

As one of the unsung heroes of dance music, the resident DJ deserves a lot of respect. They are the glue which makes a night tick and the dependable selector that can rock the club at any point in the night. So when one of their ilk makes a reputation beyond said role, they deserve a degree of back slapping.

Lewis Boardman is a man who fits into that category. A resident at Liverpool institution Circus since nigh on the beginning, he’s been part of the club night as it's marched beyond a decade of parties both behind the decks and behind the scenes - a role he’s similarly been a part of for Chibuku Shake Shake and the Shipping Forecast as well.

Now a fledgling producer and a man recently signed to uber-cool Berlin DJ agency Wilde, we caught up with him to discuss Circus and their recent move to London, playing for the Warehouse Project and we attempted to pry out some information about New Years Eve.

How exactly did the hook-up with Circus come around? What has it been like being part of the club over the last ten years?
In the beginning I was a huge fan of Yousef and when I heard about this new night called Circus starting up, I rocked up to the club the week before Circus opened. There I met with Rich Mc Ginnis through a friend of the owner and said I want to be a part of this somehow - he looked at me and thought I was mental. But I kept calling and bugging and at that first show they let me help out. And the rest, as they say is, history.

What would be your Circus highlights?
There have been so many over the years, warming up for so many of my heroes. But I would say a stand out moment for me would have to be the first time I warmed up for Yousef in The Theatre. It seems weird saying it now, but this was a real big deal for me at the time because he was someone I looked up to so much in music.

Also, playing in the Loft with Luciano just as things were really starting to bubble for him, you could really sense something around him was happening and he was something very special. And when I was 21 I got the pleasure to warm up for the legendary Danny Rampling in the Theatre - I was such a huge fan of his BBC Radio 1 show The Love Groove Dance Party, and when I finished my last record, he stopped the music completely and started to applaud me. Then the whole Theatre started to applaud and scream and chant my name! It was such great feeling and one I will never forget.

Circus has recently set up in London at the Egg, and you’re playing there again this month as well as the show in Liverpool. How has the move down south gone so far and have you managed to replicate everything that has made Liverpool so special?
Every party at The Egg seems to be getting better and better. It’s a great club with great sound in every room, and I cannot wait to play there again. It is a bit strange that we only open at midnight and go on till maybe 8/9am in the morning, but I’m getting used that and to all these late nights.

You’re also involved with Chibuku and the Shipping Forecast; what can we expect from them in the upcoming months?
Chibuku this year I feel has the strongest line-ups we have ever had. There’s acts such as Ben Klock, Blawan, Mosca and Andy C playing the opening party, and for this season it has really set the standard high. It stands up as one of the best line-ups Liverpool has seen for some time. And as for The Shipping Forecast, we have really turned it up a notch, with some of the best up and coming bands and DJs in the world right now. In October alone we have Mark Ronson, Roska, Bicep, Pins and Andrew Weatherall all playing the bar.

We’ve noticed a couple of dates for you playing at the Warehouse Project as well; looking forward to them? Are you a fan of playing the bigger arenas, we saw you were in the Visionquest arena at Global Gathering as well?
Spinning at The Warehouse Project is always a pleasure, it’s great to get your little crew together and head over to Manchester to be part of one of the best club nights in the UK, if not the world right now. I always have a great story to take away from those little expeditions to Manchester, especially after the after party or even the after, after party .

And also this year as you say, I was lucky enough to play in the Visionquest arena at Global Gathering alongside Seth Troxler and Art Department. It was a really great experience and was one of the best festivals I have ever been to. I played in front of a great crowd, with top-notch sound and light, and also it was 30 degrees - it really was perfect!

As well as the DJing you’ve recently been making waves in production. Is the style you have when you DJ very much the same for music you make? And do you tailor your sound for each individual label?
I make music that is suited to me and my style of djing. Sometimes it’s really deep stuff around 121 bpm and grooves along and then sometimes it’s dark and creepy and made only for the brave in and around 125 bpm. But it’s always a true reflection of the music that I’m really into and passionate about.

You’re jet-setting off to ADE as well shortly; is it your first music conference?
No, I’ve been lucky enough to go to the Miami Music Conference a few times and had some real great times and met some great people. But I’m really looking forward to the ADE as I have heard so many great stories about it and how good it is for business, not just partying. And I’m also looking forward to catching up with the Tiefschwarz boys and the Wilde crew on the 19th Oct.

What else have you got lined up for the future then?
I have a new EP ‘How Does It Feel’ coming out on Yousef’s Circus Recordings soon with a great Yost Keon remix on it, and also a few tracks on the Circus X compilation due out in the new year.

And finally, NYE is getting that little bit closer. Any titbits of information for us about what you will be involved in for it?
We are working on something very special for Liverpool at the minute, so keep your eyes peeled.

See upcoming Circus events

See upcoming Chibuku events