Interview With hot Live Act Saytek

There is simply no other house & techno live act quite like Saytek. A man who has gained a reputation for tearing up Europe's most legendary dance floors with his impressive improvised shows. Saytek's obsessive love of hardware see's him rocking up at clubs with groove boxes, synths, Ableton, Kaos pads and various other noise mangling gadgets and weaving together a seamless mix of floor shaking electronics. He arranges, re-samples, tweaks filters, layers effects, triggers samples, mutes parts and mixes everything together on the fly.

He takes eager fans on a unique off the cuff musical journey that not only defies genre but is emotive, spontaneous and intellectually pleasing. Armed with 1000's of loops and patterns he has created, Saytek can literally take his performances in any direction he chooses from deep and minimal house grooves to rattling techno funk work-outs and bass driven electro breaks.

The buzz round Saytek's shows has resulted in headline slots everywhere from Circo Loco at Sankey's, The Egg and The End & AKA through to the sweltering Circus Festival in Spain and the uber cool patent blua in Berlin taking in Europe's coolest underground clubs along the way. Whilst Saytek remains the firm favourite of many promoters and clubbers alike his credentials do not just fall into the live arena he has released many critically acclaimed records that have been supported by the likes of: Laurent Garnier, Cluade Von Stroke, Carl Cox, Clive Henry, Tim Sheridan, John Digweed, David Duriez, Kevin Saunderson, Justin Drake, Colin Dale, 10 Sui, Smithmonger, Meat Katie, Phil Kieran, Terry Francis, and Ricky Stone (+ many more top underground DJS)

Having already carved out a name for himself as one of the best live acts in underground music, and certainly the livest ! Saytek is looking forward to an eventful rest of 2008, He is landing on the devils island in July where he will perform regularly as The Zoo Project's live act. He will also be playing some of the biggest clubs in Ibiza including Privilege. There will also be a Live album named "Control Freak" released in collaboration between Ibizas hottest underground party The Zoo Project and Machine Func Records. The Album will be available exclusively through The Zoo Project from August and be on world wide release the end of September. Add to this two new EP's set for Septembers and October and there really is no stopping Saytek....

We caught up with Saytek just as he landed on the White Isle to find out about his new album and his gigs at The Zoo Project...........

Please introduce yourself?

Hello I'm 29 year old Joseph Keevill from Camden in London, I have been deeply in love with electronic music since I was 13 and was clubbing as soon as I looked old enough to get in. I realised I was going to follow my dream at 18 and devoted my life to dance music, so I started out working as a sound and lighting engineer in London clubs and buying studio kit. I have been making Records as Saytek for 7 years and playing live for 4. I live with my lovely fiancée Dee and spend most my time in the studio or clubs!

Where does the name Saytek come from?

When I was first pushed to come up for a name for a release I got to thinking what described my sound back then... I really had to come up with some thing fast and my music is techy with the use of vocal snippets for percussion, a Detroit thing that I loved back then and still love. so the words "Say" and "TeK" came together.

What have been up to recently gig wise?

This year has been wicked; I have had the pleasure of playing Circo Loco at Sankeys Manchester, Alwayz Fridaze at The Egg, Monza at Victoria Works warehouse Leeds, and Jaded at The End. As well as lots of other venues across the UK and Zoo project nights. It's been a bit quite on the international front after last year when I was touring Europe. But then I'm in Ibiza for 2 months and then going on an album tour in September so that should sort that!!!

You call yourself a live act. What exactly does that entail?

Everything is my own music performed live, I like to think it really is as live as this kind of music can be .I make everything as individual patterns then loop them up and arrange them live, mix them, trigger samples and tweak effects. the fun really begins when I improvise for example I can take a bass line from one pattern and combine it with a hi hat from another whilst layering a beat from another whilst firing of samples from a controller keyboard. I use 4 channels on my DJm800 so I can send anything to any channel so I can send a synth line to a channel where I can filter it and layer a Kaos pad effect over the top of it. Its pretty labour intensive but it really is great fun and it gives me unlimited control.

So what made you take the live approach rather than DJing?

I was never a DJ always a studio bod, so playing live comes naturally to me. A few years ago back in the days of hardware studios I would spend hours just jamming on the mixer or playing with groove boxes, I used to think "I've got take this out live" , But the technology just wasn't there to do what I wanted. So as soon as Ableton came about I jumped on it.

You use a lot of kit to make the live act happen but what is your favourite bit of kit and why?

I love Ableton but the Roland mc909 is my favourite bit of kit. for live stuff its amazing it's a 16 track sequencer , synths , samplers, drum machines all in one box with loads of knobs and hands on control its like having an old school studio in one box but all geared for performance. I can call up any pattern that I have created with out missing a beat whilst tweaking filters and mixing individual parts. There is something special about the original Roland TR method of programming drums it's just a brilliant way to make techno!!!

As a Live act do you think the crowd appreciate your work more then a DJ just playing CD's.

I think it defiantly adds a different dimension to a night, people always love live music. when watching some one perform there is a connection between the artist and the crowd, I am very aware of this and can do a lot in response so if I see the crowd digging a particular bit I can carry it on as long as they are feeling it. I make all my breaks and drops live so I can really tease the crowd before dropping the kick back into the mix, Its unpredictable so it adds an edge .At the end of the day people are there to party so you get an element who really don't care, but if I can get them going mental on the dance floor it gives me a secret sense of satisfaction that I can achieve the same results as a DJ.

Your out in Ibiza playing for The Zoo Project this year as resident. Tell us a bit about the Zoo and your gigs?

I am in Ibiza until September, doing the old abandoned zoo on Saturday day times, boat parties and some of the top clubs over there .They are an amazing bunch of people, every party they throw is pure gold. They really love what they do and do it really well. They really look after there crowd and inject a bit of fun into the often serious techno scene. The Zoo Project are known as the best underground party in Ibiza by many so I'm really proud to part of such a forward thinking bunch.

You have release tracks on labels such as Console, Blue Black, Evolved , King-size and your own imprint Machine Func Records . What have you been up to in the studio lately? Anything we should keep our ears pricked for?

Yeah I have an album called "Control Freak" coming out that is basically a live performance as an album; It's a representation of one of my shows with material from recent gigs. Its been recorded in the studio but there has been no editing or "touching up" it was recorded in one take .with So many people at gigs asking me if they can buy CD's at gigs and the Zoo Project approached me about doing a set for release, it seamed like a logical step . The album will be available on exclusive pre release from the Zoo project this month and goes on Global release in September. I also have a couple of EP's coming out as digital releases on my label later this year. One of which is a 2 track E.P that me and Ben Gomori produced together.

Your releases have gained critical acclaim across the board and widespread DJ support from the likes of Laurent Garnier, Claude von stroke, Tim Sheridan, David duriez, Kevin Suanderson, Clive Henry, Phil Kieren, Carl Cox and John Digweed. What's it like to hear some of the biggest DJ's in the world dig your music and what producers and DJ's do you admire and draw influences from?

It really is an amazing feeling to have people I respect so much be into what I do, but I don't let it go to my head they are DJs and they need records! In terms of DJs that inspire me there are so many good ones. Its not always the most famous people that are the best I have been blown away by some relatively unknown DJ playing in a small bar in the east end of London. In terms of pushing technology it's got to be Richie Hawtin.

How would you describe your sound in 2008?

If I had to describe my live sound I would probably say It's a raw stripped down mix of techno, tech house, tribal grooves , retro Detroit and deeper darker styles all aimed squarely at the dance floor. I am not too concerned about conforming to the latest trends or sub genres. In fact now more than ever I take influence from the music I grew up loving, with dance music's rich heritage I believe it's limiting to concentrate on the latest band wagon! If it gets me jumping around in the studio or makes the hairs on the back of my neck stick up its in, simple as that! I've discovered that if I am feeling it then other people do as well. Having this approach means my performances work across many different nights , I have been booked for housier nights , minimal nights and pure techno nights and the crowd and promoters always seem to be into what I do.

Here are just a few quick fire questions

TOP 3 Clubs?

Sankeys

The Egg

The End

Coke or Pepsi?

I try and avoid both! But Pepsi when its cold is refreshing and I do love the occasional Cherry Coke

Britney or Christiana?

Neither ... I can't stand em, sorry!

Manchester United or Chelsea?

I'm really not into football, but my brother has supported Manchester united since he was very young so I better go for them or he would go mad!

Check out www.myspace.com/saytek for more information

Also check out www.myspace.com/ibizazooproject for more information on his gigs in Ibiza