Saytek lets the Techno do the talking on Cubism
We caught up with the British live techno artist to find out about his favourite shows so far this year as he releases new album Machine Jams
IN this digital age there are few artists that have harnessed the power of the technology involved in playing live electronic dance music with such skill, flair for improvisation and enthusiasm as Joseph Keevill.
Better known as Saytek to his legions of fans, the Londoner has been tirelessly carving out a reputation across the UK and Europe for well over a decade, evolving with technology, perfecting his craft and his unique techno sound.
Taking inspiration from the Detroit masters, his hard work and dedication is paying off with Kevin Saunderson signing him as a regular artist on his label KMS. His residency in Berlin at Golden Gate and regular dates at another of Berlin's famous clubs, Sisyphos goes further to underline his pedigree as a serious techno act and one of the best coming out of the UK in 2016. With a tour schedule spreading across the UK and Europe, his sights are now focused on the US next year after he took his live show across the pond for the first time to Canada last month taking the roof off Le Salon Daome in Montreal.
His releases are as prolific as his touring with EPs coming thick and fast over the last few years on a variety of taste-maker labels including Liebe*Detail, Soma, Bedrock, Wiggle, fabric, My Favourite Freaks, KMS and Monique Music, gracing the playlists of the DJ elite including Carl Cox, Laurent Garnier, Steve Lawler and Marcell Dettman among many others.
This week Saytek released his highly anticipated 5th album on his own label Cubism. Machine Jams, like the previous Live On Cubism albums, is a snapshot of where Saytek is as an artist in 2016 and with this long player we find an artist reaching the peak of his powers. Taking 14 jams from an improvised, fused landscape of poetic, twisted house and techno, Saytak has crafted each into finished tracks ready for DJs to weave into their sets. The album is being met with rave reviews across the music press, gaining props from the likes of Slam, B Traits, Steve Lawler, Marco Carola and more and looks set to cement Saytek's reputation as one of the most exciting UK live techno artists on the scene.
To mark the release of the album Saytek told us about his top ten live shows of 2016 which you can read below.
Family Grooves - Ohara Club - Split, Croatia
This was my return to Croatia after performing live at last years amazing Moondance Festival in Trogir. Family Grooves is a globally respected house, tech house and techno label owned by husband and wife Silvio & Izabela Hrabar and it's truly a family affair! They also run a night under the same name in the no frills Ohara club in Split, a dark room with a really good sound system. The night was really great with a crowd who were really into the music, whooping and cheered all the way through my live performance. The energy in the room can only be described as electric. I was very well looked after during my stay and I love Croatia.
Klangkost - Kosmonaut - Berlin, Germany
I have been lucky enough to perform regular at some of Berlins best clubs and Kosmonaut was no different, distinctly underground vibes with real heads and professional party people. This was a pretty much tourist free zone and the club runs a strict door policy like most clubs in Berlin. It's a place for techno lovers and hedonism and the night was part of a three day Easter special, the vibes where insane with the club packed out. I performed live in the hotbox and was met with another really appreciative crowd and a fair few trainspotters who where really eager to check out my live show and see what I was doing with the kit.
The Hammerhalle - Sisyphos - Berlin, Germany
Berlin Sisyphos is a mecca for music lovers. It's a massive venue and more like a festival than a club with lots of different areas for dancing with music ranging from deep to throbbing techno. It has a pizzeria and another cafe and as summer was coming they set up a beach in the garden where Berlin’s finest were spinning summery tunes. The parties run all weekend and have the worlds best DJs and live acts alongside Berlin’s finest local talent. My set was just a few hours after Kosmonaught with a play time at 10am. The Hammerhalle is a crazy place, a massive room with a huge sound system tuned perfectly for techno. When I play there I always bump the BPM up a few beats per minutes as they like it tough. It was a magic gig, pounding it out to about a thousand people going crazy and really letting themselves go. My flight back was not so pleasant though after 2 gigs in Berlin, no sleep and stinking of cigarette smoke.
The City Sound Project - Canterbury, UK
For one weekend of the year the whole of Canterbury is turned into a festival as venues across the city are transformed and some of the UKs top acts perform across many genres of music. I was lucky enough to be given the last headliner slot of the festival deep into the early hours of bank holiday Monday morning at a party Called Noise & Girls at Steinbeck and Shaw. It was a truly awesome party and really felt like performing in some of the top clubs in the world. This showed me what the UK club scene is capable of. Love was in the air as people danced, smiled and truly loved the music on offer. I went back to my hotel a very happy man.
Cubism Records - fabric - London, UK
As a label we are lucky enough to be offered room 3 at the world famous club fabric. There is not much to say apart from I absolutely love it there and it's great to hear the label residents play along side me and a lot of music from the label always gets aired. I always love performing at fabric and it's great that some of the most integral staff from the club stay and dance to my set. It really is an honour to get so much love from a club that I spent many years dreaming of playing and being a regular fixture with Cubism is a definately a dream come true for both me and the label at large.
Golden Times - Golden Gate - Berlin, Germany
I owe a lot to this place and Lajos the promoter has become a very good friend over the last couple of years. He booked me a few years ago and really pushed me in the City and I really owe it to him that I have played so many amazing places there. Golden Times is special, it starts at midnight Tuesday and carries on till Wednesday afternoon. I hold a residency there and the bookings are always some of the world's best residents and up and coming artists. The vibes are pure Berlin, gritty underground and bohemian and has one of the most clued up crowds there is.
Noise Floor - Le Salon Daome - Montreal, Canada
This was my debut in Canada and I was really excited, even more so when I spoke to my friend from Berlin and he said “it's one of the best in the world”. When I went to check out the club and sound check it looks like a big lounge space with sofas and a massive dance floor. As the night fell the place filled up quickly and before long it was heaving, the people were music lovers through and through and I felt I really connected with them during my performance and got a lot of love from them. I was lucky enough to stay in Montreal for 4 days. The promoters were really nice people and showed me round the city. It's a truly magical place. I can’t wait to return!
My Favourite Freaks & Lauter Unfug - Studio 21 - Luxembourg
This is the second time I have played in Luxembourg and it's great place. The scene there is still young and exciting. Studio 21 is a new venue but has already seen some of the worlds best play there, the vibe is very Berlin like and like Berlin they have a strict no video no photos rule. It's an intimate place with a great sound system, LED lighting with a heady atmosphere and a crowd that just want to dance! I enjoyed every moment of my performance there and hopefully will be back soon.
Saytek - Machine Jams is out now on . To grab your copy .