Beatportal interviews Louie Vega

Beatportal interviews Louie Vega

5 August, 2008 | 3.56AM

• Written by: Sarah O
• Filed under: Music News: il divino, louie vega, vega records

With his first Ibiza residency going strong at Il Divino on Sundays and Ibiza Global Radio show as a precursor to the night’s activities, soulful house legend Louie Vega seems to be enjoying a full summer and staying busy with multiple projects. 

Beatportal caught up with him and got his take on Ibiza, what’s inspiring him these days, thoughts on live gigs versus DJing, and current projects and collaborations. 

You are considered one of the founding fathers of that soulful house vibe, setting it off back in the day with Kenny D and Strictly Rhythm and MAW, paving the way for those that followed.  Your sound is deeply rooted in house flavors with Latin influences, but you’ve branched out to experiment with several other genres like jazz, hip-hop, disco, Afro-Caribbean, reggae, etc.  With a career that’s spanned over two decades, where do you pull your continual inspiration from?

My inspiration comes in many different forms.

My wife Anané, who is my muse; and my son are two sources. 

Inspiration could come from musicians, someone performing (other artists)—I can be in a place far away on a mountain, or on the sea, or even in a DJ set when it hits.

What do you think of the twists and turns in electronic music over the years - particularly house - and how does the evolution of the global sound influence you?

The evolution of house: It’s always been going through twists and turns.

Of course I may get inspired by various sounds, which I then intertwine with our own, signature sound.

In turn that creates something totally new and fresh.

Your first Ibiza residency at El Divino is in full swing.  How’s that going?

Soul Heaven and I are very happy with the outcome of the night.

It started very pure, with full-on fans who stayed ‘til the end and then went home or to their hotel happy, waiting ‘til the next week for another go.

The locals are also in the house and industry peeps and celebs also join in the fun.

All of those people, combined with the sound we’ve put in and the music I play, help create the environment I have when I do one of my Dance Ritual, Roots or Soul Heaven parties.

Heavy support as well from my Italian friends, UK friends, Switzerland, Greece, France, is also much appreciated.

Did you have preconceived expectations of it prior to jumping in, and if so were they correct?

I didn’t expect it to move as fast or to establish itself as fast with the party-goers—it’s as if they’ve found a home.

I know everyone isn’t there every single week except the locals, but people are taking trips back to come to the night. 

We also have many restaurant, clothing store, and bar employees that come to hang out, which is really nice since it’s on a Sunday - we are here at a good time and on a good night.

It’s a lot of hard work getting the message out, but we have a good team: Fleur Woolford (Soul Heaven), Martina Burke (Events Manager), the El Divino staff which has all turned into one family making it happen.

Ibiza Global Radio show looks like a lot of fun.  What effect do you feel that has on your night, and what responses have you been getting?

Ibiza Global Radio have all been very nice to me, they opened their doors immediately when I called them up.

My radio show is on Sundays at 7 PM, in which I do play live and also some pre-recorded sessions.

I also make appearance during the week when I’m in Ibiza on Jose Maria Ramon’s show, and I play live.

It has given our music more presence on the island and has been going great since the end of May.

I may still stay on it even after the season, for the locals.

When I’m playing live at the station I see all the instant reactions and great comments about the music, so the reaction is instant.

Thank you, Ibiza Global Radio!

You mentioned in a recent interview that there’s a club in Mykonos that you love playing.

Yes the club is Cavo Paradiso.

I’ve DJed there over 10 years and had many memorable moments.

Is there any particular spot in the world that you feel inspires you the most?

There are so many to name!

Air (Tokyo), Cavo Paradiso (Mykonos), Soul Heaven Presents Louie Vega & Friends at El Divino (Ibiza), Precious Hall (Sapporo), Roots & Dance Ritual (NYC), Soul Heaven & Garage City (London), 5-Beats (Paris), Music For Luv (Athens), Deep (LA), The Vagabond (Miami) and many more.

You do a lot of live shows that include your 12-piece band.  How does the energy differ for you at those shows, versus in the DJ booth?  Do you have a preference?

Performing with Elements Of Life (my 12-piece band) and three lead singers brings an energy that is incomparable to a DJ set.

After a full 2.5 hour show the energy is at such a high that it’s hard to DJ after, but if the band and crowd wants to have a good time and we are up for celebrating the victory, we do tend to set up the DJ gear and some of the musicians get the itch to jam with me.

We just did a live show in Puerto Rico for SEIU (the largest workers’ union in th US/Canada) and it was spectacular, with Louie Vega & The Elements Of Life with special guests Anané, Lisa Fischer, Roy Ayers, Ovious Maximus (poet), Nina Rodriguez and Luisito Quintero all taking the lead at points of the show.

DJing is another form of crowd energy that is also deep in its own way.

Taking the musical journey is special, particularly when I get to do long sets (4-5 hours).

I’ve had thousands of magical nights!

Where do you see your sound heading in the future?

I see our sound being what it is, true to its nature.

Sounds will change - I get inspired or sometimes I will initiate a change in sound.

Many times I feel a lot of what we create is before its time, then everyone else catches on.

I will always create music with the passion I have - when that stops, then I will stop.

What releases are really working for you at the moment, and who’s inspiring you musically? Is there any producer/DJ/artist that you have your eye on right now that you feel is up-and-coming?

Right now my inspiration is coming from DJ sets and shows in my summer tours.

Also listening to other DJs may spark up some ideas; they may play a track or two that get me.

You’ve worked with everyone under the sun from Debbie Gibson to Tito Puente, and rumor has it you are a big fan of Stevie Wonder.  Is there anyone else you’d like to collaborate with at this point in time?

There are lots of artists I’d love to collaborate with: Alicia Keys, Herbie Hancock, Christina Aguilera, D’Angelo, Lenny Kravitz, Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Amy Winehouse, Snoop Dog, Jay Kay, Jose Feliciano, Tito Paris, U2, Sting.

Just so many…

What’s forthcoming for you and Vega Records?

I’ve just produced a full length album for Anané entitled ‘Ananésworld’, coming on Tommy Boy Records, and her first single ‘Shake It’ has been making lots of noise worldwide.

‘Bem Ma Mi’, Anané’s next single, was just released last week. 

I’m working on the next Elements Of Life full length, entitled ‘One Dream’, and we are about the release the first single ‘Into My Life (You Brought The Sunshine)’ by Louie Vega & The Elements Of Life featuring Lisa Fischer & Cindy Mizelle, on Vega Records.

I have signed new artist Boddhi Satva with two singles coming; the first one was just released, titled ‘Punch Koko’.

Another new hot artist to look out for is Agev Munsen, who’s had some success with his first single Munsen’s Groove.

His new ‘Alien Conversations EP’ will be released this fall on Vega Records, and we are releasing two singles a month with a bundle (a group of songs creating an album package) a month as well.

I’m remixing still, once in a while when interesting artists come about: A remix of Erykah Badu’s ‘Telephone’ is on the way.

Next Anane single I’m working on, a Mr. V single, and Sara Divine album (she was the lead singer on Hardrive project).

That sounds like a full plate! One more question: What’s your all-time favorite track or release you’ve done?

My all time favorite project is ‘Nuyorical Soul’!

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Thanks, Louie! 

You can find Louie Vega at Soul Heaven at Il Divino on Sunday nights through September 21st for Louie Vega & Friends, and also catch his Ibiza Global Radio show beforehand from 7-8 PM.

Keep your eyes peeled for an exclusive Anané interview coming soon on Beatportal!

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