Doing it live: Saytek speaks from The Zoo Project

Doing it live: Saytek speaks from The Zoo Project

18 December, 2008 | 5.39AM

• Written by: jukeboxpr
• Filed under: Music News : saytek, zoo project

One of the most interesting party developments in 2008 in Ibiza was The Zoo Project, which hosted underground house, minimal and techno DJs in an abandoned zoo near the town of San Antonio.

A former seal pit was turned into the main arena, and the vibe was so magical that London-based live act Saytek decided to record his whole album live in the pit back in the summer.

He dragged a Roland MC909, a Kaoss Pad 3, a Redsound loop machine and a laptop with Ableton Live 6 down to the zoo to create a journey of deep elementary techno that expanded and contracted like a live animal. It was recorded for our pleasure.

Beatportal caught up with Saytek to find out more about his album.

In massive demand in the underground house and techno scenes, and championed by such massive DJs as Laurent Garnier and Claude Von Stroke, there’s barely a music loving soul out that who hasn’t heard the name Saytek pass someone’s lips over the last few months.

The release of a debut album is always a big move and can take months to perfect, but as a live artist, what he produces is an unmatchable piece of deep techno perfection, capturing the atmosphere of a real Zoo Project Party.

Already gaining massive support from such industry bibles as iDJ, DJ Mag and M8 Magazine, this unique and exceptionally talented artist’s star is sharply set to go stratospheric.

Your debut album, ‘Live from the Seal Pit’, is out this month. In a nutshell what can people expect to hear from this?

It’s a live performance that captures the deeper driving side of my live repertoire.

It was recorded after sunset in the Seal Pit at the Zoo Project Ibiza.

So far the feedback has been amazing and I was honoured when IDJ a magazine that I respect a lot gave it 9/10!

Who or what inspired you to start performing live?

The live thing was always natural to me. In the days of the hardware studio I was always jamming on the mixing desk, and I always had groove boxes, it just wasn’t possible to do the full live performance in the way I wanted until Ableton came along.

So when it did I jumped on it!

Where was your first ever gig?

My first gig was at an illegal party held by Second Cell, the London underground house Collective.

Those parties were really something special.

Those first parties always are… But now well seasoned, you tend to dish out a seamless mix of genres in your sets.  Do you have a preference?

I don’t think in terms of genres; music is visceral to me.  If it gives me that feeling, then it goes in.

What particular elements do it for you?

I love good stripped down music with chord stabs, rolling basslines, strong dark melodies and solid percussive grooves.

To me good music makes the hairs on the back of my neck stick up, makes me dance or blows my mind.

Certainly, marks of a good track… So, for this album, how did you come up with arrangement?

Due to the nature of the hardware and software I use, things have to be put in a certain order so I try and make it so a set will work when played in this order.

Did you leave room for improvisation?

I like to at least know the structure for the first 10 minutes then I improvise.

Like a DJ, I try and judge the crowd and see what they need next; it’s a two-way connection, so it’s less of a thought process as it kind of happens intuitively when everyone is vibing off each other.

How does playing live differ from regular DJing for you?

The major difference is that it’s all my own music.

It’s like DJing with all the elements that make up tracks, so rather than having 10 records in a set, it’s made up of 100s of individual loops and patterns.

So, for example I’ll mix that kick drum with a different bassline whilst layering a hihat from another pattern.

You’ve known for turning up at a gig armed with a large amount of kit; if you had to do a set using only three pieces of equipment what would they be?

Roland Mc909, laptop with Ableton, DJm800!

The bare essentials. What would you like to explore in your next album, technically and in terms of genre?

The next album I release will probably be another live one.

It makes a lot of sense because most of my energy goes into my live shows, I would really like to do a live downtempo leftfield album one day. 

I have been making this kind of material on the sly for a while and haven’t had a chance to play it out.

We will keep that on the radar. Do you have any DJs or producers on your own radar right now?

There are so many talented young DJs coming through at the moment, it really amazes me.

I think DJing is becoming an art form again, with DJs using software and DJ mixers to do a lot more than just mix.

And as far as venues go, you’ve played at some amazing ones, including The End, Sankeys, and of course The Zoo Project in Ibiza. Any favorites?

Yeah, this year has been amazing and all so many good parties.

It’s hard to make me choose between them all, but if I have to, the Seal Pit at Zoo Project was like nothing else on this earth!

I’m sure that must’ve been amazing. Were there any particular standouts?

Ha ha, once again far too many to choose from. The Zoo Project parties are all crazy!

I thought Clive Henry was amazing though, and Michael James warmed up the Seal Pit superbly.

Moving forward, what made you choose The End to house your album launch party?

I owe a lot to Charlie who runs Players, an industry night at the End/AKA.

She let me launch my label at her night and we had 800 people in on a Tuesday night!

Since then my performances have been going from strength to strength, so I’m delighted to return to launch my album.

And with the new year right around the corner, what are you looking forward to musically in 2009?

The live album tour and releasing some singles and EPs.

If it’s anything like the year that I have just had I will be over the moon!

---

‘Live from the Seal Pit’ lands 16th December 2008 CD out exclusively from thezooproject.com

Created and performed live using a Roland MC909, Ableton 6, Kaos Pad 3, Redsound Looper.

• (2) Comments
• (576) Views
• Check out Saytek on Beatport