We Know The Feeling: Sean Lewis

We Know The Feeling: Sean Lewis

13 December, 2010 | 3.10AM

• Written by: Beatport Mike
• Filed under: Music News:

Being coaxed into attending raves in San Fransisco during the incredible mid ‘90s peak must have been quite amazing. Beatport’s Sean Lewis knows this feeling quite well. Growing up in numerous parts of California before making his most recent trek to the landlocked state of Colorado, Sean Lewis is one of our newest additions to the team. A raver since the early days, Sean has admitted a penchant for darker and edgier sounds, a marked contrast to the deep, psychedelic, flower-power vibes of San Francisco’s loved-up prime. Previously working for Napster, he and his wife left their cozy, sun-soaked life in LA in order for Sean to dedicate himself to the roughest, toughest genres Beatport has to offer. Ladies and gentlemen: Sean Lewis.

Hi Sean, where on earth did you grow up?

I don’t think I have yet, but I was born in Sacramento, California. I spent my teen years in the San Francisco Bay Area. Spent two years in Reno, Nevada. Went back to the Bay Area for several years. Spent five years in Los Angeles and now I’ve recently moved here to Denver.

What was the first album you purchased?

Oh boy! First album I bought was in third grade. It was the Krush Groove soundtrack (yep, I’m that old) and actually it wasn’t because I saw the movie, it was more me trying to buy some music for breakdancing.

Do you still listen to this album?

I would, but I don’t own a tape deck anymore

What are some of your earliest musical influences?

I think probably Michael Jackson as a young kid. When I saw Herbie Hancock’s “Rockit” video I pretty much flipped my lid. Later, Run DMC and Public Enemy. The first time I heard N.W.A. I lost it too. Later, as a teen growing up in the Bay Area in the ‘90s, there was a huge movement of independent rap artists blowing up and I was heavy, heavy into that.

How did you get involved in electronic dance music?

Kind of a lame story, but a girlfriend I had in high school my senior year was a raver. I followed her to my first rave in ‘94 in San Francisco. She gave me tapes of stuff like Sunscreem, but I really didn’t come around ‘till the big beat era kicked in—Prodigy and Chemical Brothers and all that. I’d get a rave flyer and go buy all the CDs I could find from the names on the flyer. The sound was so foreign to me, but that’s what i liked about it.

Can you tell me a few artists and albums that got you interested in this stuff?

Mainly Chemical Brothers, but also Yellowcake, Underworld, Sasha and Digweed.

Since your early days, how have your musical tastes changed?

Hell yeah. Maybe because I come from a hip-hop background, I always wanted the music darker. I got into drum and bass in the late ‘90s.  Sometime into the turn of the millennium, I started getting into breaks, but in 2006 when I heard dubstep… the search was over. Well, actually it wasn’t until I heard “Kalawanji” from Kromestar… I soiled my pants and have been listening to everything in the scene since.

What was your very first job ever?

When I was 15 I worked at Marshalls and saved up enough money to buy a drum machine.

Where did you work before Beatport?

In LA I worked at Napster.

What did you do there?

It was pretty much the same thing that I do here. Promote releases on the different genre pages.

How did you land a job at Beatport?

At gunpoint.

What was it like to move from Los Angeles to Denver Colorado?

It’s a crazy transition, although life in Denver is half the price of LA. Drive around downtown Denver and there’s parking. I guess that’s why Denver doesn’t have valet attendants at Sizzlers.

What do you miss the most about LA?

Probably the restaurants and my friends. I have a lot of amazing friends there that I miss like crazy.

Back to Beatport now, what do you do here, exactly?

I walk around… make sure everybody’s coffee is full. See if they need a backrub. I lead the group calisthenics in the morning. From time to time I’ll write a Beatportal piece for the public to laugh at, but mostly I promote releases on the breaks, hip hop and dubstep pages.

What DON’T you do at Beatport?

Sing.

Who are your top three DJs at the moment?

DJs, huh. All my favorite DJs are probably my boys in the BWOMP! Crew out of Los Angeles. Asking me to pick just three is like asking you to pick which one of your parents you like better.

And top three producers?

I hate these types of questions. Of all time it’s probably Sully – I really don’t even know much about this guy(?). I’ve never been able to track down much info on him(?). But EVERY tune he makes just rips my heart out of my chest. So sick! Distance – who in dubstep is as consistently heavy as Distance? Every time with this guy. I pretty much love everything he touches. Finally, Taylor Swift is pretty dope. nothing to get your neck snapping to a savage bassline than a hot blonde chick talking about tear drops on her guitar.

I agree wholeheatedly about Taylor Swift.  Speaking of, can you tell me your top three favorite smells at the moment...

Fresh Baked Bread.
Coffee.
Glue… but you have to smell it for a while before it’s good.

Have you noticed any new / interesting trends or styles of music?

Glitch hop is growing to be pretty sick. The whole West Coast bass movement with the Muti Music and Brainfeeder cats is lovely. It’s a really good time for music right now with all this stuff going in all these different directions… it’s crazy.

What style of music do you wish would just stop happening?

Manufactured pop music.

What is the last dance song you listened to?

I was listening to a track last night…
Gtronic, “Sucker Punch (The Mastertrons Remix)”

BONUS ROUND!

Tell us the worst joke you can think of!

Maybe the mama joke about her being so fat, falling, breaking her leg and gravy pouring out… Stupid!

Worst place to go on a vacation?

Anywhere in the desert. Dry, hot, full of sand. Not a good time.

Worst place to take your wife for dinner?

For my wife… anywhere that doesn’t serve some form of chicken.

Favorite non-electronic music to listen to?

Gregorian chant is pretty good. That or the Tuvan throat singers. 

Worst record to listen to when you’re hungover?

Any form of Jock Jams compliations.

Was it really the one armed man?

If it wasn’t him, it was someone using his lost arm to frame him.

Who’s your favorite Beatport employee?

I have a bro crush on our CEO, Mr. Matt Adell.

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