Vintage Culture Details his Beatport #1 Collaboration with ARTBAT, "She The Last One"

Hey Lukas, congratulations on your new Beatport #1 with “She The Last One!” How has 2025 been treating you so far, and how are you celebrating this latest accomplishment?

Thank you! 2025 has been incredible so far. I’m feeling grateful. This year started with a lot of energy, and now hitting #1 with “She The Last One” takes it to another level. ARTBAT and I have been testing this track at shows for a long time. Seeing the strong reaction from the crowd every time, we knew it had something special. For me, the best way to celebrate is to keep making music and playing shows for the fans. That’s what keeps me inspired.

 How did you first link up with ARTBAT for this collaboration?

ARTBAT and I have a strong creative connection. In the past, we’ve worked on remixes for each others’ tracks. We include each others’ music in our sets. “She the Last One” came together organically, we had the idea to create something that blends our styles, something powerful for our shows and with a lot of emotion.

You’ve described this track as “a tribute to the underground scene, both classic and transforming to the new.” Can you expand on this for us?

The underground scene is where everything started for me. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s constantly evolving. Whether it’s called alternative, or new wave, I’ve always been attracted to music that is left of center, creative, and independent. “She The Last One” is our way of paying homage to that energy, that spirit in the clubs where music speaks louder than words. At the same time, we wanted to bring something fresh, something that connects vintage sounds with new audiences. For me, the best electronic music always moves forward while respecting its roots.

You sample Celeda’s famous 2000 track “The Underground” on this massive tune. Can you tell us about the first time you heard this track and how both you and ARTBAT landed on using this vocal in this high-powered collaboration?

Merging classic sounds with today’s sound design is the essence of what I strive to do. That vocal is legendary. The first time I heard it, I was getting into house music, digging through CDs, and exploring classic tracks that shaped house music. That line, “Let Me take you on a trip, a journey full of sound and beats, one that will lead you way down to the underground”, perfectly describes the genre. When ARTBAT and I were working on the track, we wanted to capture that same hypnotic energy that makes you lose yourself in the music.

In addition to your highly acclaimed UPPERGROUND release, which only dropped a few weeks ago, you’ve quickly followed that up with the Defected single “Just Stay The Night.” Can you tell us a bit more about this track as well?

Defected approached me about including a track for their 25th Anniversary album. “Just Stay The Night” was created specifically for Defected’s 25th Anniversary vinyl release. Defected has always been a label I respect. “Just Stay the Night” is a track that brings a different vibe. I appreciate David Penn’s work very much and Raphaella did a great vocal performance.

With the release of your debut album last year and an explosive start to 2025, what else can we expect to see and hear from Vintage Culture this year?

I’m back in the studio and the creative wheels are turning. I’m always looking for new inspirations and consistent evolution of my sound. There’s a lot in the pipeline! Some unexpected collabs, b2bs, new sounds, and of course, some incredible shows around the world. This year is about pushing creative boundaries and staying true to what makes this journey so special, the connection between the music and the people.