by Rich Malton
I recently got the chance to speak to Ram’s own Rene Lavice, here’s what he had to say.
Hi Rene, how’s your day been?
Great, I’m on a
What have you been doing this year so far?
There has been so much happening already in 2014, probably too many things to remember off the top of my head. So far there has been the much anticipated release of ‘Where My Ladies At’ with AA side ‘I Want More’ – both of which managed to spring into the top 10 on Beatport at the same time. That release was super well received and it’s one of my favourite releases to date!
Another massive event was the remix I did for Chris Lake’s new single ‘Helium.’ With this remix I embraced the soulful beauty of the intro and really let the beautiful vocal shine, whilst the drop stays true to the Rene LaVice sound people have come to know me for. So far I’ve been astounded by the response it’s been getting world wide! Especially after Andy C played it at Pirate Station in Kiev, it’s become clear that it’s a true big-room crowd-pleaser just in time for summer and I can’t wait to
Aside from the gigs I’m currently flying around to, we are currently planning my biggest UK/EU tour yet and I’ll be living in London UK for all of May for the duration of the tour. We’re also working on lots of summer festival gigs and planning all kinds of exciting stuff to follow that as well.
One gig I’m SUPER stoked for it my Birthday jam on April 4th @ Aria Complex in Toronto! It’s going to be super fun and the event is called EMP Sessions: 01 Rene LaVice. It’s the first of an event series that we are doing for the love of promoting the very best in Drum & Bass as well as exposing new Artists & DJs to the world!
The other thing I want people to know about is my second album which is nearing completion! It’s been an incredible journey and a mind blowing amount of work, but all things considered I’ve never been more excited for a release than this!
You’re a DJ, producer and a film maker… which came first?
I would say all of it at once… I don’t think it was ever a definitely choice to do one thing or the other. I was always doing all of it in one way or another. When I finished high school I started to tell people “yeah I’m a film maker” because that was one thing I did that I knew I could more or less go to school for and still enjoy. Then I ended up going to art school instead and painting pictures of naked people and doing all kinds of weird crap that was really great. I can’t believe I got a degree for acting like a nutcase for 5 years. How great is that!
Have there been any specific films that have influenced your D&B production?
8 1/2 (1963).
What is the Drum & Bass scene like in Toronto?
O’ Canada. I love Toronto. Toronto has a place in my heart that nothing could replace and there are so many reasons for that; the music is one of them!
Today, Toronto’s D&B scene is super confusing and totally fragmented. You’ve got groups of promoters that really respect everyone and throw great events and then the other half of them act like they’re too cool for everyone and show a
To be honest it seems like stuff like that is just a result of things being really do or die for such a long time. Either your event killed it, or you lost money. Either you released on a huge label, or your release hardly got any love at all. When things are like that, when there is no middle-ground, people get really cagey and competitive. People get really threatened by the success of others and are quick to criticize anyone and everything instead of focusing on what their strengths are.
I’m neutral with all of it though. I don’t see it as my job to come through and criticize everything in Toronto. There is so much love for what I do here it’s insane. I promote Toronto by putting out music and keeping us on the map internationally. When I tour and people ask me where I live, I’m proud to tell them I still live in Toronto because it’s the best place on earth. There is so much culture in Toronto, so much love and so much talent: All of these are things we’ll be promoting with the EMP Sessions project!
You are good friends with Gremlinz, how did you two first meet?
A few years back I had some student loans to pay off and the only way to get the money was to hold up a bank with 5 other people I’ve never met before in my life using fake names. It seemed like a great idea at the time but on the drive down to the bank, Gremz and I were in the same van and whilst chatting we decided it was a complete bullshit scheme that was stolen straight out of Reservoir Dogs and said “fuck it,” threw aside our balaclavas, and went and got pho @ Train on Spadina. While we were eating Gremz kept shoving his iPhone speaker in my ear at full volume while grinning and going “I made dis” and we’ve been friends ever since.
It felt like you was releasing tunes a short time before being signed to Ram, how did you feel upon hearing the news?
I feel like there might be a few steps in the process missing there, but yeah it was great to sign with RAM. I wasn’t in a headspace to sign with any label EVER after being fucked around so much for years by various labels, but what made this different was working with Andy C. He was one of the few people who loved my music for what it was and saw the potential in it without bullshitting me around or trying to mould me into something I’m not. The whole RAM crew is like that, that positivity feeds from the top down. That was a working relationship that I could sense early on and it’s been great ever since!
Do you have any tips for producers wanting to do the same?
I think we should first define what you’re asking. If you’re asking “how do more producers go about getting signed to big labels” then I’d say that’s a terrible goal and you should avoid it. The reason being that you don’t have a clue what you’re after. Instead look at what it is you’re after and feel out the opportunities as they come. Signing to a label is only going to benefit you if it’s the right label for you. So go with your gut and follow your own path. The piece of advice that worked for me that I believe is universal to success in music is; focus on the music. Just make music. Everything else will follow. Stop bullshitting other people, stop talking making excuses, stop trying to talk your way into things, shut your mouth and make music. That’s what I did and it worked.
What else do you get up to in your spare time?
Skateboarding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What’s next for you?
EMP Sessions 01: Rene Lavice @ Aria Ccomplex in TORONTOOOOOO!!!!!! It’s my birthday party so be there!!!!
facebook.com/renelavice
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