METROPOLIS presents STEVE LAWLER & FERGIE-UK @ Zala Hristo Botev, Sofia (Fri Dec 7, 2007)

STEVE LAWLER is a definitive DJ and producer, renowned as one of the world’s premier and most respected talents. His rise to the top has been the result of pure talent and dedication to playing and producing the finest quality house music first. It's been a steady rise from the infamous 'motorway raves' of the early ‘90s, to his legendary residency’s We Love and VIVA at Space in Ibiza, Viva Harlem Nights at The End in London, and his Lights Out and VIVA tours of North America. Lawler continues to build an ever-growing band of avid followers who pack out any venue that bills his name. He is one of the most powerful touring brands in electronic music – period.

Steve Lawler was once hailed the pioneer of twisted house, but his sound has evolved through the years although the main elements still remain, meandering through deep, dark, sexy house tracks. Still evolving, and as always still innovating, Lawler will be at the forefront of global dance music for many years to come …

It Started in 1988. Steve Lawler used to avidly buy Depeche Mode records, which put him on the path of electronic music. But it was Acid House that really turned his head. Tuning devotedly into a local pirate radio station gave Lawler a taste for house music, and it wasn't long before his mates were luring him off to warehouse parties.

Lawler was inspired to put on his own illegal parties at the age of 17, in a disused tunnel underneath the M42 Motorway (1990 – 1994). These parties became legendary throughout Birmingham (his hometown) and across the Midlands, but were stopped due to pressure from the police. This didn’t deter Lawler. Next stop Ibiza, where Lawler has been every summer since 1990. It was his residency at Cafe Mambo in 1995 which was his real breaking point, where he performed eight-hour sets, seven days a week, as well as playing three times a week at Pacha on the roof terrace. It was there that he was spotted by Darren Hughes (then promoter of CREAM, now We Love), who recognised his talent and ambition and signed him to Cream's DJ agency with an immediate residency at CREAM the eponymous Liverpool institution.

Following his residency at Cream, Lawler launched his residency for Darren Hughes at Home at Space in Ibiza in 1999, the place where his legacy was truly realised. After two incredible years, he was crowned by the locals and the Industry ‘The King Of Space’

With a solid fan base, a proven track record and his first compilation ‘Dark Drums 1’ locked down what Lawler needed was a home in the UK, and that is exactly what he got. He set the capital alight with his weekly Friday night residency Deep South at Leicester Square’s multi-million pound super club Home London. The latter half of 2000 saw the timely release of his hugely successful Home compilation that reflected his successful residency.

Steve Lawler fast became the DJ every clubber wanted to hear but he wanted a new home and outlet. The perfect solution came in the form of his own monthly Thursday night at Code, titled The Midweek Session, which quickly became established as one of the most important club nights in the UK, where guests such as Danny Tenaglia, Sasha, Carl Cox, John Digweed, and Laurent Garnier all joined him behind the decks. In March 2001, Lawler then released his revered Nu Breed album with compilation kings Global Underground.

Lawler was by now touring North and South America, South Africa, Australia, Asia and Eastern Europe to great acclaim. Due to this workload, he decided to end The Midweek Session after just 12 parties and end the residency on a high. His second Dark Drums compilation ‘Dark Drums 2’ followed in September 2001, further appeasing his worldwide fan base, being listed as Compilation of the Month in many publications, and also in many end of year polls.

In 2002, Lawler launched two new concepts around his distinctive sound. The first was the ‘Lights Out’ compilation series released in the summer of 2002 with the follow-up ‘Lights Out 2’ hitting the shelves in late 2003. The third installment ‘Lights Out 3’ came out in October 2005 completing the trilogy. ‘Lights Out 3’ was accompanied by Lawler’s most extensive US tour to date. The second Lawler concept Harlem Nights saw him make an eagerly anticipated return to London in 2002, with his own night - Harlem Nights at The End, which continues to provide the perfect setting for Lawler to unleash his sixhour sets. It is now over five years old and titled Viva Harlem Nights.

Harlem Nights is where Steve Lawler feels completely at home as a DJ. It’s the umbrella for his sound, taking things back to basics and setting a vibe that keeps people coming back for more. As Steve himself states: “This is my baby, and a lot of my musical direction and inspiration comes from that night, from that crowd. I feel so comfortable from the second I walk into that room. Harlem Nights to me is one of the best parties in the world.”

Lawler’s next chapter began in the summer of 2005 with the launch of VIVA, marking a new direction for him both visually and musically. VIVA launched on a Thursday night on the new terrace at Space, and in 2006 hosted five special events at Pure Pacha on Friday nights to mark the launch of VIVA: The Album for Ministry of Sound, a three-disc album that has bucked the trend in international compilation sales. Lawler then launched VIVA Music, his own independently owned digital-only record label, an A&R facility for Steve to continue signing and releasing music he loves. Following the decision to close the Harlem Records umbrella of labels, Lawler wanted to continue expressing his ability to break new artists, and in the digital age, he now owns the highest-profile download-only imprint. Due to an exclusive relationship with Beatport, VIVA Music is the model of how to release electronic music in 2007.

The next chapter in the VIVA series arrives in October 2007 with a new global compilation concept from Lawler, focusing initially on his residency at The End. Titled VIVA: London, the double-CD is built around the sound and energy of the Viva Harlem Nights residency. The series, released via Renaissance Recordings, will then focus on other cities where Lawler visits on a regular basis. He also holds VIVA residencies in Canada and Vanguard in Los Angeles.

It's not all about being a DJ. Lawler's accomplished productions include the singles 'Rise In’ (2000), ‘Andante’ (2002), ‘Lost’ (2003), and ‘Out@Night’ (2004). More recently, Lawler has produced a range of new tracks in 2005 including ‘Souls On Ice’ (2005), a collaboration with hype production outfit King Unique. Other releases include Lawler’s ‘Illectronic Music’ (2005), and ‘That Sound’ (2005) released by Joia Records from Sweden (August 2005). Lawler is currently writing his debut artist album for release in 2008, whilst keeping the discerning dance floors busy with his SL Projects, SLADLY project with Dino Lenny, SLAAF with Audiofly. Along with his new singles ‘Courses For Horses’ ‘Violet’ ‘Krunk’ ‘Superflake’ and ‘Fools Paradise’ under his own name. Expect a stream of new underground music from Lawler in the next 12 months.

Lawler’s earlier remixes consist of BT, Dub pistols, Cevin Fisher, amongst many others. His recent remix CV consists of his first step into the Hollywood film industry with his huge rework of incidental sounds from Hollywood film The Skeleton Key. A multi-million box office hit in America, the remix became a true Ibiza classic. Elsewhere, Lawler remixed Donna Summer’s ‘I Feel Love’ for the Heineken Thirst Tour, which Steve recently performed for across key Asia markets. Other mixes include Dido’s ‘Sand In My Shoes’ (Billboard USA Dance Chart number one), the second Shapeshifters single ‘Back To Basics’, and house classic ‘Reach for Me’ by Funky Green Dogs‘. And who could forget hearing his remix of Bombdogs ‘I Can’t Explain’ in Ibiza summer of 2004. He’s recently remixed heavy weights Jamelia and Justin Timberlake.

Overall, Steve Lawler is a DJ who has never taken the easy path to success. A DJ whose passion for house music overthrows the boundaries of just playing records. From his mammoth sets at Space in Ibiza to his tendency to re-edit half the tracks in his box, Steve Lawler continually proves his true passion. As Jockey Slut puts it, ‘One of the best DJs in the world.”

It’s 11.30 on Saturday night, the pubs are kicking out and gradually clubland’s nocturnal reverie comes to life. Robert Ferguson (aka Fergie) is creating a soundtrack to our late night transformation, cutting and phasing between the latest releases from Adam Beyer, Oliver Huntemann, Joris Voorn and Thomas Schumacher with consummate ease. Now half an hour into his weekly BBC Radio 1 dance show it won’t be long before he too is joining us on the dancefloor, spinning the music he represents on national radio straight into the UK’s finest clubs. It’s been a crazy, hectic and verging on the downright insane ten years for the young upstart from Northern Ireland since he first hopped on a plane to pursue his DJ dream. From being championed as the man most likely to continue Tony De Vit’s hard house legacy to the tech-house, minimal and techno sounds he has been consistently pushing on his Radio 1 show since 2002, the boy from Larne has come a long way. Fergie moved to Belfast at a young age. One of his dad’s friends emigrated to Scandinavia to become a DJ and upon a returning visit said he would take the then 11 year old boy to The Arena Club in Armagh. Of course, being sneaked into a heaving club at such a young age quite literally blew his mind. “I didn’t even know what to think,” he recalls. “It was like – what is this? I look back on it now and just laugh about it. It was there and then that I wanted to be a DJ. I bugged my dad’s mate in the car on the way back asking him what the music was and what they played.” Soon school started fading into the distance as Fergie skipped lessons to go down to the local record shop and was subsequently to be found working there. Earning a paltry £25 a week, the repayments on his first set of turntables gave him £5 a week to live on. Not many DJs can lay claim to having their club debut at the tender age of 14 but the ambitious young Fergie did just that. By the age of 16, he had infiltrated and exhausted Ireland's club scene and set his sights across the water. Upon arriving in the UK he was soon introduced to the late and great Tony De Vit who became a friend and mentor and before long was making a name for himself in renowned nights such as 'Trade.' Before long the accolades came thick and fast, the hype kicked in, everything became a bit of a blur and a rather bemused looking Fergie was collecting awards and making acceptance speeches. “They were special times,” he fondly recalls but already his itchy feet were looking to find a new musical impetus. Hard house had become massive by the mid 90s and when Tony De Vit sadly passed away people were expecting this young pretender to take over the legacy. “I carried it on for a couple of years but then I started to feel that it just wasn’t going anywhere,” states Fergie. “Everyone started making the records really fast and it seemed to be turning into a competition as to who could speed the tempo up. I was into it when the sounds were really fresh coming off the back of Trade and I just wasn’t into it anymore.” Things were about to change. In 2002 Fergie was given the opportunity to host his own show on Radio 1. Essentially brought in to champion the hard house sound that had brought him to the world’s attention he saw this as the chance to highlight the new techno sounds that he was picking up on. “The BBC brought me in to be the king of hard house so I had to change things slowly,” he confirms. “I saw it (the show) as a 150% no going back moment” and Fergie hasn’t looked back since. Now playing week in week out all over the world, from Eastern Europe to North and South America and just about everywhere in between, Fergie has become the global headlining name that his ‘Headliners’ mix compilation for Ministry of Sound would aptly suggest. Whereas before his name would appear amongst the miasma of big name house and hard house guests, he now finds himself playing next to the techno artists whose sounds he has been championing for years (both on and off the air) and whose sounds can be further heard on his own musical productions on labels such as Punch Funk and his new Excentric Record imprint. Fergie’s new label will reflect his musical tastes and the music and styles that he plays in his club sets. As well as being a platform for his own productions the label will be licensing classic tracks with remixes and reworks and Fergie will himself be heading up Excentric tours and gigs next year alongside other artists involved in the label. Acclaimed Swedish producer John Dahlback will provide an early release and an Excentric mix from Fergie will also follow later this year. It’s now 12.30 and Saturday night clubland is in full swing. On the airwaves, Fergie is stepping up the pressure. Following a ‘4 To The Floor’ report from guest DJ Damian Lazarus, an ‘In The Studio’ mix session from Kevin Gorman and this week’s ‘Speaker Freaker’ from Johannes Heil, Fergie ‘Hits The Mix’. Whipping up tracks from Funk D’Void, Ozgur Can, Motor, Phil Kieran, Modeselektor, Alex Under and Cirez D. With guests such as Dave Clarke, Adam Beyer Richie Hawtin, Sven Vath, Eric Prydz and Roman Flugel already gracing the show he spins out into the night on the back of his 150% no turning back DJ set.

DJ Steven started DJ-ing professionally in 1990. He got the bug of turntablism from the early stars of hip-hop like Grandmaster Flash, Kool Herc and Afrika Bambaataa. His love for hip-hop took him to the finals of the first Bulgarian DMC championship in 93 where he won the title together with his team Tall, Fat & Small. In 94 they took part in the World finals at the Ministry of Sound, London. The same year DJ Steven was voted best DJ in Bulgaria. With the rise of house and techno Steven got more and more interested in the even flow of the kick drum. All this plus the pure sound energy of German legends Krafwerk made him spin lots of house & techno music in his sets. But his final turning point came with the release of Sven Vath’s seminal tracks L’Esperanza, Accident In Paradise and Harlequin: The Beauty and The Beast. In 1997 Steven and a group of friends and DJ’s started promoting parties under the name of Metropolis which 10 years later is the biggest and most influential electronic dance music promoter in Bulgaria. Metropolis made more than 100 gigs and tours with DJ’s like Carl Cox, Sven Vath, John Digweed, Deep Dish, Jeff Mills, Josh Wink, Luke Slater, WestBam, Dr Motte, Misjah, La di da, Gayle San, Takkyu Ishino, Jim Masters, Marco Bailey, DevilFish, Blake Baxter, Johan Bacto, Umek, Ben Sims, Ade Fenton, Simon Digby, Henrik B and the Space DJ’z. DJ Steven is one of the main Metropolis residents and played with all these DJ’s. He DJ-ed in Macedonia, Romania, Czech Republic, Turkey, Poland, Berlin Love Parade and London. Steven was voted best Bulgarian DJ 1993, 1994, 1997 and 2002. He is one of the residents of the notoriously known club Chervilo (Lipstick) in Sofia.

Jassen Petrov is a DJ for more than 10 years. As co founder of the biggest promoter company for electronic parties in Bulgaria called Metropolis he is responsible for the mellower side of the things. His abilities to mix innovative deep and progressive stuff with tribal percussion and heavy bass lines made him one of the most famous names of the Bulgarian electronic scene and “usual suspect” at the biggest clubs and parties all over the country. For three years he has residency at the notorious Lipstick club in Sofia, making the Friday nights at the club the most desirable house destination for clubbers in the city. At the same time his life is absolutely devoted to music. He was chief of the music department of the Bulgarian branch of Radio France International and has the oldest /more than 10 years/ show in Bulgaria for electronic music. As one of the biggest Bulgarian music journalists, he has his column in the best selling lifestyle magazine Egoist, 1 magazine and is doing project for Go-intro magazine. As a DJ he has played with such names as Carl Cox, John Digweed, Desyn Masiello, Luke Fair, Deep Dish, Josh Wink, Bob Sinclar, Phats and Small, Mr C, Sven Vath, Eddie Amador, Christian Smith, Illinton to name just a few.

Ivan Popov a.k.a. DJ Smurf is DJ-ing professionally for 13 years. In the beginning he was deep into more industrial and alternative sounds which later influenced him in his favorites in techno music. As co founder of the biggest promoter company for electronic parties in Bulgaria – Metropolis, he is responsible for organizing of some of the biggest parties ever in Bulgaria. Smurf is resident of several club nights and guests with mixes in the club radio shows. Played with Sven Vath, Chris Liebing, Jeff Mills,Luke Slater, Misstress Barbara, Marco Carola, DJ Preach, Takkiu Ishino, Westbam, DJ Sasha, Ade Fenton, Jamie Bissmire, Ben Long, Simon Digby, John Tomas and many more. Now Smurf is spinning techno, techouse, ellectroclash and minimal. Some of his favorite producers are Adam Beyer, Luke Slater, Eric Prydz, Axwell, Henrik B, Dave Clarke, Space DJ’z, Tobias Luke and Robert Natus. After 4 years DJing and promoting the powerfull European beats in Montreal Canada, Smurf is back in Bulgaria to continue his life mission with his soul mates and partners from Metropolis.