A Behind the Scene Interview with Lau.Tastic
We have the honour of interviewing the London-based dark, hard and industrial techno artist from Madrid, Lau.Tastic.
Who is Lau.Tastic?
Lau.Tastic started her musical vocation years ago, always been attracted to the techno scene – particularly in London and Berlin – which made her develop into her current musical style: dark, hard, industrial techno but always keeping it danceable and high pitch. With a great particular and original style, starting her path through this exciting and challenging musical career and developing her skills at LSA, where she obtained the Elite DJ course award.
Now she is part of La Divina (Union Club)where she owned a residency. She has collaborated with several radio stations like Manic FM radio, Solaris, AAJA music, vibes station, Empty plate radio, incognito radio, 100×100 techno, and many more.
Having played in the underground techno scene of London most of the time, she is now playing for places like The Egg, La Divina (Union Club), E1, Bar A Bar, Redon, 1001, amongst others. She had the pleasure of playing in Colombia, Madrid, and Bulgaria.
Actually starting to produce, exploring new sounds, and developing her skills deeper. Willing and excited for what is yet to come! You can listen to her EP “False Space” alongside CRIME, and her newest track “Oh Gosh” with Luca Maier, exclusively on Beatport.
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Lau.Tastic
How did you start Lau.Tastic and What made you DJ?
For many years I always liked electronic music, since I was around 16 or 17 I used to go with friends to electronic music events and venues like ‘Fabric’ or ‘Radical’ in Spain.
When I moved to England I started going to lots of festivals like ‘Junction 2’ and ‘The Social Festival’; I started exploring the underground techno scene and fell in love with it.
It took me years until I realised I really wanted to become a DJ.
I always felt a really deep connection with the music but I didn’t know what to do, I felt a bit lost. After a bad breakup, a friend of mine offered to teach me how to DJ to lift my mood up, and since then it is one of the things that I can tell you now, changes my mood completely.
It is a very deep connection, something that comes from inside, a little spark that makes me reach happiness. If I’m sad, I need to play for a bit.
If I’m happy I need to celebrate by playing a bit. If you are stressed, worried, frustrated… I don’t know, for me is like a way to escape from reality. One of the things that makes me completely connect and forget about everything else around me.
What do you personally think to be the best moments in your artistic career?
There are a few moments that I would say are the best, but without a doubt, one of the best moments is when you are playing and see people dancing, enjoying, and connecting with you at the same level.
Seeing people around you enjoy what you are doing is such a magnificent feeling that you can’t really express with words.
I can recall the first time I played: I was so happy and proud I couldn’t believe it, it was all like a dream! I was nervous but excited. Everything was a bit blurry and happened really fast, but that feeling of satisfaction, gratification, pleasure…feels superb.
Also, the moment when you finish your set and people come to give you a hug or congratulate you about your set, those little moments for me are some of the best. It makes you feel valued and respected. I love that moment. That gives you inner pleasure.
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What makes you decide to play a particular track during one of your sets?
I tend to create a special folder/ playlist with all the music for that specific event. I like thinking about the crowd, venue, time of the set, and also my mood at that moment and what I want to express with it. Each set is different and is a journey you just feel at that specific momentum. I normally organize my playlist according to key and rating.
Lau.Tastic
Is there a criterion for selecting what to play at a gig?
I evaluate each song giving them 1 to 5 stars according to their beat, strength, kick, etc so they start from less power to more energetic ones. Then, when I am at the gig, I just look at the folder and start playing around (no specific order) just according to the key and rating.
Other times I feel like a particular song will really fit after the other so then I play it straight away, other times I just improvise.
Depending on the gig I will plan it more than others. That helps me a lot when playing as I like going through a journey that probably starts a bit softer, ending up with more powerful, strong songs to end up.
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Do you like playing b2b? How does it compare to a solo situation?
It really depends. I think depending on who you are doing the B2B I could say I like it more or less. If I could choose I would definitely choose a solo situation, as you are 100% under control, but there are some B2B that has been really fun and I would definitely repeat. Two of my favourites have been the B2B with Play Insane and Amphibian.
They were fun, we understood each other completely, and we were completely linked. With some people, you just have a connection and you don’t even need to practice, it feels natural, and it flows. That’s what I love when you flow and you just play the music accordingly, together, feeling that both of you are on the same page, on the same boat, vibing and enjoying your musical journey.
Who was your favourite b2b so far?
Together. Other B2B has been more difficult than others, I guess it really depends on the style, music taste, and musical choices, also it depends on the way people like playing and their particular self. Some B2B have been like a fight, you feel you are completely 2 individuals doing a completely different thing.
That feels awful. How do people choose their own song without taking into account the one that you just play, some people just don’t care…how abrupt they are when doing transitions, or just simply the fact of not vibing with you.
Can you describe how you approach a b2b?
I guess when you are by yourself you know exactly what you are going to do and how, but instead when you are in a B2B situation is more like improvising, as you never know what the other person is going to play or how.
I normally like meeting up and talking about the songs we are both going to play and if possible practicing at least one time before the gig. But I have had occasions when none of us could meet up in advance and just wing it. Trust me, some of them have been wonderful (I don’t even know how!) and others have been disastrous. I guess we need to adapt to the other and try our best.
How did you start making your own tracks? What led Lau.Tastic to electronic music production?
From that desire of wanting to express what you feel to the people. That connection I was talking about before. There is something inside you, in your head, that you want to share with people. You want them to feel exactly how you feel. I am still in a very early stage of producing, but I have very good collaborations with good friends and I feel really happy and proud of them.
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How are playing gigs and producing music in the studio connected? What do you draw from each experience?
For me, they are 2 completely different worlds. Playing a gig you are on the go, channeling all your energy, connecting with the crowd, vibing. It is my favourite so far. When producing, you spend hours, days, and months to make a single track. I love the whole process, but it takes a while to make each of them. They need dedication and lots of time.
You end up feeling really connected with it and feel it very personal, so when you get to play one of your own tracks in a gig, that’s another level. That is pure happiness what you feel, but of course, not every track is yours, and not that sensation happens all the time. I think they are both important and they are both intimately connected, but from my experience, so far I prefer the feeling of playing a gig and feeling the warmth of the people.
What release are you most proud of so far, and what projects are you currently working on?
So far I am proud of all of them, I don’t have many so every single one is special for me. My first EP in collaboration with my friend CRIME is great: in particular “False Space”, the one that gives name to the EP.
Also, I am currently working on another track with my dear friend Luca Maier, wait for it because you are going to absolutely adore it! It is a remix of a very well-known song, it will be a free download but just stay tuned because I think is gonna smash it!
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Can you tell us about your latest LP/EP release?
My last release has been with Luca Maier, another collaboration that I am completely proud of. It’s called “Oh Gosh” and I love every single part of it. The energy it has, from beginning to end, every kick, synth, drop… it is just so special for me. At the moment it’s exclusive to Beatport but on the 20th of this month, it will be available on all platforms so get ready and grab your copy!
How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business? What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free?
I think the internet has positives and negatives.
Thanks to the internet you have more exposure, you can reach far away places quicker, you get viral in seconds and you can go up easily, but also it affects you in a bad way, there are hackers, people downloading songs without paying, haters… it is complicated.
I do think that music is there to share, I have a free download for Expel your Demons, a song that I did with my friend Play Insane.
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Do you ever give your music away for free?
It was my first ever track and I adore it, but sometimes it’s better to share it as a free download so lots of people can access it for free, rather than just having that track sitting down on your pc for ages.
I believe that music is there to make everyone feel, and vibe the same energy so why not make it accessible? There are also other ways of making money out of music so, for me sharing music it is not a problem!
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What are your favorite venues you go to get the best Techno music?
My favourite place is (un)FOLD if you know you know. It’s everything about that place: from the amazing sound system to the crowd, the DJs, the lights, and the music itself. It’s such a magical place, that it feels like home. There you can be yourself, express yourself and nobody will ever judge. I just adore that place.
There are other places I like too, but so far apart from Berghain, none of them can compare to what FOLD makes me feel when I’m there.
If you ever had the chance to travel back in time and talk to a younger version of you, what would you advise yourself?
To learn how to produce/DJ earlier!
I wish I had the opportunity/chance to have started my musical career way earlier. I sometimes feel like I am a bit old but then I look around me and think, no way! The moment is now.
If you have the passion, and you are willing to do it, take all that energy and just go for it!
Please recommend a couple of artists to our readers who you feel deserve their attention.
There are thousands of artists that I could recommend. But for sure the ones I have been doing the collaborations with are CRIME and Luca Maier.
Check them out, they’re out of this world! I would also like to recommend Marco Leckbert. These guys are currently producing incredible techno bombs and they’re going to be very well known really soon. Make a note!
Last but not least, I would also recommend Amphibian, another dear friend of mine that is like a little diamond. Check them out!
Listen & Support Lau.Tastic:
CRIME and Lau.Tastic
CRIME and Lau.Tastic “False Space”(Dolma Records) – Available on all platforms
Includes: False Space, Patological and Furious
Listen to Lau.Tastic – Furious By Dolma Records
Buy:
Luca Maier and Lau.Tastic
Luca Maier and Lau.Tastic “Oh Gosh” (Darkground Records) – Now exclusive to Beatport, will be released on all platforms on the 20th of June.
Includes Oh Gosh (Original mix), and OH Gosh (Remix by Lost Minds)
Buy:
FREE DOWNLOAD
Lau.tastic and Play Insane “My last Dance” (Expel your demons) – Free download on Soundcloud.
Listen:
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