We’re honoured to welcome a long time favourite of ours on-board to take care of this milestone WWD100. He is a producer and DJ, who has been on an epic journey of his own. Lane 8 is an inimitable titan of the electronic community, an artist that has risen from humble beginnings to being a global name with unparalleled output and music quality, while also leading his very own imprint This Never Happened. He joins us following the release of his second album ‘Little By Little’ earlier this year and more recently after his debut appearance on the hallowed Essential Mix. Over sixty minutes of sublime beats and some in-depth Q&A, it’s all below. Enjoy!
WWD : Hi Daniel, great to chat with you! You’re currently globetrotting on the Little By Little Tour, where in the world are you right now?
I’m actually eating watermelon at my dining table in Denver, Colorado. But it’s been a crazy run of lots of shows all over the place. Finally getting settled at home now before festival season kicks off.
WWD : What was the standout experience from the tour?
I think one thing that made me super happy was to see such a great response to my music in places I’ve never played a headline show before, like Amsterdam or Manchester. I sort of knew that the US tour would be really good because I’ve been really busy here over the past few years, but it’s always really cool to go to new places and be received well.
WWD : Little By Little, your second album, was of course released in January. It offered up a refreshing electronic experience. What were the key differences in the process for you this time around? Were there new challenges to face that didn’t feature in the ‘Rise’ experience?
I think the main focus for me on the new album was to create a cohesive sound pallette across the entire album. I thought a lot about my favorite albums of all time, albums like The Wall or Behaviour – and I realized that one of the things I loved about them was how cohesive the music sounded, while not being overly repetitive. With Rise, I think I was more focused on creating the best individual tracks I could, without always keeping the bigger picture in mind.
WWD : The music world is a turbulent place. It seems you’ve really taken control of your own destiny, building your own world, and your own label. Are there specific reasons you decided to take this path?
I looked at my favorite DJs and DJs whose careers I wanted to sort of emulate, and they all had certain things in common – they all ran their own events, had their own labels, and in doing so created their own space in the scene. Artists like Solomun, Eric Prydz, Maceo Plex – for the most part they release their own music and do their own branded shows. Obviously without the support of Anjunadeep, I never would have been in a position to run my own label – so it’s something I’ve worked towards over time.
WWD : What do you feel are the essential ingredients for fostering a long-term bond between an artist and their followers?
I think the main thing is a consistent stream of good music. I’ve noticed that some artists start to get some success, get really busy on the road playing shows, and their musical output suffers. I’ve always been very focused on maintaining lots of new music in the pipeline – I also think it makes gigs more exciting when fans can hear new tracks that aren’t released yet.
WWD : This Never Happened is a budding imprint now. Where do you see the label innovating in the years to come?
I hope to really bring an underrepresented melodic niche within dance music more attention. The artists we’re working with on the label are all incredibly talented musicians and melody crafters, guys like Anderholm and Khaen who continue to surprise me with their pure musicality. I think that is somewhat missing in the dance music world right now.
WWD : Can you give us an insight into the TNH plans for the coming summer?
Lots of new music, some exciting collaborations I’ve done with TNH artists and a bunch of really great remixes from Little By Little.
WWD : Do you have any particular goals you’d live to achieve in 2018?
Having toured a bunch in the first half of 2018, my main goal for the rest of the year is to make some great new music! I’m really excited to get back into the studio and make new things.
WWD : In life or music, what’s the best piece of advice you have received recently?
People aren’t mind readers. It’s important to be really clear about what you want from someone, and usually if you’re a nice person, people will do what they can to help you out.
WWD : It’s a real honor to welcome you on board for WWD100. Can you share with us a little bit about your approach to the mix and what one will find in there?
Thanks for having me! I wanted to showcase some of my favorite tracks I’ve come across recently. I included some new music from George FitzGerald, Kolsch, and Tim Green. The mix is pretty chilled out in the beginning and then gets a bit heavier at the end. That’s generally my approach with mixes. Enjoy!
Follow : Lane 8 // This Never Happened
Lane 8’s ‘Little By Little’ album is out now. Buy here.