UK based DJ and producer Lucas O’Brien has been rounding up dancefloors and rocking them in the right direction since he started playing techno in the early nineties at renowned London clubs such as The End, Heaven, Club UK and Fabric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His trance-infused techno music was found to crossover with the sounds being played in Goa in the early 90s and it was this that led him to an opportunity to play at some of the early, now legendary, TIP parties. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Psymedia : You’ve been a veteran of the scene for two decades now. What was the scene like when you started? Tell me about the transition from techno to psytrance?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hi Psymedia! In the early days it was new and fresh and the parties where buzzing with excitement. I\u2019d never seen anything like it before. Electronic dance music brought about a social revolution. I started playing Acid House at warehouse parties before moving into clubs. In the mid 90s my friend Rich Bloor, still our label manager at TIP Records, recognised that my style of techno trance music would crossover into the Goa scene and he got me a spot at one of the amazing early TIP\u00a0parties. I\u2019ve never looked back!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Psymedia : You’ve been affiliated with the legendary TIP Records for a long time. Are record labels still important today?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lucas :<\/strong> <\/em>We have a great team and we\u2019re all good friends, so working together is a joy. Traveling with Raja Ram<\/strong> is always amusing, he\u2019s a great entertainer! It\u2019s hard for labels to survive now due to the decrease in income from music sales. To survive they have had to adapt to the changes. Most labels have a distinctive style which can help fans find the music they\u2019re after. Also, labels are a great platform to help launch new artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Psymedia : You occasionally produce as DJ Lucas\u00a0and collaborate with Ric Featherstone as Sybarite. When do you feel the need to produce? How do these two projects differ as a creative outlet for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lucas :<\/strong> <\/em>I\u2019m constantly inspired by all the places I travel to, the parties and festivals, music of all kinds and, in particular, musical instruments old and new. I have a collection of vintage synths, each with it\u2019s own style and sound. I have also started getting the soldering iron out and making my own. I like working by myself but nothing beats working with your best mate doing what you love!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Psymedia : You’ve released two albums as DJ Lucas, collaborating with a number of high-profile artists. Do you think you’ll release another album? Are albums still necessary, considering how people consume music now?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lucas :<\/strong> <\/em>It does seem that these days it\u2019s more likely that someone will download a few tracks from an album rather than the whole thing. I think it depends on the album. As a DJ, if it is just 10 psytrance bangers then it makes sense to just purchase the ones that you might play. However, if it\u2019s an album where the artist has really thought about the flow and the concept behind it, then you\u2019ll miss that if you don\u2019t listen to it as a whole. I\u2019m currently working on a compilation for TIP<\/strong> and also my own artist album, hopefully both out this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Psymedia : What was your experience like at Cape Town trance parties?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n