Thanks in no small part to his Tyrant residency alongside Craig Richards, Lee Burridge has situated himself as a truly International DJ and one of the happiest guys in the game.
Having honed his skills in Hong Kong and Thailand through the early 90’s, it wasn’t until Burridge returned to England when he would establish himself as a truly first-class DJ. Garnering special attention with his unexpected mix of house and breakbeats, two often juxtaposing styles of dance music that he would carefully balance during his sets, Lee’s eclectic and diverse range of styles has now seen him play on every corner of the globe.
In 1999 he released his first mix album, Metropolis, followed by this Global Underground: Nubreed edition in 2001. What followed included a 3x CD mix for the prestigious Balance, a successful Get Weird label (and party series), and now, the world famous All Day I Dream concept, which sees itself hosting one off events around the world, as well as stages at some of the scene’s most in demand festival locations.
With a self-described style as “Wonky, Wobbly, bassline driven, trippy, melodic, mean, nasty, gentle, deep, spacious, distant and rocking.Interesting not obvious,” this DJs DJ sees no signs of slowing down.
Anticipating the latest release from Lee Burridge, a co-production alongside Lost Desert entitled ‘Stand Up Right’ we spoke with the man himself on his love for the desert ecosystem, why he doesn’t consider himself a producer, three decades in the scene, and more.
“I love that feeling that I’m not fully in control.”
On your latest collaborative track ‘Stand Up Right,’ what was the very first element that occurred to you? Was it the bassline? Melody? Was it a theme you wanted to encapsulate?
It’s all about the mystery of the track for me. It’s a track for the desert. The twang of the bass when I first heard it actually reminded me of a great Lee Jones track called Yoyo which could only have ever been a good thing.
As mentioned, the track is a collaboration with Lost Desert. Firstly, how did your relationship with Lost Desert form? Secondly, how did you two approach the collaborative process on the ‘Stand Up Right’ EP, as a whole?
He walked out of a sandstorm humming the bassline. Luckily, I was there and said we should do something with it. I always carry some sort of recording device so he hummed it in to the recorder and it all started right there and then. For a moment I thought I’d imagined the whole experience but after that particular adventure was over we both had the same recollection. We found the long lost recording and went about realizing that particular dream.
I’ve read interviews with you where you mention that you don’t really consider yourself a producer, per se. Regardless, over the years you have put out a handful of productions. So, what happens when you decide to sit down in the studio to produce a track? Why would you say you don’t produce or remix with the same kind of frequency as many of your peers?
Because the real talent lies inside others. I just have to try and figure out a way to squeeze it out and have it sound like something I can hear inside my head. I was always a DJ first and foremost. Always playing two day after parties after two days of partying and never sitting learning how to twiddle the knobs quite right. When you don’t really know how to drive the car very well it takes ages to get anywhere worthwhile.
Speaking of Lost Desert, there is no denying (unless there is, of course) your affinity with the Desert ecosystem. I mean, for one, your Burning Man sets are widely considered to be amongst the best. Would you say you are particularly drawn to the Desert? If so, why?
I’ve always loved deserts. Lost or otherwise. The space. The solitude. The colors. The peace and quiet and the sky at night. We live in very small boxes and very rarely get to go somewhere so wild. I love that feeling that I’m not fully in control. Out at Burning Man for instance a few years ago we sat and watched four different weather systems in the skies one day just before the festival opened. One was a lightning storm. It hit. We really had no where to hide as I don’t think RV’s are particularly lightning proof. A few people actually got struck that afternoon creating wild beards. Luckily we weren’t those people but it really does make you feel alive.
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