With a career almost touching 20 years, Chris Lake has secured a Grammy Award nomination, survived the explosion of EDM and amassed an enormous discography that includes several chart-topping hits. And in a time where people desperately want answers, his EP with fellow house music legend Armand van Helden might just provide that for people.
Norwich-born but Los Angeles based, Lake recently uploaded a video to his Instagram feed of that electric moment all DJs know: you’re behind the decks, the beat drops after a long buildup, and a gigantic crowd duly lose their minds. The caption reads: ‘dear gigs, we miss you.’ I ask him how he’s been coping without that unbelievable high of performing that must be tricky to go such a long time without.
“Yeah, it's definitely a challenge,” he says. “And it’s a really important part of what we do (as DJs). We make music for people to dance to, first and foremost. Being able to get that live feedback from people, I feel it's helped make my music better over the years and more relevant. Especially compared to when I first started making music in my bedroom and I wasn't really getting the road test, and I didn't really know how people dance to it, you know?”
I discuss with Lake how dance music saw its biggest commercial moment in the early 2010s, as EDM suddenly replaced pop and rock as the most popular and mainstream sound. But with Lake accurately describing that time as a “bubble,” I mention that so many EDM artists did not make it out of that bubble, whereas Lake’s career has gone from strength to strength. I ask what he feels has kept him going so successfully.
“I've learned how to identify what I think I'm good at myself, and use it in the best way possible,” he answers. “It's probably the main thing that I am proud of because it's not like I think I'm crazy talented. I want to keep doing what I love and focus on my own uniqueness.
“I think that has really helped my longevity. And I've also had really good people around me. I've been very lucky to work with some great people who are completely honest with me about what they think. I let them hear everything and I am quite picky to a point of what I actually end up releasing. I make a lot of music, but I don't necessarily release a lot of music now.”
I ask Lake what it’s like to be releasing music that would absolutely thrive in nightclubs, and what purpose he feels the music serves when the dancefloors are closed to the public.
“It feels like it's a different purpose when releasing music during a global pandemic,” he says. “Especially when one of the biggest outlets for this music doesn't exist right now. But it is weird sending music to DJs who are just giving their opinions on the music, but they can't actually give you feedback on how it sounds in a club because they can't play in clubs! However, I find people enjoying listening to my music in many settings. It's not just completely dancefloor orientated. It might feel like first and foremost it does belong in a club but people seem to enjoy listening to it in other places.”
I mention that, while clubs are closed, that can’t change the fact that dance music songs often carry a vital message of unity and togetherness, which are as important now as ever.
“I completely agree,” he says. “Dance culture represents inclusiveness. It’s always felt to me that clubs are where you go to not be judged and express your inner freak. For the most part, the dance scene has always been so open and tolerant for me.”
