Lee Coombs doesn’t rather belong to a team of the most charismatic DJs in the world. He emanates with calmness and modesty, though from behind the decks he can sometimes flash with his incredibly sincere smile. He came to the club at around midnight and he didn’t want to start the interview without few drinks before, which may suggest he was embarrassed with the situation there. Quite weird, ‘cause Lee has been djing for 13 years! He’s been frequently a main feature on British Bugged Out!, Fabric and Spundae, as well as in many different clubs both in Europe and in US. As a producer he is the author of two compilations, among them one recorded for Perfecto, but his ambition is to release his artist album, on which he’s been working right now.

Sound Revolt: As a dj you achieved almost everything in your over 10 years’ career. Is there something more you like to win djing?
Lee Coombs: I want my own residency in my own club. I don’t have a club yet but I’d like to have a place, where I design the sound, the rhythm, the music... And I wanna play there as a resident. I’ve been resident in a few places over the years but not at this level.

Sound Revolt: Any plans about that?
Lee Coombs: Not yet. I’m just thinking about where to do it. What country to do it in even. I got lot of connections in San Francisco. I’d be happy to do it there.Yes, in a future I’d like to move out to San Francisco.

Sound Revolt: Because of the weather? (Before the interview we both complained about British and Polish winter).
Lee Coombs: No. But the weather is good, I love it out there.

Sound Revolt: What did you do to be invited to BBC’s Essential Mix broadcast?
Lee Coombs: They asked me!

Sound Revolt: They simply asked you to do it?
Lee Coombs: Yes! Ok, it can be really hard to get on, we’ve been trying to get on for years! I think the Plump DJs did a great breakbeat mix and they went down really well. That could be a reason to do another one and I think I was next on their list.

Sound Revolt: The mix is so perfect that it could not be recorded live in the studio, right? How long did you work on it?
Lee Coombs: Two hours.

Sound Revolt: Two hours? I mean you played it once without any mistake?
Lee Coombs: Yes, completely live! You can check it out here very soon.

Sound Revolt: You are one of the DJs making breaks more and more popular on the world dancefloors. Can I place your name in a row with Adam Freeland, James Lavelle and DJ Hyper?
Lee Coombs: Sometimes... But I’m just pushing my own sound. I get close to the breakbeat DJ, because I record for Finger Lickin. If I’d start of recording for a house label and made a breakbeat track then I would be called a house producer who makes breakbeat. But as it is, I’m a breakbeat producer that makes house music. I don’t want to do one or the other more; I just do whatever comes along. I mean I’m always trying to balance it out in a set, but when I make a record I care if it sounds good whatever it is.
But it isn’t answer to your question, is it? [Laughs]

Sound Revolt: Not really, but nevertheless I’ll go further. Don’t you think Freeland’s remix of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” track was too commercial move?
Lee Coombs: It depends on money he earned from it.

Sound Revolt: You think he made it for money?
Lee Coombs: Yes, I think that’s a money thing. People make pop music to earn some money.

Sound Revolt: I’m asking because I heard the track in a Polish disco.
Lee Coombs: That track? [Peals of laughter] So this is commercial!

Sound Revolt: Would you ever do such thing? Would you ever do Madonna’s or Britney Spears’ remix?
Lee Coombs: If it was a good record... Ok, Britney Spears does not produce good records. Maybe Madonna does. I’d do anything if it is good music; I’m just about good music.

Comments[0]
Post a comment