After her stunning release on their deeper House-focused Karakul label, Phonica Records welcome back Swiss producer Lea Lisa on their main imprint.
The ‘Love To The End EP’ takes influence and inspiration from a particular early 90s UK Techno rarity by Mark Goddard titled ‘The End’ (The Truth EP), a beautiful and emotive take on the classic sound of UK Techno that’s been much loved and highly sought after for decades, even being a particular favorite of Aphex Twin. It’s an ode to the original, rather than a remix or cover. The two mixes re-imagine the sound of soulful and deep Techno, combining driving basslines and drum machine grooves with atmospheric and nostalgic synth lines.
On the A-Side’s ‘Manchester Club Mix’, the focus is laser on peak time dancefloors with a slowly building level of euphoria matched with rolling drums until the breakdown chills the mood and the plucky earth-shaking bassline returns before the tension is released and the melodies float effortlessly around the pounding rhythm.
Over on the B-Side, the ‘Sunset Mix’ jacks up the drums with kicks and claps that shake your spine. The bassline rolls steadily throughout the mix but the melodic lines this time are more restrained, introspective and subtle, echoing and harking to past rave memories with ease.’
You can now listen to the full premiere of the ‘Sunsex Mix’ version exclusively on our sister channel Dancefloor Romancer. Enjoy!
WWD: Hello Lea, Welcome to When We Dip. Where are you based and what are you doing today?
I live in Switzerland in Lausanne. I just came back from Berlin where I was mixing at Heideglühen for the 10th anniversary of the club, it’s really one of my favorite clubs. I don’t have any voice anymore, I hurt all over, when I mix there it’s a marathon 😀 but it’s a memorable experience and very inspiring for the future.
WWD: You recently played at SunceBeat Festival. How was this for you? What were the highlights?
It’s a very friendly festival, people are very nice, you really feel the community spirit around House Music. Kerri Chandler invited me to his boat party with Rich Medina. It’s always a huge pleasure to share the decks with him. Rich also, we worked together on one of my ep’s. We had a great time. And then there was a very touching moment when I played a Scott Groove song “Over You”. A person came up to me to say thank you, that he couldn’t hold back his tears. Making people cry is not my main goal of course, but I see how important the meaning of the lyrics is too, you can make people feel so many different emotions…
We ended up in a grand finale at Barbarella, with family, friends, sunrise. It was magical.
WWD: When did you first start to get into music Lea and what were the first records you were into?
When I was very young, I was a fan of Madonna, her first album. Also, Depeche Mode, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the dark, a lot of New Wave type sounds. Honestly the first vinyl record was Madonna’s « Everybody » in 1982. My father was a bit of gangster very close to the night scene. I remember going to the club for the first time when I was 11 with him on many occasions, hearing Robin S, Maars etc. It was really great…
WWD: Do you remember the moment you decided you were going to play records for a living?
Yes, I must have been 18, a big party with Laurent Garnier And Miss Monica, this night was so memorable, I had already been mixing for some time but at that moment, I didn’t ask myself any more questions, I said to myself, it will be this or nothing. It was a real vocation.
WWD: Talk us though your history as a DJ a little. Where were your first gigs?
It must have been around 1994 in a club in Cannes called the Queen. A warm-up. As often happens the first time, I was stressed, my hands were shaking, the beginning of the learning process…I worked very hard at home practicing. I mixed in bars, clubs etc… At the end of the 90’s, things accelerated after I went to New York. I met a lot of artists, that inspired me a lot. I joined a big agency with a large majority of artists that I loved. My career took on an international dimension, I toured a lot, in Europe, Asia, the United States, for 7/8 years it was intense. The downside was that I was exhausted and often alone. In 2007, I decided to stop, many labels were closing, vinyl sales were collapsing, record shops were closing. It was a difficult time for House music. I also wanted to have a family life. I stopped for 7 years. It was the right time. I didn’t even think I would ever come back. Life is full of surprises.
WWD: Who are the direct inspirations to you in your music today?
Ron Trent, Chaos in The CBD. Mr G, there are so many…
WWD: You have worked quite closely with Kerri Chandler in your career. What is your relationship with him?
We have common values around music. A friendship of over 20 years. A mutual respect. He is someone who represents so much of the essence of House Music. He will always be an inspiration to me.
WWD: If you had to define the music that Lea Lisa makes, what words would you use to define it?
I need to make people feel emotions through my music. That’s what I try to convey. It’s not easy to do your own self-analysis! Perhaps the closest word is Deep, Cerebral.
WWD: How did you hook up with Phonica?
Via Sharon Andrews who kindly made the connection between us, Thank you Sharon! When I’m convinced of a track, I often have the idea of the label that goes with it. There were keys Of Life on Karakul, their Deep House oriented label and now Love to The End on the main label. I’m very happy because Simon Rigg understands each project exactly. It’s a very nice collaboration.
WWD: Tell us about your love of the original record and your inspiration for this new release – Love To The End.
My new record means to me much more than a new piece of vinyl only. Let’s go back to a time when a new world opened up to many of us. We were young, carefree and we strongly lived the birth of a new music coming from the United States and England mainly. Those 90’s with its endless parties, its wonderful people sharing a common passion and especially its records have remained anchored in me.
One record which perfectly represents all those sounds I (still) loved and the love for that rave era is Mark Goddard’s “Truth EP”. All over this is pure gold. A timeless EP from the beginning to the end. It deeply touched my soul. A few years ago, I had the pleasure to get in touch with Mark. I had started to work on this record which would pay tribute to all the raves I have experienced, to the sunrises after dancing all night, to all those DJ’s who made me feel alive. Mark pushed me to release it and that’s why this “Love To The End EP” is dedicated to him.
I hope you will like this 12 minutes long ode as much as I like this beautiful culture we all share.