You played at Playground Weekender last year, I heard that was pretty wild?
Yeah. I’ve been hearing it’s been growing in size actually. I’m not quite sure how many people they had last time.
What do you think of the Australian crowd?
Fantastic. Fantastic. I’ve been going there for a long time and they’ve always been great, great crowds. Fantastic crowds.
How do they compare to a British crowd? Are they any different?
No, well as I’ve always said music is a universal language and maybe they might move a bit different or do a different thing dance-wise but no, they feel it the same way I think.
Do you have a favourite place that you like to play?
London’s always got a special place in my heart because that’s where it kind of first started and we tend to have different nights going mad on different occasions for different reasons. The Asians tend to go pretty mad as well.
How does playing festivals compare to some other gigs you’ve done in the past?
I like the big arenas for the big sound systems and the loudness of the sound and I also like the smaller ones just for the intimacy kind of thing. It tends to be more intensified in a small club.
Do you change your style depending on the size of audience?
No I don’t. I tend to just play what I’m into and what’s happening at the moment where I’m playing.
Tell us about how you got into the business, you had a classical music upbringing?
I started playing piano when I was about seven or eight and then moved into trumpet and drums and then got into the whole band thing and that’s how I got into it really.
When did the transition from classical music to drum and bass occur?
My piano teacher when I was like 10 or something, he basically took me to see Chick Corea play at the Royal Albert Hall and that really kind of twisted my mind. That really changed my whole way of thinking and got me into jazz, soul and disco and all of those forms of music. I started finding a lot of records of jazz and soul artists and that kind of got me into the whole vibe.
What can your fans expect from you in Oz? We hear they started a Facebook campaign to get you back here again?
Yeah someone did tell me that actually (laughs)! I couldn’t believe it.
How does that sit with you being such a massive artist?
I feel honoured that people actually care that much ya’ know. I really do. I think it’s quite amazing actually. I thank any person that’s kind of listened and got into what we do. Without them, there’s no us, ya know? It’s very much a partnership I feel.
So what does the new decade have in store for LTJ Bukem?
I’m definitely going to go back into the studio and writing some more music and I’ve been planning that for sometime now and it’s something that I really feel I’ve just gotta do now because I’m itching to do it. I’ve spent a lot of time on the road so I’ve got to make some time for that and do that. And just keep what we’ve been doing, for what is it, 18 years?! It’s quite mad!
Finally, the trickiest question… in three words, how would you describe your music?
Oh dear! Ummm, soundscapes would be one word and… groovy, sassy.
LTJ Bukem will be at the Playground Weekender Festival, just outside Sydney, at Wisemans Ferry, Feb 18-21. Details at www.playgroundweekender.com.au. Click here for a web exclusive interview with fellow Playgrounder Norman Jay.
