Q&A with London based DJ and Producer Lachie A ́rden

London based DJ and Producer Lachie A ́rden draws on a vast collection of life experiences and influencers from multiple genres to take his listeners on an uplifting journey grounded in the kind of deep, melodic house you’d expect to hear in the clubs and beaches of Mykonos, Ibiza and Miami, making his music a unique listening experience.

Lachie A ́rden has played at the most iconic venues in London including Egg London and Ministry of Sound.

For anyone that hasn’t heard it yet, how would you describe your sound?

Uplifting melodic house/dance with a 90’s revival echoing subtly through the melodies and driving bass lines.

At what point in your life did you have that moment where you said to yourself “This is it. This is the type of music I want to create?”

I produced my third track, ‘Reaching Out’, and it captured entirely the feel-good uplifting vibe I was seeking for myself at a time when I was struggling with my own change in life circumstances having lost my kidney and being on dialysis. I knew I wanted to inject positive, uplifting modern music into mine and other people’s lives.

What piece of gear could you never live without?

I’d like to name a cool piece of equipment like my mood but in reality its Native Instruments. An incredible piece of software that forms the backbone of most tracks I produce.

Studio work and music creation or performing and interacting with a live audience, what do you prefer?

I love them both, I couldn’t imagine one without the other. The studio allows me time and space to explore music both creatively and emotionally, providing me with focus and direction during otherwise difficult days on dialysis while performing is an emotional and at times euphoric outlet where I can connect with the audience. Being an extrovert I generate energy off being around other people and performing is the ultimate buzz, it fills me with drive to continue to develop, improve and make the next step.

What’s the weirdest or most amazing reaction you’ve had to your music?

Perhaps not particularly weird, however, I have on a number of separate occasions had audience members approach me and tell me how well my set was curated and that they felt each track was handpicked and played precisely where it was meant to be. I’m not a DJ that turns up and just starts playing, I spend a lot of time considering tracks not only on their own merit but also how they play together and how the energy of the set rises and falls with each one.

Favourite BPM?

126

All-time favourite album?

Impossible to answer with just one, I grew up on alternative rock/pop in Australia, my favourite albums from that time were Internationalist/Odyssey Number Five by Powederfinger and Ten/Vs by PearlJam. I got into electronic music in the late 90’s early 2000’s, my favourite early works were from the likes of Fat Boy Slim (You’ve Come A Long Way, Baby) and Basement Jaxx (Rooty) and more recently Nora En Pure, Joris Voorn and Artlec provide more influence in my music.

Janus Rasmussen’s music video for ‘Green Wine’ is a fantasy puppet wonderland

What have you got in the pipeline for the near future?

I have just put to bed 10 new tracks which I am in discussions with labels now on releasing in 2020. I’m working with Axtone records on a remix for the label and also working with DJ growth lab on expanding my production skills and attending their Ibiza villa retreat in May. I’ll be playing a showcase on Saturday, March 7th at the Camden Assembly and beyond that I am looking forward to more gig opportunities later in the year as my new tracks are released.