Re:Publik

Wednesday, 1st August 2012

Re:Publik present LUKE SOLOMON Spraoi Sunday at Crystal

Spraoi Bank Holiday Sunday August 5th, sees the return of firm Waterford favourite, Classic Music boss LUKE SOLOMON at Crystal NiteClub. Running the legenadary label Classic Music with Derrick Carter & also one part of Freaks has given Luke worldwide success as DJ / Producer. Now making new music under his alais LukaTron, has recently released on Maceo Plex Ellum Audio label and will guest at Jamie Jones Hot Creations night in DC10, Ibiza just a few days earlier. Luke has already played a number of times in Waterford over the past 10 years & this will be his second apperance for Re:Publik after an excellent night as part of the famous Recession Sessions at the Loft. Support on the night comes from Re:Publik resident Kenno while more info on Room 2 next week. Admission is only 10 euro for what is sure to be another excellent night in Crystal NiteClub with Re:Publik Music.

No one could debate Luke Solomon’s dance music credentials. From setting upthe seminal label Classic Recordings with Derrick Carter to taking quirky house to the UK Top 10 and international charts, with his band Freaks, to DJing around the globe and performing live, Luke has been there for many of the more interesting 4/4 moments of the last decade. A gig with Derrick Carter led the two to become friends, after which Classic Recordings was born. For 9 years, the label introduced the world to the likes of DJ Sneak, Tiefschwarz and Freeform 5 and garnered a cult following until distribution difficulties led to the last single issuing forth in 2006.

Running alongside this was the birth and growth of Freaks, the production team Luke started with Justin Harris in 1996. Under the Freaks moniker, Luke & Justin have turned out a slew of singles and long players on their own Music For Freaks imprint to include the albums Meanwhile Back At The Disco and The Man Who Lived Underground. These albums spawned some of Freaks seminal singles such as Turning Orange, Where Were You When the Lights Went out and of course their huge underground hit, The Creeps. They have also found themselves remixing the likes of Alison Limerick, Pulp, Damon Alban, Kasabian, The Streets & Duran Duran.

After a bidding war between the majors for The Creeps, Ministry Of Sound snapped up the 4 year old track and released it into the mainstream with a new quirky vocal from Freaks singer Stella Attar. But as the dance puritans sharpened their claws, what does Luke have to say on achieving a No 9 UK chart hit and potentially being accused of "selling out"? "It was a weird one for me. When Ministry picked it up, we said fine but we want to write a new vocal for it, which we did. Let’s face it you get bands like Groove Armada, Chemical Brothers, Basement Jaxx and it’s all credible music which hits the charts and the radio waves. They all have their own take on what they do and it works and I don’t think there’s any reason why Freaks can’t do that as well."

However, besides having chart success throughout the world and running a successful label, Luke really feels like his own career is just beginning. As a solo artist he has had releases on a variety of labels to include the very respected Crosstown Rebels. His 1st artist album "The Difference Engine" was released in 2008 on Radio Slave’s much-applauded Rekids label. This album led Luke to team up with Crosstown Rebels Damian Lazarus on his own artist album and Luke co-wrote and co-produced a selection of tracks for the long player. The album entitled, "Smoke the Monster Out" has since been released worldwide via Get Physical Records, and as Dazed and Confused noted "It is a truly inventive, deviant and uncompromising" piece of work. But what does the future hold for Mr Solomon. Well besides continuing to travel around the world to DJ (playing the likes of Panama Bar, Berlin, Fabric, London, DC10, Ibiza) releasing new material from Freaks on Rebirth Records, creating a new club moniker, Lukatron which will see its first release on Quintessential and continuing to remix under Luke Solomon and Freaks guises, Luke has also just finished recording his 2nd artist album " Timelines" which features the likes of Jon Marsh from The Beloved, Tiger, Tiger & Natalie Brooms on vocals. So whether it’s a second coming or not, one thing’s for sure, Luke’s credentials are most certainly not to be argued with.