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Laidback Luke

Although he was born in Manila (Philippines), the friendly ever smiling Laidback Luke grew up in Holland, where he lives in the small city of Aalsmeer - close to Amsterdam. In his school days he made a name as a talented graffiti artist, but hip hop-art eventually gave way for a new love: the magic of music - discovered on the Amiga-computer of a friend.

Laidback Luke made his first musical sketches on his father's PC and it didn't take long before his unique talents were noticed. While still at school, he introduced himself to producer-dj Dobre - at that time in the international charts with 'Give it up' (Goodmen), who played at a school graduation-party. After hearing a first demo-tape that the young producer sent him, Dobre - impressed with LL's sound -, invited him to the Goodmen-studio and helped him secure his first recording contract. So it comes as no suprise that Dobre (still very succesful, now with Jark Prongo and Trancesetters) was asked to remix the first single of 'ELECTRONIC SADISFACTION', the charging and effective 'Rocking With The Best', which also sports a Superfunk-remix.

At 25, Laidback Luke is already a veteran of the international dance-community with an impressive production of some 30 quality 12-inches, as well as some great remixes for acts like Green Velvet (, 1997) - all of which earned him the title of most promising new producer in the 1997 UK Muzik Magazine.
But with the album 'ELECTRONIC SADISFACTION', named after one of the main tourist attractions of the Netherlands, Luke takes his music to the next level. The loud, energetic single 'Rocking With The Best' is just a teaser for a glorious collection of tracks that don't just stick to the styles Luke is known for - house and techno - , but incorporate elements from a wide range of styles - disco, hip hop, rock, R&B and eighties synthi-pop. And all to great effect.

Being a house-music freak, Luke was influenced by MK, Tod Terry, DJ Pierre and Carl Craig. The urge to search for harder stuff came when he got confronted by Chicago's Relief Records. He became a real fan of the funky hard Chicago sound. Along came Paul Johnson, DJ Sneak, Neil Landstrumm and Thomas Bangalter. By this time Luke had already made his all-time classic 'Act the Fool' on Touché. His big break came with the remix of Green Velvet's 'Stalker' on Music Man. Here he combined his house knowledge with the techno feel of the original. He made a dance floor anthem played by all DJs.

Luke initially got into DJ-ing to find out how he could optimise his productions to the needs of the DJs. Fortunately it didn't stick to that; he soon found himself playing all over the world. With DJ-ing he combines his past dance floor experiences with his production experiences to make an energetic full-on dance floor mix. Last year he played at Dancevalley, Lowlands, Noorderslag Festival and Awakenings in The Netherlands. Abroad he played in The End (London), Japan, Canada, USA and Ibiza. Luke recently finished 2 tracks with Junior Sanchez. They will be released on "Cube".

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