ADRIAN LUX

Firing Up

Swedish producer Adrian Lux has been busy working in the studio. JOE CASSIDY chats with the slightly weary youngster ahead of tour down under and appearance at Groovin’ The Moo.
Adrian Lux sounds a little exhausted during the time of this interview having just conquered an all night studio session. “I get more creative as it gets later; it’s pretty early for me actually,” he begins, talking of his nocturnal work ethic. “It’s easier to find magic when you work late.”
    Lux’s musical career begun as a hip hop and reggae DJ when he was still in high school, traversing from the suburbs of his family home to the bright lights and loud noises of the cities pumping clubs. It seems a parallel universe in comparison to ambient techno and deep house, but as often with many a talented DJ, far reaching influences produce the most unique sounds. It is this combination of creative influences that Lux thrives on, finally settling on a career as a DJ and producer after a stint as a model for big name Swedish clothing brands. Not bad for a talented young gun whose mother was a fashion photographer and father is a filmmaker.
    It wasn’t until 2010 when Lux released the track Teenage Crime featuring the vocals of Sebastian Ingrosso’s highly popular vocalist Linnéa Martinsson, aka Lune, that hearts started thumping and punters and industry alike started paying attention. Teenage Crime hit #6 on Triple J’s Hottest 100 in 2010 and racked up platinum sales around the country. For Lux, the overwhelming success of the track was a complete surprise and he says there are no secrets involved with regards to the creation of a track which is danceable and popular. “I just start playing around on the guitar or just doing stuff with the synth or recording vocals,” he says, confirming there’s no secret formula. “All of a sudden you just hear something and you’re like ‘oh that’s it’ and you just kinda work around that.”
    One gets the impression that Lux is a perfectionist of sorts when it comes to work in the studio and getting the right sound and baring this in mind, collaborations can sometimes be difficult. “You try out a lot of bad stuff that you don’t want anyone to hear and play the same loops over and over,” he says. Most of his collaborators are friends involved in the Swedish electronic music ilk. “It kind of comes natural to do that, we just have fun together,” he adds.
    But it isn’t only friends whom Lux collaborates with. His wife, Swedish actress and singer, Rebecca Scheja even features on the track Boy on his debut self-titled record released earlier this year.
    It is these collaborations which punters will be able to hear when Lux gets behind the decks at Groovin’ The Moo this weekend. Excited to be returning down under after playing Parklife last year, Lux says fans can expect to hear some of his favourite indie and pop artists. “It’s really cool and really fun indie music wise which I love,” he says of his set. “I think you [Australia] have some of the best festivals in the world, it’s really nice being down there.”