An Interview and DJ Mix from Tom Lown AKA Lucky Sun

Seasoned deep house producer Tom Lown has started a fascinating side project named Lucky Sun to focus on the more tranquil, downtempo side of his musical philosophy. His recent Dreamin EP, released by Lucky Sun Recordings, showcased this distinctive and varied sound and gathered support from an eclectic group of tastemakers including Tensnake, Nightmares on Wax, Nick Warren, and Kid Loco. 8DPromo had a few questions for Tom and he was kind enough to give some thoughtful answers.


What do you see as the difference(s) between your Lucky Sun project and productions under your own name and why make the distinction?

Tom: Most of my releases under my own name are deep house and kind of have my sound. Lucky Sun allows me to be a bit different, more eclectic / down tempo / balearic. It’s going to eventually lead to an album which will be a real variety of sounds and moods.

What artists or songs have influenced the Lucky Sun sound?

Tom: So many artists have influenced me and so many are subconscious I think: Sebastien Tellier, 4 Hero, Laura Mvula, Bonobo, Chassol, Jazzanova, Quantic, Kruder & Dorfmeister …

Troy Bolero's vocals on the title track to the Dreamin EP are fantastic and distinctive … how did you find him?

Tom: Troy Bolero was in a band called Headland who I used to play drums for. His real name is actually Tom and funnily enough there were actually four Toms in the band!

What’s in store for Lucky Sun, or for Tom Lown?

Tom: The Lucky Sun full length album will be ready for release at the end of this year. Also, there is a Tom Lown - The Remixes (2009 - 2016) album to be released as a long player in the next few months. It will feature fifteen or so remixes I’ve done for the likes of Sen-Sei & Dano, Rishi K, Pretty Criminals, Harold Heath, Jesus Pablo and a whole load more.

Here's a recent DJ mix from Tom Lown in his Lucky Sun guise, including tracks that run the gamut of his musical personality.

An Interview With James Benedict

Rising Glaswegian house music talent James Benedict has hooked up with Tom Lown's Lucky Sun Recordings label, spawning the deep and evocative In Time And Place EP. This fifth release for the label features three sparkling originals – "Midnight at Riverside", "Rockabeat", and the title cut – as well as fantastic remixes from Alvaro Hylander (DeepWit Recordings) and Nico Mendez (Underground Sounds / UM Records). We recently caught up with James to talk about this new release and other recent activities:

How did you manage to hook up with Lucky Sun Recordings?

JB: Tom approached me and asked me if I’d like to get involved in the label and I agreed! I knew that Lucky Sun was quite new and I checked out the releases in detail and really liked the sound Tom was putting out there. I like getting involved in new labels, and being part of a growing project. If I can contribute in some positive way then it’s all good.

What can you tell us about the In Time & Place EP? The title sounds almost mystical. Are there any stories or meanings behind its songs?

JB: It does sound a bit mystical, actually! The title track I suppose was about where I was in my musical life when I made it and about how I was feeling at the time. "Midnight at Riverside" is named after a museum down the road from where I was living when I made it, and "Rockabeat" is just a random one!

I probably spend more time coming up with names of songs than I do making them to be fair! I like to be quite original with them and sometimes they have a meaning and sometimes they don’t.

Is there anything you do in the studio – as far as hardware or software you use, or creative processes or quirks – that you feel is somewhat unique, or might be of interest to an outsider?

JB: In terms of my studio, I try to keep things as simple as possible, which helps me be creative. I use Ableton, a couple of digital synths (which vary depending on the sound I’m after), a MIDI keyboard, Ableton Push, occasionally the Roland TR-8. I also like using samples and recycling them in a way that suits my sound and the particular type of track I’m going for at the time. In terms of creative processes, I normally have a rough idea of what I want to make, try and find a loop that works (which can take a while sometimes), then eventually something will click and then I’ll arrange everything.

Listening to music is a massive part of the process for me as well, which can be anything, not just house music. Sometimes I’ll spend a week or two just listening to stuff to get inspiration, particularly if I feel I need to take a step back from the production. Also anything that I think is creative inspires me – films, art, photography.

How would you describe your sound to, say, a classic rock fan who knows nothing about deep house?

JB: I’d say it’s deep, funky, bouncy and underground. You may not like it if you don’t like electronic based music. But hopefully you’ll appreciate and respect it. The main thing I try to add to my tracks is some sort of feeling and soul. I think that’s important, and if I feel like a track doesn’t have that, I’ll scrap it and start again. Hopefully that’s passed on to the listener – that’s the goal!

What are you most excited about right now?

JB: I’m getting married at the end of the year which is exciting! A lot of work to organize everything but it's going to be worth it. I’m also buzzing about the new Star Wars film coming out in December (had to get that in – I’m a bit of a geek!). And I’m always excited about music, and stuff generally.

What’s next on the agenda for James Benedict?

JB: I have a four track EP coming out soon on LA based Good For You Records which I’m excited about, so watch out for that. I’m also working on a follow up EP for new label Delve Deeper Recordings (they’ve been pumping out some top tracks). And i’ve got a remix coming out In November on cool label sinnmusik* which I’m really looking forward to. Lots of other stuff going on in the pipeline, too!

Here's an audio preview of the In Time And Place EP (available now from Traxsource), as well as a top notch DJ mix from James Benedict:

Coming Soon From Lucky Sun Recordings ------------------ 1. In Time and Place 2. Midnight at Riverside 3. Rockabeat 4. Rockabeat (Alvaro Hylander Remix) 5. Midnight at Riverside (Nico's 12:01am Remix) Lucky Sun Recordings return with the imprint’s fifth release, the In Time and Place EP from Glasgow-based producer James Benedict. On the heels of recent hot releases on Savoir Faire Musique, House Trip Recordings, What Happens, and Delve Deeper Recordings, James brings the heat with these three new original tracks. “In Time and Place” delivers jerky house beats, spliced vox, and James’s signature deep chords. “Midnight At Riverside” follows with punchy drums and percussion alongside hypnotic synths and pads. “Rockabeat” is a slightly more psychedelic affair featuring swung, staccato synths, and potent drums and bass adding to a driving feel that just keeps building. The first remix in the package comes from Alvaro Hylander (DeepWit Recordings) who, in remixing “Rockabeat”, contributes a lovely piece of deep house … his chords and bass line are to die for and there’s a cheeky broken beat-esque middle section. Next, “Midnight at Riverside” is remixed by Nico Mendez (Underground Sounds / UM Records) who gets a bit ‘out there’ with shuffling beats, deep chords, and and an atmospheric breakdown. Top notch all around. . Label and Artist Links: www.soundcloud.com/lucky-sun www.soundcloud.com/dj-james-benedict

We're happy to present this gorgeously deep and warm DJ mix from up-and-coming Glasgow-based producer James Benedict. On the heels of recent hot releases on Savoir Faire Musique, House Trip Recordings, What Happens, and Delve Deeper Recordings, James is ready to bring the heat once again with his new In Time and Place EP for Tom Lown's Lucky Sun Recordings. This mix showcases James's deep house predilection, with a diverse array of upfront tracks and including his own "Midnight At Riverside" from the upcoming Lucky Sun single. ------------------------------------------------------------------ TRACK LIST: 1. Kevin Over - Outta Town (Original Mix) (Noir Music) 2. Steven Wobblejay - Basement Bright (Quintessentials) 3. James Benedict - Midnight At Riverside (Original Mix) (Forthcoming on Lucky Sun Recordings) 4. Thatmanmonkz - Kickin' It (Classic Music Company) 5. Nail - Together (Robsoul) 6. Phil Weeks & Joss Moog - Back In Effect (Robsoul) 7. Tensnake - Need Your Lovin (Tiger & Woods Remix) (Permanent Vacation) 8. Deeligent Soul - Colours of the Sunset (Large Music) 9. Lovebirds - Chasing Things (Teardrop Music) 10. James Benedict - In Time And Place (Original Mix) (Forthcoming on Lucky Sun Recordings) 11. Stefano Esposito - Detachment (Lost My Dog) 12. Toefflinger - Got The Love (Georgi Barrel Remix) (Forthcoming on sinnmusik*) 13. Pop Out & Play - Spray Crazy (Harold Heath Remix) (Lucky Sun Recordings) 14. Markus Enochson - Awa (Deeply Rooted House) ------------------------------------------------------------------ https://soundcloud.com/dj-james-benedict https://www.facebook.com/James-Benedict-482369025260 https://twitter.com/JamesBenedict3

Dlay - HeadBumps (Sudup Recordings)

Back after the well received OORS EP, Sudup Recordings return with a new deep house gem from label co-owner Dom Ahtuam AKA Dlay, entitled “Headbumps”. Dlay has been busy with releases for Fortified Recordings, Midnight Social, and multiple Sudup productions. He’s also been working as one half of the duos Sketchy Beats (with Justin Berman), Invisible Menders (with Jane Fitz), and Untying the Knots (with Ketsa).

Dlay’s “Headbumps” is a hypnotic deep house track featuring deep chords, spacey arpeggios and his usual intricate drum programming. This release shows a progression in his sound, while still being true to the style of his previous releases on Sudup.

The first remix comes courtesy of friend-of-the-label Tom Lown. Tom has been prolific over the last three years and shows no sign of slowing down, having had a recent split release with Harold Heath on Deepwit Recordings as well as releases on 3am and Lost My Dog. Here he delivers a quality reinterpretation of the original, adding a massive bass line, different percussion, and great use of the original hook.

To round the EP off, the final remix comes from a new member of the Sudup family, South Londoner Nota. His remix makes further use of that vocal sample and Dlay’s original parts, adding some squelchy acid action towards the end. After this great first outing expect more appearances from Nota on Sudup in 2013.

Alton Miller - “I am feeling the Tom Lown mix … niceness!”
Moodymanc - “Strong pack of solid groovers!”
Giom - “The remixes are ace!”
Ant Plate (Rhythm Plate / YSE) - “Proper low-slung deep house … nice. Tom’s drums are tops.”
Dave Mayer (Strictly Rhythm) - “Love Tom Lown’s remix … DOPE!”
Three (Hallucination Limited) - “Nota’s remix is working for me.”
DJ Rocca (Ajello) - “Super deepness, as I like.”
Tommi Bass (Rednetic Recordings) - “A nice deep sounding package… Tom Lown’s remix just steals the vote for my fave here.”
Tommy Largo - “Nice, deep grooves.”
Doc Link - “Feels good! I will be working this one in.”
DJ MFR - “Nice and groovy overall.”
Nutritious (Brooklyn Shakedown) - “So deep and lovely. Certain tunes wrap a big blanket of warm beats around you before pushing you back and forth across the floor. Tom’s mix does just that. Very nice, indeed.”
Bruce Tantum (TimeOut NY) - “Wow … great track, and two excellent variations on the theme. This a really rock-solid deep house EP. I’ll be playing all three versions … a lot!”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “Both Tom and Nota take the original vibe and work it into something very cool, but the original is the one I’m plumping for here … lovely solid deep house grooves all the way. Cracking stuff.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit Of House) - “The wicked remix by Tom Lown of this deep house gem is not to be missed.”

Available now from Juno Download and Stompy.

Ooze - Message For You (Sudup Recordings) →

8DPromo is pleased to welcome London’s Sudup Recordings to our promotions family as they present their fifteenth outing of intriguing deep house music. This single features the Sudup debut of Nans “Ooze” Teillard, a DJ/producer based in Toulouse, France. His “Message for You" is a slow, hypnotic roller with low slung bass and intricate beats giving it an almost techno-like groove. Clocking in at 114 BPMs, it’s the type of chunky, mid-tempo house that slinkier DJs should be clamoring for. The first remixes comes courtesy of London’s Tom Lown who has done huge work for the likes of Lost My Dog, 3am, Warmth, and Kapa Music in addition to his repeated offerings on Sudup. He delivers a sweet reinterpretation in his trademark deep style, tweaking the original and increasing the funk, providing his best remix on the label to date. The single’s third track is a remix by Sudup label co-owner Dom Ahtuam, under his Dlay moniker. Dom’s remix picks up the tempo ever so slightly, with a different bass line sitting alongside deep melodies and Detroit-influenced pads. This one is unmistakably aimed towards the late night dance floor.