Germany, Holland, England and Spain – these are the European nations synonymous with modern electronic music. Looking a little deeper, Italy, France, Scotland and Belgium also house prominent electronic scenes. Hungary, on the other hand, barely enters the competition. At least, that’s the way it appears to a casual, remote onlooker. But Budapest DJ and producer Jay Lumen argues otherwise.
“We have some big festivals here in Hungary, major festivals as well,” Lumen says. “Not only for underground, but all kinds of electronic music. The scene is pretty strong here, especially Budapest, which is really good for me. I play a lot in Hungary. I have 60-70 per cent of gigs outside of the country and 30-40 per cent inside the country.”
In recent times, Lumen has certainly not been at a loss for gig opportunities. Having gained recognition as a tech house/techno DJ, he’s spent the last five years getting to know his way around the global club circuit. This Easter he’ll return to Australia to co-headline the Rabbits Eat Lettuce festival at Woodfordia. For Lumen, it seems entirely natural to live and breathe music for 365 days a year.
“I started to learn music when I was seven years old,” he says. “I started to learn how to play the violin and all kinds of things about the music; I was singing in a choir as well. I think all of my life was going around the music until now, and I hope for the future as well.”
Although Lumen’s classical violin training occurred at a very young age, the shift into electronic production still seems rather drastic. However, his affection for electronic music also stretches back to his youth.
“When I was a child I started to listen to all the Chicago house and Detroit techno sounds from the late ’80s and I really loved it,” he says. “That kind of music is real fresh, still today as well. It was 30 years ago, but I think it’s really fresh now again. So that was the point when I felt, ‘I have to make something in electronic music.’ It was the first bang for me; I was sure that I have to make some of my own sounds in electronic music and I was sure that I have to be a DJ.”
Lumen is an admired professional behind the decks, but this success is almost trumped by his reputation as an original producer. There’s barely been a single week during the last four years when Lumen hasn’t had a tune sitting high in the Beatport charts, and the winning streak continues courtesy of his latest release, the eight-minute techno jam ‘Departures’. With consistent sales success comes artistic affirmation, but he hasn’t let it go to his head.
“My manager just said that I was in the Beatport top ten with all of my releases in the last four years, which I didn’t believe,” Lumen says. “And he said, ‘You are the only one all around the world.’ I’m so happy, but still I’m the same man. I just try to do what I love, which is the music.
“I want to try to show a piece of myself for the people – what I’m thinking, if I got some influences when I was on tour or something like that. I just play and produce the sound of what I actually feel. It doesn’t matter if I am in [the] top ten or not, I just keep my way and make what I love. If the people are happy when I’m playing, I’m happy as well.”
Lumen has now released more than enough originals to fill an entire DJ set. However, in a further display of refreshing modesty, the Hungarian’s sets are an exploration through the vast fields of techno, tech house and house music.
“I play a lot of tunes from other artists, of course,” he says. “I play my own sounds as well – around 20 per cent of my sets are my own tracks. I don’t feel that I have to do like some other acts that play their own sounds only. First of all I’m a DJ, which is why I like to show some new sounds from some others. [To play] the songs that I like, that’s why I’m a DJ.”
While Lumen’s career has revolved around the aforementioned genre zones, he’s not a single-minded listener. “When I’m driving I just check the alternative radio for some alternative pop-rock sounds, for drum and bass, for symphonic orchestra sounds, all kinds. I’m especially in love with original motion picture scores, the symphonic sounds of John Williams, Alan Silvestri, Hans Zimmer, Howard Shore.”
It’s fair to surmise that being naturally inclined towards music from all over the place has expanded Lumen’s tools for diversifying his own productions.
“It’s much better to get much more impressions from other musicians, from other styles,” he says. “You can keep your ears so clear. If you’re listening only one way and to one sound, it’ll get boring for you. If you’re listening only to techno, you will be not fresh enough with your sounds.
“As a producer I make techno, tech house and sometimes house as well. As a DJ, I do the same. But of course I listen to all kinds of music. I think it’s really important for all of the productions.”
Jay Lumen playsRabbits Eat Lettuce 2015 atWoodfordia, Queensland onFriday April 3 – Monday April 6.
