Producing and DJing out of Melbourne, Luke Chable has risen quickly up the ranks of Australia’s most respected producers. With over 40 releases to his name, Luke’s dark style of progressive has gained a reputation for never losing sight of what progressive music should really do… Progress. ITM caught up with Luke Chable and found out just how dark he really is.
ITM: You received the award for Best Remixer at the last DMA’s along with Phil K & Ivan Gough as Dark Alley, was it something that you took alot pride in or does the recognition take a back seat, as long as you’re happy yourself with your production?
Luke: Definately took pride in it, although the recognition usually does take a back seat because quite often good records are overlooked, and to be honest, if that was a remix of Joe Blo but still the same record, we wouldn’tve won the prize.
ITM: Has working a lot with those guys changed what you produce at all or do you still find that you stick to your guns and work more to your own ideas, rather than sort of having their influences rub off on you?
Luke: It’s made an impact on certain things i do although i also like to stick to my guns! When working alone i have a certain way of doing things, a certain feel im going for… a flow if you will! :)
ITM: When did you know you really wanted to follow this career path? Was there one track or producer/DJ that moved you enough to make the plunge?
Luke: I only realised when i did UNI for a year, then worked for 4 months on the phones… it did my head in. I knew then i wanted to do music as a full time thing. Finding a niche was hard though, only really found my sound last year. Having said that, all my demos and tracks before i was producing professionally have the chable slant! :) its all about the PEAK!
ITM: You’ve listed some of the darker side of Progressive as your influences, Timo Mass, Satoshi Tomiie, James Holden…are you a dark person or does that side of you only seem to come out musically?
Luke: I’m actually white. hehehehe Depends which tracks you choose to pull from those names but i think you’ll find im an extremely happy person and quite emotional.. which comes out in the music. My biggest influence and favourite artist at the moment is still James. He’s a dood.
ITM: It seems now that with young guys such as yourself, Australian Progressive music is getting a massive reputation globally, do you rate our talent up there with the best in the world? Both DJ and Production wise?
Luke: Certainly! Our DJs are just as good as most, and Australian productions are now so solid that it’s hard to look over. Nubreed’s breaks are i think (yes i know they are my friends but its true!) the best in the world at the moment. Not many have got the strength in music, song and groove.
ITM: You’re playing in Canberra soon with Ivan Gough, having not played here before is it difficult to judge how to shape the sets, or do you have a preset idea of how to go?
Luke: Not yet, no! Im just going to play good records that’ll make em dance. Plenty of new toons too. I aim to make all Gurn!
ITM: The remix of Sasha’s ‘Cloud Cuckoo’ made huge waves both locally and overseas, even Sasha was reported to have said he loved it, however the track was a bit more upbeat than your normal productions, was there anything different production wise for you making the remix or was it simply the starting point was a ‘happier’ song, for lack of a better word?
Luke: Well, i like happy stuff. Legalised Trance i call it. Im a big ‘legalised trance’ addict. And its not really about the trance, it’s about the emotion. That remix just sprung into my head when i was listening to the album, it was really a booty because i only used one part of it. Only took one afternoon to do.. and im re-doing it with more of the parts.
ITM: What’s some new music we can expect to hear from you in the coming months?
Luke: That’s a hard one.. where do i start?
Nubreed & Chable – One Day
Quest & The Dirty Fours – Bass Trap
Chable & The Dirty Fours – Tokyo
Chable & DB – Ride
Bjork – And Echo, A Stain (Chable & Gainer Remix)
Quest – The Shepherd
Quest – Wolf 359
Luke Chable – Melburn
Powerplant – Blame (Luke Chable Remix)
Fitalic – Emotion (Luke Chable Remix)
Nubreed & Chable – Nougat
The Dirty Fours & Chable – Neon
Lostep – Burma
ITM: If you could pick one person to collaborate with on a track, who would it be?
Luke: James Holden. And I am later in the year! :)
ITM: What do you prefer, DJing or Production? Do you feel that DJing somewhat limits the creativity you can convey to an audience?
Luke: I love both, differently. Once i’ve got more equipment to come with me whilst djing, it can be just as creative as producing..
ITM: If you weren’t involved with music, what do you think Luke Chable would be doing with himself?
Luke: Artwork, Animation, Graphics, and/or A Mobile Dog Wash Service.
ITM: It’s been said that the people who get ahead in music are the ones who can BS the most…do you think that’s true?
Luke: What a load of BS! I don’t know if thats true.. never heard it! Dr Phil (not k) can bs a bit…
ITM: You’ve now got something like 23 releases/remixes to your name, are you working all the time or do you have a good balance between work and other things?
Luke: Actually, i think you’ll find it’s well over 40 now.. I work full time, but it’s not work.. its my favourite thing. A balance is definately there but i can get into trouble getting too addicted to tunes..
ITM: If at the end of your career, you could look back and define one moment or achievement that you were most proud of, what would you want that to be?
Luke: Well, thats about 20 years off, but i would have to say my first track, Accelerator at Summadayze 2000. By far the biggest track of the entire event, where 20,000 punters literally lost the plot the entire way through the track. Sean Quinn played it at around 10pm. For a 19 year old at the time, it was quite hard to get a grip on what was happening. I still get shivers thinking of it… I was in the middle of the stage looking up at 20,000 ppl going ape.. I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, my legs were wobbling, my jaw was wide open and my eyes were wide open as well. My friends were shaking me and loosing it around me and it was almost like my heart stopped.. i was recovering from that for 30 minutes afterwards.. speechless.
Catch Luke Chable alongside Ivan Gough and local boys Karton at Canberra’s Sebtrackt Black Friday, June 13th.
Chable will also be appearing in Sydney at Sweetchilli on June 28th.
Check out ITM Whatson for more details.
