UK producer SEFF is now booming, musically speaking. After signing with different high-profile labels in the underground scene, he has never stopped growing in his career. He himself tells Spotlight that his success is due to a non-stop hard working period, but his new EP shows us that his talent has a lot to do with it too...
SEFF releases once more with VIVa Limited on the 13th of April through new EP, Power Up. Spotlight is premiering two of the four songs which make up this new piece of work: Afrika and The Real Thing. The first, an eight-minute melodic track with trance beats, the second, a theme composed for absolutely breaking the dance floor. Check them out further down.
How has your life changed since 2012 (the year you first released with VIVa LIMITED)?
"I’m not going to lie, it’s been constant hard work in the studio (and out) ever since then but of course having one of my first releases under my ‘SEFF’ moniker released by VIVa was a big push in the right direction for me. It made me want to push harder to get my music onto the right labels and also to keep up to a certain standard with my productions which has most definitely been showing just lately, especially with my latest EP on Hot Creations, things have “exploded” so to speak and my gig diary has increased tenfold (probably more)."
What does it mean to your evolution as an artist coming back to this label?
"It means a hell of a lot to me to come back to VIVa now with not only a full four-track EP, but also now being fully managed by them and of course the residency (VIVa Warriors) which comes along with that too. I feel very privileged that Steve and the rest of the team have the faith in me which they do and can fully see my potential."
Can you tell us a bit about what inspired this EP and how you created it, in particular Afrika & The Real Thing?
Afrika came about by me just really wanting to do something a bit more melodic one day and this was the outcome. I also dug out one of my favourite and first ever hardware synths (the Access Virus TI) for some of the “trancier" (for lack of a better word) type sounds and really just had fun with it most of all, whilst also trying to retain a kind of dark and mysterious vibe throughout the track at the same time. I’m really happy with the outcome of this one."
"The Real Thing was more of a “get in there and go” kind of track from the get go and it basically wrote itself. I didn’t have any plans for this one beforehand apart from the main vocal sample, but I wanted to do something quite funky and tough. Again, this one has been working great on the dance floors wherever I’ve played it."
Do you follow any special criteria or have any little rituals for your studio sessions?
"I suppose I do in a way and that is just to try and sound different to everybody else, I really pride myself on this so I hope it comes across this way to others too (who wants to be like everyone else?). I really believe that this is one of the main reasons why I’ve got to where I am right now, still a long way to go yet though don’t get me wrong."
What is it about VIVa Warriors parties that gels so well with you? Does your position as 'official resident' have any impact on your experience and execution at these parties?
"Anyone that’s ever been to any VIVa Warriors parties before will know that they are all about keeping it as underground as possible, which is what I’m all about and always have been for the last twenty years, so it all falls into place quite nicely for me really. My position as resident just makes the whole experience even better for me now as it’s been one of my favourite parties to go to as a clubber for the last few years whether it be on the island or elsewhere and now I also get to experience it from the other side of the decks."
How important is it to be a part of the dance music community if you want to be successful in the industry? Has fellow artist support been influential in your own career?
"It’s very important to network if you want to be successful in the industry - definitely! As good as you may be, you still have to get out there and get involved in the parties as well and make friends within the community too. Fellow artist support has been outstanding for myself over the last couple of years and it really does help me realise why I’m doing what I’m doing in the first place. As well as my personal favourite artists playing my material, which is amazing, it also helps to keep me on track in a way with my own stuff too. So yes, definitely influential."
Besides the residency on the island, what are your plans for 2015?
"There’s a lot coming up which is all yet to be announced so I can’t really talk about any of that (I’d love to be able to though as I’m dying to tell everyone) but apart from all of that, I’m just going to keep on working hard in the studio. In-between gigs, that is, as I’m playing somewhere almost every weekend and even in the weekdays a lot right up to the end of the year and even into next year. Always best to just keep an eye on my Facebook/Twitter etc."
WORDS | Natalia Gutiérrez
