Last Friday and Saturday, Respect My Region was lucky enough to interview Seven Lions and also attend his performance as part of the Journey Tour that was held at WaMu Theater. For me, this was life changing and definitely an experience that I consider to be at the top of my list this year.
I was able to do a quick phone interview with Jeff on Friday and got to ask some questions about his music, the Journey Tour, his moving to the Pacific Northwest as well as his thoughts on some of the recent happenings in the world. During my interview, he told me that they were bringing out the full stage for Saturday night and that he hadn’t yet seen it.
His set ended up being an experience I will never forget. Getting to know the person behind the music you listen to everyday makes the music mean much much more. The projection for the stage was beyond amazing. A combination of powerful visuals, lights, lasers and the crowd’s vibes created an a beautiful atmosphere.
Q: Recently you moved to the PNW, how are you enjoying it and what spurred you to decide to move to our little corner?
A: “I love it so far, I kinda wish we weren’t touring so heavily so I could enjoy the weather but it’s awesome. I love the trees and the rain. Wanted to be somewhere a little more green then California.”
Q: Have you tried some of our local craft brews, If so, what’s your favorite?
A: “There’s a bunch of breweries my wife & I have been to up where we live in Woodinville. The Triple Horn, Sumerian and a few others. The Triple Horn is the first one we went to. My wife & I are the type of people to find one place and stick with it so I would say the Triple Horn.”
Q: Who has inspired/influenced you most in music?
A: “Opek musically alot and Above & Beyond.”
Q: Is there a city where you are most excited to play on the Journey Tour?
A: “Seattle! We just moved here, it’s one of the bigger shows & the WaMu Theater is huge.”
Q: Why did you decide to call this tour “The Journey Tour”?
A: “We’re gonna do a whole lot of hiking and exploring, try to see more of the country then chill on the bus so the name fit well.”
Q: Creation EP you dropped back in march peaked #1 on the billboard top electronic album charts, how did that feel & what is your favorite song off the EP?
A: “Pretty stoked, it was a very more of an experimental EP so I was very happy that people were okay with going off in weird directions. Leaving Earth is probably my favorite because it’s very traditional to my metal roots. Creation is probably my favorite to play live.
Q: You started out playing drums, bass and guitar in metal bands, what made you transition into producing the music you’re making today?
A: “I basically didn’t want to rely on other people to make music. A friend gave me FL Studio back in high school and I realized I can start making music on my own and not having to wait for other people. So that’s what really turned me out to the electronic music thing.”
Q: What has been your favorite or most notable performance?
A: Probably EDC Las Vegas recently, it was the biggest show I’ve done probably ever actually.
Q: What is your favorite song right now? any artist, any genre
A: “Ghost by Square Hammer. I’ve been listening to it a lot recently.”
Q: What are your thoughts on the current electronic music scene? has it changed much from when you started out?
A: “I honestly try to keep my head down about that stuff. I’m not really involved with the scene much other than the shows that I do & when we go to festivals. Stuff like that. I’m not overly critical on what others are doing. I definitely have a feeling that electronic music is becoming a cool kids club where it used to be a little more about the music which is a bummer but other than that I think it’s full of really good people and good experiences.”
Q: What do you think of festivals these days? Have you gone to one recently? Are they majorly different from when you started going to them? What was your first?
A: “At Life Is Beautiful we cruised around a bit, checked out Die Antwoord for a few of their songs and then we just cruised. Whenever we play EDC I always hangout at the different stages, and jam in the festival. I really like that festival. So we actually do cruise out about at night time and check things out. My first EDC was in 2007, and if anything they have gotten way more impressive. The production they bring and the artistic aspect of it is incredible. The first one i went to was in the Coliseum, they had a cool stage but it wasn’t the kind of everywhere epic landscape that they make now, so I think they have improved if anything a lot.”
Q: What is the most memorable thing a fan has told you?
A: “I can’t really think of anything at the top of my head, but it’s always really cool to see tattoos & stuff because I have tattoos. I have my favorite band on my back so it’s always interesting to see that. Definitely feels full circle.”
Q: Recent happenings in the world with police brutality, shootings, bombings, clowns…What are your thoughts on what’s been happening?
A: “I haven’t heard much about the clown stuff, but the police brutality, I just feel like there’s a lot of good people out there and then there’s shitty people that fuck up for everybody. That is also including police. The vast majority of them are good hearted people who aren’t there to fuck over other people but it’s tough.”
Q: What inspires you to keep doing what you’re doing through all the distractions or happenings in the world?
A: “Honestly my music is really fantasy based and it’s kind of about escapism and zoning out and not being a part of the other world or this world. I think that’s why people like reading books like Lord of The Rings or Harry Potter so much because it kind of brings you out of the garbage that goes on and allows you be somewhere else for a little while and I think that’s kind of what I like about my music. Just writing music for me I’m not thinking about what’s going on in the world. I am very politically opinionated but I don’t want that to come out in my music at all because that’s not what I’m here for.”
Q: Do you have any advice or words of encouragement for upcoming DJ’s/producers in the game, anything for your fans?
A: “Keep your head down, work hard, don’t get discouraged if you don’t blow up over night. I feel like that’s what happens with a lot of people think if they can make two or three songs then just start touring or their soundcloud blows up, and it doesn’t happen and they give up but what they should be doing is spending the hours and hours working hard and it will pay off in the end.
For my fans: “Thanks for the support, I appreciate it and hope to see everybody on tour.”
The night started off with one of the area’s top locals, Faraday. He threw down some great jams that really pumped up the crowd! Grum and Said The Sky followed up Faraday and they both did a great job of keeping the mood just right. Said The Sky honestly was a jaw dropper and contributed some incredibly positive vibes.
Henry Fong was up next and dropped slapper after slapper. For his set, there wasn’t a single person in the entire room not dancing. Every opening DJ was spot on, including Mat Zo. He played a very interesting drum and bass set and it was one of the more different ones I have ever experienced. It was truly one of a kind and the perfect touch to get the crowd ready for Seven Lions. He definitely put a lot of thought and creativity into this production and I could tell he was having the time of his life up there. My favorite songs played that night were Coming Home, Strangers, Falling Away and his new song Rush Over Me with Illenium, Said The Sky and Haliene.
With this being Seven Lion’s first show living here as a local, I can confirm that it was a complete success. I for one cannot wait till the next time he plays here again and all in all, it was a must see.
Pictures from The Journey Tour available thanks to USC Events & Turk Photos
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