Last week Dayna Young spoke with Steve about his new Global Underground compilation 'Lights Out', his new 'Harlem Nights' currently running at The End in London and his excitement at heading back to Ibiza this season. You can read Part 1 of the article here. Now keep reading for Part 2 of this exciting look into Steve Lawler's world.

Steve Lawler’s reputation as one of the world's Nu Breed of DJ's / Producers was cemented almost overnight with the release in the late 90's of the Global Underground Nu Breed Compilation. A release which no doubt assisted in planting him firmly in the Top Twenty of Mix Mags Top 100 DJ list for 2000 and 2001.

Lawler consistently re-edits many of the tracks in his record box, believing it the only way to keep tracks fresh and up-to-date. It gives him the ability to alter the promo copies that he regularly receives and re-work them into his own unique style. “Anything really special of late that you’re enjoying dropping to crowds?” I ask. “Unfortunately…. Yeah!” he replies indicating that he almost doesn’t know which ones to choose from at times. “Pretty much every track on the [Global Underground] album [that's he's currently playing tracks from whilst touring] has been re-edited”. But his voice becomes not only sheepish but excited when he tells me about one track that he’s especially enjoying playing at the moment. “It’s ‘Right Said Fred - I’m too Sexy’ and it’s a re-edit of an edit… Somebody has obviously played with the vocals and has made them sound all twisted and then I’ve twisted them even further," Steve chuckles proudly saying that he believes he’s probably one of the only people playing it right now, and I laugh in acquiescence. "Not much of a chance of the DJ before you playing that track," I say wryly wishing I was able to hightail it to the UK on the next plane and hear his quirky version of this pop classic. Nobody does twisted house music quite like Steve Lawler.

I bring up with Steve the birth of his own recording label, 'Harlem'. “It’s not as easy as I thought it’d be", he concedes explaining that it grew out of being sent so much quality material which he only seemed to assisting with getting signed to other labels. “I’d pass on stuff to other people and I thought well why not do it myself?” he says indicating that one of his recent findings is a producer/ DJ by the name of Peter Bailey who has two upcoming releases on 'Harlem' titled 'Dancefloor' and 'Lights Down'. He then goes on to call Bailey's work “really on form” and describes it as having a “real US tribal sound”.

The closure of Twilo in NYC last year saw an end to Steve's residency at the now infamous club. On his website Lawler states, "It's a real shame Twilo has gone. I only played seven or eight times, my residency was just starting to carve it's own unique vibe and it started to feel like a home away from home. The club was vibrant and exciting and it will be sadly missed by many DJ's and clubbers alike". I query whether he is on the lookout for another US residency or whether he will be keeping his schedule free for DJing worldwide and more production work? "I've just come back from touring [the US] recently, " he says, telling me with enthusiasm that "it was the best tour I've ever had of America". However due to the current political climate in the US he says that he currently prefers to concentrate his efforts elsewhere at the moment.

And concentrate he has. Steve is currently in the middle of his 'Lights Out' tour, which at it's conclusion will have seen him tour the UK, USA, Vancouver, Calgary, Australia and Asia. I indicate to him that I'd recently heard that the tour involves him playing to a blackened out room for up to 7 hours. "That'd do heads in pretty quickly wouldn't it?," I say and he laughs agreeing. "People read stuff and it gets taken out of context," he says before going on to iron out the rumour mill. The 'Lights Out' concept is actually centred on starting off his set to an entirely blackened out room where Steve plays an introduction that lasts approximately two minutes. After which time the lights actually come back on. "Some clubs haven't been too keen to do it - for various reasons, " he tells me indicating that it's a concept that doesn't work in every single club he plays in, although it definitely sets the mood for his set.

The diary section of Steve's website, djstevelawler.com, has him possibly coming back to Australia in September 2002 for the Australasian leg of his 'Lights Out' tour. The last time he toured Australia for Two Tribes in March he bought his Father travelling with him. "It was the first time I took my dad on tour, " he says telling me that whilst both his parents are really proud of what he has achieved, his Father was definitely blown away by the response of some fans. "I played some really huge gigs in Asia after the Two Tribes leg." Steve says informing me that whilst his Dad was aware of the extent of Steve's popularity in the UK, he was definitely surprised to see how far reaching it was. He then indicates that his Dad couldn't quite believe that people on the other side of the world were calling out his sons name.

"So what DJ is guaranteed to get you out from behind the decks and onto the dancefloor?" I ask him expecting the standard 'DJ's don't dance' response. "Quite a few if I'm wrecked", he chuckles before proceeding to tell me that he likes dancing to Carl Cox for his energetic style and Sasha for his track layering and immaculate mixing. But what about in his spare time - the times when he's not near a mixer? "I. Like. To. Sit. Down. Put. My. Feet. Up. And. Watch. T.V., " he drawls slowly the yearning in his voice obvious before telling me he loves to watch movies on his sound system. Recent viewings in Steve's apartment include 'Best in Show' and '8mm' which Steve described as "disturbing".

"Ok, one last question," I say. "What one record never leaves your box?" "That's easy… Lil Mo Ying - 'Reach' - It hasn't dated at all the sounds are still so current, " Steve replies passionately, telling me that the record has been there for 7 years.

And you can bet, that like Steve Lawler, that record will be spinning for another 7 to come.