We had a chat with a name who is highly respected within the underground music scene. UK artist Saytek (aka Joseph Keevill) has gathered some serious momentum over the last few years and has become one of the electronic music scene’s most in-demand live acts.

We spoke about his amazing live performance set up, how he entered into the music industry, what releases he has coming this year plus more.

Lets start with talking about your amazing set up when you perform… How did this all start?!

Well I was a geeky kid who was obsessed with the working of sound and synths and drum machines so it was natural for me to do live shows. I always found it easy jamming stuff out in the studio than putting blocks together on a screen so I guess it’s something I was naturally drawn to.

I actually had hardware before I used a computer to make music an old Russian analog synth, a Tandy mixer and a second hand drum machine where my first toys when I was still a boy. Then I got a Roland MC505 groove box when I was 18 and I loved it, I loved the way you could shape sounds and build up patterns and get really hands on.

Although I have always loved gear I have never been a collector only buying stuff that I think will genuinely improve my live show so I have my current set up and a kind of kit graveyard bits that have served me well but have died on the road or become to battered to use

What would you class your style is when you perform?

Its all just underground house and techno; From deeper melodic stuff to acid to Detroit influenced techno to dubbed house grooves and more experimental left-field machine bleeps. I like to think of my sets as a tough but deep journey though everything i personally love about house and techno. I am not to bothered about trends but always keep an ear out for new and fresh sounds to inspire me.

In the next coming months, what can we expect from your own productions?

Well I have my Machine Jams album coming out in July on my label Cubism with is a 14 track album of tracks all written produced and performed live by myself. I am really excited about this and cant wait for it to drop. Also i have tracks coming out on Motech, New Violence Records, My Favourite Freaks and a one sided 12” coming on Decay records.

In your whole music career, where has been your favourite event to play at and why?

Well there isn’t one Its kind of obvious to say Fabric, Tresor, or the terrace of Space Ibiza. But really when the vibe is right and the sound system is good then a great gig can happen anywhere and i have had some amazing ones like an illegal warehouse party in Finland or club in a small town in Poland.

What were your first steps on entering the underground music scene?

A very misspent youth! I started getting into house, techno, rave, ambient and more experimental sounds when i was pretty young in the early/mid 90’s and as soon as i looked old enough to get into a club or rave i was there every weekend.

Soon after I had my own sound System and was doing illegal warehouse parties in London. I eventually ended up working as a sound and lighting engineer in Clubs like The End. So my early electronic influences came from that period.

Saytek… any hidden names behind the name?

Not really I am not sure myself to be honest and always have a few different stories as to how it came about. Truth is it was coined in quite a hazy period of my life.