Sex, Politics & Religion With Drew Lauric
Fan-belt’s powers that be, being of sound mind and body – or, more likely, inebriated to the point of poor judgment – recently green-lighted the return of Fan-belt’s “Sex, Politics & Religion” [which started in 2008]. Drew Lauric, one half of the local “good-time/party” DJ duo Elechronic (with Mike “The Milkman” Shank), presides over regular Optimixx nights at the oft-overlooked Redroom (so…how’s that bridge construction coming, City of Milwaukee?) and Bay View’s Highbury Pub, as well as holding down a monthly residency at Riverwest’s River Horse. As if the man isn’t busy enough, Lauric’s latest project, Hairline Fracture, plans to perform live remixes and live hip-hop. Of course, it was only polite to ask Drew how sex, politics and religion play into his music mindset and production skills.
I guess sex influences most of what most people do. Procreation being a basic objective of living. With that said, I try to help people to achieve this…and propagate their genes (safely). I associate warm, groovy basslines with a sexy feeling and I do concentrate more on sexy/love songs than on violence/conspicuous consumption songs. Additionally, people seem to respond quite well to songs explicitly about sex and this motivates me to play them. I will say, however, that I prefer an implicit sexy feeling in a song as opposed to explicit statements about it.
If the question is about whether sex motivates me to DJ overall, yes I suppose it does to an extent, as it could be arguable that many of the things we do can be traced back to this basic drive. However, my absolute obsession with and need for music is much more motivational to my musical endeavors.
Red or Blue?
I will answer this question more regarding a general social view and social responsibility. My political view is quite simple: considering the larger context in which we operate. In light of this, I find it challenging at times to play music that may be requested of me, especially in a Top 40 setting, if its message is [in conflict]to my general views and to the impact I am generally trying to have on my environment. In my studies (towards a Master’s degree in Counseling), social responsibility and second and third-order effects of our decisions are a principal focus and this influences most things I do. I then find myself in a tight spot, especially if the beat is particularly to my liking and the message is particularly harmful (as I view it).
Say Your Prayers?
It is interesting how my answers to all three of these questions seem to be along the same lines. I would say that religion in general can be a useful way of contextualize our existence, so in this way it affects how I view social responsibility and thus relates to trying to limit passing the buck of what I find to be harmful messages in some music and trying to play music that I feel will spread more positive energy.
with classic hip-hop, soul, funk and disco, ’80s and, of course some Hall and Oates and Steely Dan.
Upcoming dates
The Burlington in Chicago’s Logan Square on June 19th. The sounds that night will probably be the all-around party joints vibe and seeing how much indie-dance I can get away with. Quite excited about that especially since most of the people with whom I grew up live there. It’s going to be good to expand musically beyond state lines again. I also just really like that spot and its dark, intimate, but equally fun mood.
June 6th marks the return of The Optimixx at Redroom thanks to James Kloiber, who is doing a great deal to breathe new life into Redroom as a DJ venue. At these, I feel I can really play what I like, so what comes out is a mixture of deep house, reggae, soul and electro-funk/electro-pop.
