Rene LaVice

A DJ, producer and film maker, Rene LaVice is a consummate artist, embracing creativity wherever he finds it and channelling his inspirations into five minute works of brilliance. Brilliance that has found a home in the playlists of the likes of MistaJam, B Traits, Nick Grimshaw and fellow D&B peers like Goldie, Sigma, DJ Friction and, of course, Ram Records boss Andy C. The latter described Rene as an “incredibly talented guy” during a conversation live on BBC Radio 1 with Zane Lowe. This is the same moment when the BBC’s boldest tastemaker fell in love with Rene LaVice’s track ‘Where My Ladies At?’ a grinding peek into the artistic mind of a gifted producer that offers you just one side of his multi-faceted creativity. “Growing up I gravitated towards creativity. Playing in bands, filming skateboarding videos and exploring more technological art before my love of videogames led to making music with computers. There was something untouchable and enigmatic about electronic music and I became obsessed. I wanted to put my ideas out into the world and be a sounding board for life… I think art and culture are important to our society as a whole and we need music which reflects, challenges and interprets our lives.” Born in Toronto, Canada and now living in London, Rene LaVice’s sense of creativity, mirrored through his art is infectious. His style is his own, an expression that doesn’t succumb to peer pressure or passing trends. Rene is a man who knows his own mind, utilising influences that many producers would shy away from: “I like to cook good food,” he explains, talking about his other interests, “it’s kind of a hobby. But it makes me feel better when I know I’m using good ingredients and making traditional food for myself.” As if anything else could be a better metaphor for Rene’s music; making great food using great ingredients. Rene LaVice takes his chosen crafts seriously, devoting love and attention to whatever he’s creating. No wonder, then, that after just a handful of releases he was picked up for an exclusive contract with one of the D&B scene’s most respected labels. Label boss Andy C tracked down Rene LaVice, picking up ‘Headlock’, his first dance floor hit, along the way. A slew of incredible releases followed, including his debut album ‘Insidious’, securing Rene’s place as one of the most exciting talents that drum & bass has to offer and leading to his acceptance into the touring DJ elite. “Releasing my first full length album on Ram Records was a very big moment. For at least half my life I had wanted to create a full length album of some sort. I had worked toward this before but never had a proper outlet for releasing it. Ram was the perfect place, so I took a chance and released my first album with them. I wasn’t sure if it would be embraced or if I'd be looking for a different career in 2 months!” Fortunately for us, ‘Insidious’ was hugely well received from all corners of electronic music. Noted as one of the ‘Albums of 2013’ by influential blog Do Androids Dance, receiving love from the D&B scene’s stalwarts and picking up support from UKF along the way. Since then Rene LaVice’s schedule has skyrocketed, touring the UK and EU six times, hitting Australia & New Zealand and playing festivals across the globe including EDC NYC, Chicago and Las Vegas, Outlook and his native Shambala. “I’ve been blessed with a lot of support” confirms Rene in his typical unassuming manner. Reinforcing, as one might suspect, that he is less concerned with people’s opinion of him and his art than he is about the time, love and energy he puts into creating it. For Rene, it seems, making music is its own reward and in an age where producers are getting famous in seconds by copying the same old tired formulas over and over again, the importance of Rene LaVice’s attitude towards his art should not be underestimated. World Bookings: francesco@primarytalent.com North America bookings: rob@circletalentagency.com kevin@circletalentagency.com