L-Vis 1990

As L-Vis 1990, Brighton’s James Connolly hasn’t just survived in the volatile world of electronic music, he’s helped shape it. At the forefront of dance music for over a decade, L-Vis 1990 has left an indelible mark as a progressive producer, artist, DJ, composer, and co-founder of the highly-influential label, Night Slugs.

By providing an early platform for artists such as Jam City, Egyptrixx, Girl Unit, Kingdom, Lil Silva, Helix and label co-founder Bok Bok, Night Slugs was aptly described by Hypebeast as “one of the UK’s most influential forces” during the label’s 10th Anniversary celebrations this year. Night Slugs’ cultural impact, combined with L-Vis 1990’s further, visionary-yet-reverent releases on PMR/Island, Mad Decent, Sound Pellegrino, Ultramagic & Clone Records, have seen him frame a futuristic sound that has gone onto change dance music, not just in the UK, but across the globe.

Cited over and over as a major influence by a new generation of producers, such as 2018 Grammy-winner Mura Masa, L-Vis 1990 is also celebrated by industry stalwarts; with Diplo a long-time champion, and Calvin Harris famously proclaiming L-Vis 1990 his “favourite DJ.”

At the end of 2017, L-Vis 1990 boldly expanded his sound with the release of his 12 Thousand Nights Mixtape, via Warp Records. Exploring hip-hop, RnB, dancehall and afro-bashment, 12 Thousand Nights saw L-Vis further develop his passion for cultivating new voices. While Rolling Stone hailed the mixtape “a small rap masterpiece”, Pitchfork fittingly noted that it was "a testament to L-Vis 1990’s ear for raw talent”, as the dynamic release exposed the world to a host of emergent UK vocalists; Flohio, Gaika, Taliwhoah and Mista Silva. It’s with this same steady hand and unrivalled eye for talent, that L-Vis has also produced music for artists such as Lafawndah, Hare Squaed and NewAgeMuzik.

Always in search of new challenges, and drawing from his formal art school education, L-Vis 1990 has recently shifted his gaze to music composition and sound design across the film and fashion industries and, typically for L-Vis, they’ve welcomed his visionary touch with open arms. Alongside composing a hybrid opera with Matthew Stone, scoring fashion shows and co-directing various short films and music videos, L-Vis 1990 has has composed global campaigns for Prada, Kenzo, Cartier, Northface, On Running, Equinox, Nike, Moschino and others. It’s this consistent connection with his global audience, and unwavering position as one of the pioneers of new music, that has given L-Vis 1990 such a competitive edge on existing music and sound design houses, leading to the organic development of his own house; Nineteen 90 Studio, announced at the preeminent fashion fair Pitti Uomo, in June. Why look elsewhere, when you can work directly with the originator of these sounds?

Meanwhile, L-Vis 1990 remains at the coalface of electronic music, not just with his productions and artist collaborations, but as a regular on the club and festival circuit. 2018 alone has seen L-Vis 1990 play legendary venues such as Berghain in Berlin and Cakeshop in Seoul, and you’ll also catch him on the summer festival circuit; playing Isle of Wight, Lovebox, Latitude, Reading, Kallida and Electric Picnic. Those unable to attend his shows, can listen to his infectious mixes on Mixcloud.