A chat with Glasgow's Lauter..

Jacque Saravanté, known by his alias Lauter, is a versatile DJ, producer, and label owner whose sound bridges the gap between underground house, minimal, and leftfield influences. Hailing from the vibrant Glasgow music scene, Jacque's journey has evolved from ambient beginnings to the intricate minimalism showcased in his acclaimed EP From the Outside In. With a passion for fusing music and art, he channels a unique energy that resonates both on the dancefloor and through his limited-edition vinyl releases under his ACCWAX imprint. Drawing inspiration from a dynamic mix of local talent and global sounds, Jacque continues to redefine boundaries while staying true to his ethos of ‘less is more’. We caught up with him recently to discuss his latest EP, From the Outside In, and much more besides…

Let's start with your alias—how did the name "Lauter" come about, and does it carry any particular meaning or significance for your music?

It was more so just a random name that sprung to mind really! I wanted to try and deviate from my normal moniker (Jacque Saravanté) which was more focused on House/Tech productions. The basic concept of it was that there was some guy in the middle of the Austrian alps making some sort of ambient/minimal style kind of music and trying to channel that energy if you like! Think it still says on my Bandcamp page that I am actually from Salzburg haha. 

You’ve been active for quite some time now—what’s been the biggest change in your approach to DJing and producing since you started?

Less is more for sure; I feel that my productions and sets tend to get more traction when I strip it back and just play/make what I want rather than trying to overcomplicate it all. 

Your latest EP From the Outside In has been getting a lot of attention. Can you walk us through the creative process behind it? What inspired this release?

I’ve been wanting to release a Vinyl EP on my own imprint for some time now but was really waiting for the right track ideas to come around before I could go through with it! I've always wanted to merge my passion for art and music together in some way so creating the artwork and tracks myself seemed like the best way to do that, so that it could be a piece of music, art or both that someone could physically own you know? 

How would you describe the evolution of your sound from your earlier releases to From the Outside In?

The first sort of Lauter releases were very ambient and more for easy listening mixes/really early warm up sets whereas the latest tracks have naturally progressed into the sort of minimal/rominimal that I love listening to and playing out which is really what the aim was from the outset, so I am glad that I am finally getting to showcase that side of me!

‍You’ve worked with the renowned mastering engineer Rob Small on this release—how has that collaboration shaped the final sound of your tracks? What makes his touch so unique for your music?

Rob’s repertoire speaks for itself really! Many of the biggest names in the scene come to him for the final touches on their tracks and it’s clear to see why, he adds that final layer of clarity and precision. Especially on something as important as a vinyl/physical release. 

If you had to describe your sound to someone who’s never heard you play, how would you define it?

I would say that it’s focused on the core components of underground house and minimal music but with a little bit of leftfield and off kilter sounds thrown in there too! 

Which artists, albums, or genres have had the biggest impact on shaping your sound as a DJ and producer?

In all honesty it’s quite hard to nail down! My friends are all DJs and producers who span into different genres so I try to take inspiration from all of them as well as any new producers/sounds emerging from the different areas of dance music. 

I try to not get caught up in any one sound or movement; I like to keep my eyes (and ears) open for anything that might inspire my own tracks!

Is there a specific record or release that you feel truly encapsulates the essence of your sound? Which release are you most proud of?

This one probably! I wouldn’t say it’s the peak of my sound but I would say it’s some sort of precipice haha. More to come, of course!

Glasgow is known for having a vibrant underground scene—how would you describe the current state of the city’s electronic music scene? Can you talk a bit about your own involvement?

It’s obviously been a few hard years for all of the music scene due to various factors, especially in a place like Glasgow where you are already trying to pull a smaller number of people compared to the other big cities across the UK like London and Manchester for example. However, you could argue that it’s bounced back bigger and better than before; there are a lot of great nights around now and I think promoters are really starting to think about what their unique selling points are! In terms of my own involvement, I am particularly bad at maintaining and managing my own social media which has a lot of memories from events I have been involved in over the years; I should probably sort that out haha. 

Has the Glasgow scene influenced your sound in a particular way? Are there any local artists or events that have been pivotal in your growth?

I would say so for sure! There’s far too many people and places I’ve been to name drop and I would be scared that I left anyone out haha but what I can say is that there is a plethora of talent across the city. If you attend venues such as SWG3, Sub Club and La Cheetah for example, you are bound to find some flourishing local talent!

You recently launched your own label, ACCWAX. What’s the mission behind the label, and how does it reflect your own vision?

It’s essentially just the vinyl arm of my digital label; Accueil. Limited runs only also :) The idea is to showcase my own sounds/art and share that with other people. 

What else have you got coming up - musically and non-musically - that’s exciting you right now?

Right now I am solely focused on how I am going to cook Christmas dinner this year. The family are round again and last year was a tad wild so I am hoping to be more organized this year haha. 

Keep up with Jacque Saravante on Soundcloud and Instagram  

Buy/listen to the release here

Listen to our premiere of Tell Me Again below