Len Lewis fills us in on his Shadowland Project...

Len Lewis has been an underground favourite of our first appearing on our radar a few years back. A truly discerning head and a real sound connoisseur, it’s safe to say this man has left - and continues to leave - a unique stamp on electronic music. Based in London and best-known for his brand of "Sinister Techhouse," or SiTh, hisn re-emergence into the scene has been worth waiting for, and his releases continue to be snapped up quickly by in-the-know heads.  

We sat down with Len recently, as he gave us a glimpse into the recent goings-on in his life, including some very exciting information about his Shadowland project, which you can learn more about here…

Last time we chatted to you we were chatting about the Obelisk EP, which was really well received. So tell us… how have you been? Any new year’s resolutions for this year? 

I'm good thanks, 2023 was a year of learning some hard lessons. I'm very excited for what lies ahead in 2024 and beyond. My new year's resolutions this year are similar to last year's, which are:

1. Finish the Emrys album (traditional music gypsy/folk/country, blues, anything that makes my hairs stand up.
(last year I said I wanted to start it!)

2. I’ve decided not to work for free anymore. This demonstrates to myself and others a
commitment to the value of my time and expertise.

3. Prioritise projects that align with my goals and contribute to my overall well-being.

I read that you said that your human journey will reach half a century on January 15, 2024. All sounds a bit cryptic! Care to tell us what you mean by that? ‍

Haha, yes, nothing cryptic here!

This is my last-ever earth journey in a human skin bag. Not counting the many lifetimes over many centuries that I’ve been here before, this time around I reached half a century on the 15th of January 2024.

The next half of this journey will be my last time. That’s why I’m working so hard to leave a musical legacy before I go to another realm of existence or another world density, dimension, or whatever is out there.

‍Can you share your experiences as a music teacher and how they influenced your music career?‍

If I’m honest, being a music teacher was one of the hardest jobs (apart from being a single parent), I’ve ever done.

I taught in a school for teenagers with behavioural and emotional difficulties.

The main thing I found about teaching kids like this was the gratitude and the touching warmth I felt when I touched a kid’s soul through frequency, vibration and music.
No matter who you are, colour of your skin, gender, or even species, music talks to your dna- it is truly the language of the Gods…(just like Cymatics and mathematics!)

But teaching was a double-edged sword, it was the most rewarding but also the least rewarding thing I’d ever done.
When you’ve made lesson plans, stayed up all night doing worksheets, then they all get screwed up, thrown out of the window, and laughed at, it’s not really fun day in, day out.

‍

Did you always plan to become a teacher? Is it very enriching to see your students grasp and appreciate music like you have? ‍

I never wanted to be a music teacher after teaching the violin to eight-year-olds one summer. It was the worst sounds I’ve ever heard—like a crying cat constantly for a whole hour every week.

Again, as we’re being honest, I was actually in a relationship with the head of mathematics and history in that school.

The school couldn’t find anyone to teach music so she put me forward for the job. It was just a year’s posting, and, as I said, I fully enjoyed it. But I don’t want to be a music teacher ever again…’here endeth the lesson’!

You mentioned that you enjoy creating experimental music in your studio sessions. Could you tell us more about that aspect of your work?‍

Yes, my experimental project, as I explained last year, is basically experimenting with non-electronic instruments.  When I’m at home I listen to many world music genres from  Romanian Doina, Aramaic Orthodox choral works, blues, Siberian and Mongolian throat singing, classical, Native American pan pipes, old Norse Viking and many more.
I want to transition through traditional sounds and traditional instruments, and definitely NOT in 440hz tuning.

I’ve also recently discovered that all my kitchen appliances are in the same key. So there’ll be many songs on the album featuring the microwave or a washing machine! accompanied, as I said, by non electronic  instruments, and maybe even songs sung in tongues:)

‍You recently DJ’d in Chamonix with Magnus Asberg. Tell us a bit about that experience… ‍

Yes, Chamonix. What can I say? What an amazing place—very cold, but absolutely stunning scenery, clean streets, clean air, full of great people.
The one thing I noticed there: nobody had an ego. People don’t have time to be egotistical, it’s all about hitting those slopes. Magnus and I go back over 20 years. I met him in Brighton where he used to do his parties.
Although we’ve been speaking to each other about music over the last few years, this is the first time we’ve met face to face since then. So it was great to catch up and see him there in his new hometown. When it comes to music, time means nothing. We’re both on exactly the same house music wavelength,  this is great going forward for the  projects planned for this year.

Can you explain your writing process, from visiting the "old gods" to reaching a state of creative flow in the studio?‍

It’s slightly changed from last year due to transport problems. The ‘Old Gods’ are always best contacted in the natural churches and temples, aka forests and the wild spaces of nature!

Now, not being able to visit them every day, I've had to find a way for them to visit me. I  have to summon them to venture out from the natural jungle and into the concrete .
It’s the same concept, just  with less energy and a shorter time frame to get the help and guidance needed to let the creative juices flow.

If the ‘old gods’ creative energy is water , then when they come to me,  the flow is like a tap,
But when I go to them it’s like a mighty ocean!

‍

What advice do you have for overcoming creative blocks and maintaining a state of creativity and positivity?

Ahh the creative block question again. The last year hasn’t been too bad creatively.
I’ve been able to put into practice what I said previously.

Now as soon as I get the slightest inkling of a block, or I’ve listened to the eight-bar loop far too many times, or I’ve gone back to make the track better and ended up completely messing it up, It's so important to realise the blockage isn’t with the music.

The blockage is with me. I need to change something in my life, maybe erase someone or something, change my mental outlook, re ground myself, get back into the present moment, start earthing asap, talk to the birds( it’s not called a Birds Eye view for nothing!!!), the wildlife, the plants…….Nature has all the answers you need.

Also you need to have a word with yourself, “stop being a cry baby pussy boy. Feeling sorry for yourself gets you nowhere but trapped in a downward spiral of self pity, which is a pointless waste of time, and time = money.

Man up, life is tough and always will be! Sometimes I engage in activities that make me suffer to push my mind and body to gain inner and outer strength. Growth only comes through overcoming adversity and suffering…

And then, lo and behold, the blockage goes

‍Tell us a bit about your plans for the next while: I’m hearing rumours you might be working alongside some awesome producers this year. Can you give us an insight into these projects and what’s planned for them?‍

Okay, so, I’ve got some big plans this year. I’ve got two 666 recordings releases already planned. The first  EP is from Swedish producer and DJ Cirkel Square, with remixes from Magnus Asburg and myself.

Can’t wait for this one to come out as it will showcase a different string to the 666 sound bow. There will also be an EP later this year featuring Jay Tripwire and myself. More on that later…;)

But the main thing, apart from the vinyl label I’m excited about, is to get all things S!TH conglomerated in one place, under the banner ShadowlandProject, which was established in 2017 after I died ,came back and wrote ‘The Void’ cat#six66103.

The Shadowlandproject is a website incorporating a brand new digital only label called SOS- Sounds Of S!TH which will bring past vinyl tracks back to life digitally, so people can appreciate and enjoy them once more.
A lot of those releases aren't even available anymore and Discogs charge astronomical prices for some of the records which prices a lot of people who haven't got much money or record players out of the game. SOS will have brand new tracks from various artists that will only be available digitally.

There is also a 10 track album from myself and Magnus  in the pipeline, as well as forthcoming artist collaborations. Apart from easy access to buying tracks, information on upcoming events, and all things S!TH merchandise, there will be online booking forms to book myself and other S!TH affiliated DJs. No more waiting for phone calls, just a few clicks on the calendar and your dj’s are secured. This will be up and running by March.
Please subscribe to get on the list at https://www.shadowlandproject.com

So Len , since you started calling your sound S!TH it’s now a sound that people are able to identify with. How does that make you feel?

When I decided to run with the sinistertechhouse name ( after Mixmag described my music like that  in 2002!), I’ve drawn lots of criticism, people calling me big-headed saying I’m up my own arse for trying to create a new genre, even hate!

To this I refused to bow down to the haters, just  as with life, when you ignore the bullies /haters and keep doing your own thing regardless of what goes on outside your own bubble, you realise ultimately it’s the haters that have the problems and insecurities.

When they eventually disappear you can surround yourself with like minded people and artists that are in it for the love of music, the love of trying new things without  ego getting in the way .

I say my sound is sinistertechhouse not because it’s ‘Sinister or evil’  as many people think, but purely because I didn’t want to be pigeonholed into a genre…I wanted the music to speak for itself, ……but ironically now after 30 years in the business  my sound is finding its own pigeon hole… hahah…but I like pigeons and if my music resonates with your soul, then I don’t care what you call it, call it what you want because ultimately it makes no difference anyway!

‍Do you also have any gigs lined up for the next while that you’re excited to talk about?

Yes, I can't wait to play at the Pachakutiq three day festival on the island of Vis off the coast of Croatia in August. I’m planning to write some tracks specifically for that festival incorporating Croatian spoken words ;)

An Australian/New Zealand tour at the end of the year is also being planned.
I’m debuting in Austria in March and going back to my childhood holiday home In Llandudno, North Wales..

For centuries I’ve been drawn to all things Romanian/Baltic/slavic, from the people, the culture, music history, landscape etc etc, so I’m looking forward to going to Transylvania this spring.

‍Imagine it’s the end of 2024. How do you hope you’ll be looking back on the year?‍

As 2024 ends, I will reflect back, and as long as I maintain joy, appreciation, humbleness, drive and determination, along with health and excitement for 2025, it’s all good in the hood.
Thank you for having me on and sharing a slice of my mind.

‍Keep up with Len Lewis on Instagram and Bandcamp 

‍

‍