SG Lewis. The ascension since his emergence in 2015 is real. When you deep it, once being a resident DJ at a nightclub in Liverpool to then appearing at Coachella and Glastonbury further down the line – that feeling must be unreal. 

Whether behind the keys, singing, songwriting, production, disc jockeying, it’s all his bag and at that, his releases reap the rewards of his dedication to the craft. January saw the Liverpool-born musician release his latest project AudioLust & HigherLove, on EMI Records. From start-to-finish, there’s a succinct curation which lends itself to the concept of the record that we will later learn more about.

Those who know of SG Lewis will be accustomed to his technical skill and musicality. For those yet to take delve into the repertoire, what to expect is feel-good records that can be enjoyed with a glass-in-hand on a Friday night at a bar, or in the comfort of your own home, whilst you’ve got the pasta on the boil. SG Lewis defies the rules and conventions of specific genres, and instead of keeping them separate, fuses them. The accessibility is just one of the reasons why the booking agents are so keen to have him on their line-ups – timeless disco infused pop and electronic numbers that are sure to get a crowd moving.

We know it’s party season, and ahead of his next UK show at Victoria Park on 27th August, we got to head down to his intimate show at Soho Farmhouse, which kicked off his partnership with PATRÓN, to hear all about his journey, recent projects and collaborations, and live performances in the works for the future. Read on to get to know more about the talented SG Lewis.

Listen to Lewis’ latest album…

Read the full interview…

Let’s intro with your latest project, AudioLust & HigherLove, talk to us about how you came to land on this for an album name? 
The album title reflects the two sides of the album, which represent the differing ways in which we all approach love and relationships. One is short lived and lust driven, whilst the other is a more actualised, fulfilled version of love. 
 
Does this then determine the track flow? 
Absolutely. Each side of the album is a journey, and tells a story.
 
The features on the tape, were these people you had worked with prior to working with them?  
Some are friends I had worked with before, whilst others were first time collaborators. Everyone was briefed on the concept before a single lyric was written, so in that sense there were creative limitations put in place, which was a fun exercise.
 
Who surprised you the most when recording with them? 
Ty Dolla $ign is a crazy musician and producer as well as a great singer and rapper. I’ve known this for some time, but I don’t think it’s as common knowledge as it should be! 
 
Your sound is multi-dimensional – in the writing process, at what moment do you feel you can test new things, push the boundaries and blend genres? 
I’m really just trying to distill the things I love and listen to into my own perspective. There’s never a conscious thought to try and blend things – it just kind of happens naturally! 
 
If you had to describe your sound to new listeners, what three words would you use? 
Euphoric, funky and nostalgic 
 
When you were starting out, which were the bars in London that you cut your teeth performing at?
I cut my teeth mostly in Liverpool where I went to University, but once I moved to London I loved throwing parties at Phonox in Brixton. It’s a no-nonsense clubbing experience with a great sound system.

What’s SG Lewis’ criteria of a top bar to go to? 
For a bar to be considered truly great, there are several things that need to be present. Good music, good people, and good drinks all contribute towards the overall vibe of the bar, and all need to be working in balance to create that magic. A great tequila can act as the catalyst to the night to get going, and for me PATRÓN El Cielo is smooth and naturally sweet enough to drink straight on the rocks with a slice of orange. The first-four times distilled silver tequila in the world!

You’re a tequila fan, what similarities do you see between your skills as a DJ, and tequila makers? 
Tequila has become my go-to drink since moving to the US – I noticed people at gigs drinking beer in the UK, whereas everywhere I went in the US, people were drinking Tequila. Now we’re seeing more people understand a good tequila in the UK too. Drinking good quality tequila has made me appreciate the process behind making tequila, and the way in which tequila makers like PATRÓN have perfected the craft. Much like making music, they have a perfectionist approach. The smallest details can have such a huge impact on the outcome, and they make each decision with precision in the creation of the tequila. 

How was it headlining PATRÓN Tequila’s El Cielo launch at Soho Farmhouse? 
I had such a great night! I love playing intimate parties with friends, and everyone there was on such a great vibe. There was plenty PATRÓN El Cielo flowing, which always gets a dance floor moving! The team surprised me with a birthday cake as my birthday hit at midnight. It was shaped as a bottle of PATRÓN El Cielo, it was crazy. The cake was absolutely huge too. 
 
To bring it back to your career, talk to us about your first epiphany that things were going to work out… 
I think it was hearing Pharrell talk about my first track ‘Warm’ on his radio show. That was a very surreal moment for me.

Since then, what’s been your favourite highlight to date? 
Coachella this year was a very full circle moment, and one I won’t forget for a very long time. 
 
Which festivals will you be playing at this summer? 
I have a few dotted around Europe, including Sziget, All Points East, and Defected Croatia