electronic directory

SUB-SCAPE is a techno institution in the Antwerp/Belgium club scene; a fine event that has been presenting respected international names and local resident DJs to regular punters for over three years, and on a Friday night. We talked to founder Will O’Brien and escalator Lee Holman about SUB-SCAPE to find out more about the night and so on.

Will O’Brien Biography

SUB-SCAPE founder, organiser and resident dj Will O’Brien, originally from Ireland and now based in Belgium, has been buying and spinning records since he first discovered electronic dance music in the late 1980s.

His first proper dj gig took place at the infamous Club Kaos night in Galway and he has since gone on to play at some of Ireland’s leading venues and events such as The System, Club Mono, Traffic and the Dublin Electronic Arts Festival.

Since relocating to Antwerp a few years ago he has established the SUB-SCAPE concept and he has played at Pier 19, Café Capital, Fake Bar, SOS, The Australian Bar, Kaaiman, Petrol, Café d’Anvers, Decadance, Silo and Laundry Day.

SUB-SCAPE is now regarded as one of the best underground club nights in Belgium and is renowned for its emphasis on quality music and great atmosphere. Will invites guest djs and producers such as Fabrice Lig, Carl Craig, Dan Curtin, Âme, Marco Passarani, DJ S² of Underground Resistance and many others to join himself and fellow resident Lee Holman every month at Café Capital in Antwerp.

Heavily inspired by the deep Detroit techno sound, he incorporates many other influences from electro to acid, house, idm and minimal into his dj sets.

Lee Holman Biography

Lee Holman has gone on to play at many of Ireland’s leading clubs and festivals as well as running his own club nights throughout Ireland and regularly guesting on national radio. His residency alongside Will O’Brien and Fabrice Lig at Sub-Scape Belgium, has seen him guest with some of house and techno’s finest DJ’s and producers including Steve Rachmad, Dan Curtin, DJ S2 (UR), Delsin Records, Âme, Aardvarck, Shed, Eddie ‘Flashin’ Fowlkes (Cityboy), Marco Passarani, Djinxx (Electronic Resistance), Ripperton amoungst many others. His djing has took him all over Ireland with guest appearances in the U.K. also.

He has recorded for well respected Techno labels such as Ferox and Nightvision with releases on Fine Art,Mowar and Elevation recordings. His material has been played by some of the worlds leading DJ’s including Laurent Garnier,Josh Wink, Dave Clarke,Luke Solomon, Luke Slater,Joey Beltram, Jori Hulkkonen, Rennie Foster, Russ Gabriel and Orlando Voorn and has got 5 star reviews in IDJ and DJ Mag.

2007 crescendoed with a nomination for "Best New Artist" at the Irish Dance Music Awards (IDMA) and live studio guest mix for revered and well respected Belgian Radio "Switch" on Studio Brussels. Radio shows include Interstate 94 for Livesets.com and 2008 see’s a brand new show for the RT-Transmissions broadcast.

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Following on the heels of the excellent Phonetics EP, Ireland young-gun Lee Holman started doing a radio show for RT-Transmissions.

Listen live or listen again from transmission on www.rt-transmissions.com or www.xfmdublin.com

9pm (GMT) bi-weekly. Next 8th October.

Our debut podcast comes from Ireland young-gun Lee Holman.

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Lee Holman Biography

Lee Holman has been buying records since he first got into house and techno via hip-hop when growing up in the south-east of Ireland. Since then he has gone on to play at many of Ireland’s leading clubs and festivals such as D.E.A.F. and Coloursfest as well as running his own club nights throughout Ireland and regularly guesting on national radio. At the beginning of 2004 he co-founded the Sub-Culture night which later relocated to Antwerp. This concept evolved into SUB-SCAPE and is now firmly established as one of Belgium’s most respected club nights where Lee plays alongside fellow residents Fabrice Lig, Spirit Catcher and Will O’Brien.

As resident, he has guested with some of house and techno’s finest DJ’s and producers including Steve Rachmad, Ian O’Brien, Dan Curtin (Peacefrog), DJ S² (Underground Resistance), Peel Seamus, Aroy Dee, Quinn (Delsin Records), Eamonn Doyle (D1), Âme, Aardvarck, Eddie ‘Flashin’ Fowlkes (Cityboy), Marco Passarani, St. Dic (Fuse), Shed (SoloAction, Berlin), Djinxx (Electronic Resistance), Mark August (Mezzotinto, Curle Recordings) and Ripperton – Lazy Fat People (Planet E Records) amoungst many others. Further guest slots throughout europe for Silo (Leuven) "Working Class Night" and London followed.

This year saw Lee take on a residency for www.livesets.com for the "Interstate 94" radio show along with fellow dj’s Pedro Cali (F… U ! F-Comm), Erell Ranson (AW Recordings) and Tyler Smith (Audiocrash). Music production is also being received well where he has recorded and remixed for labels such as Fine Art and Elevation, with e.p’s also for the legendary Ferox and NightVision Recordings. His material has been played by some of the worlds leading DJ’s including Laurent Garnier, Josh Wink, Russ Gabriel and Orlando Voorn and has got 5 star reviews in the likes of IDJ and DJ Mag where his remix of Harold Heath’s Mercury Blues was selected for Janurary’s "Money shot". 2007 crescendoed with a live studio guest mix for revered and well respected Belgian Radio "Switch" on Studio Brussels.

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Fine Art is built first and foremost as a platform to output outstanding and outstandingly versatile music. Having my inspirations lie in minimal techno, hip house and all elements of the Detroit / Chicago scene, I simply cannot (nor would I want to) allow myself to have the label’s musical agenda contained or defined.

Fine Art is proposed to be a home for like-minded individuals (producers, graphic artists, photographers, web designers and DJs.) Fine Art will act as a meeting point for inspirations and ideas. If I would like to compare this to some existing labels then I guess F-com, K7 and Versatile are models to me.

In the label’s roster decisions I will put an emphasis on innovation, creativity and attitude.

That said, I will not blindingly pursue the avant-garde and will find an equilibrium that will allow the music to be accepted as well as interesting.

This may sound far fetched but this has been developing for a long time in my mind. I have come to realize that now is the best time to put words into actions.

With Fine Art I will try to avoid a pattern of "rocket" success and quick fall, instead I will try and make the most of a steady stream of quality releases that will build a loyal crowd for the label’s output; A crowd of both DJ’s and vinyl-consuming-music-lovers.

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