TIPPED BY DJ MAG IN THE "WHO WILL SKYROCKET IN 2006" Simon Baker is certainly one to watch! 2006 couldn't be busier and better as Simon's reputation is growing. He's one half of Leeds highly rated production duo alongside Alex Grzybowski, 'The Liptrick', signed to Ralph Lawson's 20:20 Recordings and has a residency at at a number of the UK's acclaimed underground House nights including Asylum vs Technique. Simon has been working on solo material for various labels, including his new label, INFANT RECORDS. I caught up with him to find out a little more ....

Hi Simon. How are things at the moment? Been busy this year?

Hi, yes things are going really well at the moment, I was away for a lot of this year with traveling and dj tours in Oz and South America, but since I came back and got back on track with the label everything, It’s all heading in the right direction for sure.

The Liptrick has obviously played some part in where you are now. How do you think it has affected your career?

The Liptrick project was the major start in the industry I needed. It was instant career boost from one record. It was basically a dance music “hit” From there things went from strength to strength with getting a signed to Ralph Lawson’s 2020 Vision label and getting remix work etc.

You obviously have close links with 20:20 vision, both through The Liptrick EPs and your own remixes. How did you first meet label boss Ralph Lawson and how did this lead to the birth of Infant Records?

We are all in the scene in Leeds (which is pretty small scene), so everybody knows everybody kinda thing. Myself and Alex Grzybowski (other half of Liptrick) were signed to Ralph’s 2020 label so the link was already there. Unfortunately due to circumstances the Liptrick project has taken a back step for now, but this gave me opportunity to present Ralph with my Infant records idea which he decided to take up and things have gone from there.

Your latest release on Infant, ‘The Head Row EP’ has been getting awesome response, with some of the hottest DJs in the scene, Ivan Smagghe, Paul Woolford and DJ Hell all on it. Do you have a particular favorite Infant release and what do you look for in tracks for the label?

Yes it’s doing well, its gaining big respect from the worlds biggest dj’s and general public alike. I would say it’s my favorite Infant release to date even though it is my own! J It’s just something I am very proud of.

Other than this, I love the Burnski stuff I have put out.

Any plans for an album in the future?

Well, the Liptrick are actually signed to an album deal with 2020 so I would hope this will happen one day, but for now my priorities lay with infant and building that, aswell as my productions as Simon Baker.

You hold a residency in London. Tell us a bit about it.

Yeah DDD (what use to be called Deep Down and Dirty). It’s our 4th Birthday next week, and in my opinion it’s going from strength to strength. We have really moved on in terms of the vision we have, and our ideas. Its all progressing very nicely and there are some very exciting things due to happen with DDD next year. Watch this space !!! (or just look at flyers and posters round London!)

You also play out a lot in your Leeds hometown. How do you find London crowds differ?

I have played out in Leeds for a long time. I also hold a residency here at Asylum/Technique.

My career started here. I have always loved it, and it will always be my home town where I like to play, but as stated above….DDD is doing great right now so it’s a difficult comparison to make because the nights we have had at the Key of late have been WICKED and crowd have been amazing. Dunno, if I had to say, I suppose I would have to say my favorite nights of all time have been in Leeds. They tend to be a bit more …. Up for it!

London is London. Can be great, can be shite.

So… North or South?

Bit of both. See above

Do you have much spare time? What do you get up to when you’re out of the clubs and the studio?

I do have spare time but I rarely use it properly. I sometimes sit there thinking…. Maybe I should go and do this…. Or that instead of making tunes tomorrow, but then I just wake up and sit and make tunes for 10 hours, and think…I’ll do that thing another time. It’s my life and I love it. Although I should give myself more breaks from the music scene. I know I should. Especially the partying side of things.

and finally… Where do you see yourself in five years time?

At this rate…. either in a mental home or dead!!! Hopefully neither… and enjoying life as a successful label manger / producer and dj. The end.

Thanks… and see you on Saturday!

Interviewed by Alex Parsons

Catch Simon at Hidden - Saturday 14th October
SIMON'S SPACE