We recently chatted with one of the coolest minds in the Organic House world.
Off the heels of having returned to Lee Burridge’s famous All Day I Dream, producer Lost Desert is currently chasing highs. From his latest release, the Saudade EP, he’s seen all its tracks in Top 20 and above on Beatport’s charts. It’s safe to say the long-awaited collection of tracks got its adequate response all over the world.
A longtime resident on ADID’s label and events, Lost Desert has a plethora of legendary solo EPs, collaborations, remixes, and compilation contributions with the imprint. He first appeared on the label in 2016 alongside Lee Burridge for ‘Lingala’. His last release in 2023 was the third EP in his Lost Desert & Friends series.
So, amidst all this traffic for the man, we’ve had a chat together, to ask him questions regarding the origins of the EP, where he draws inspiration from, dream collaborations, and much more. So sit down, and read on, as we have a heartwarming conversation with the man himself, Lost Desert.
The Interview
(Please note, the bolded text represents a question, while the paragraph(s) following it represent Lost Desert’s answers.)
Absolutely wonderful EP. Could you please tell us the story behind the title track ‘Saudade’, and also why you decided to make it the song the EP would be named after?
Hi, thank you. ‘Saudade’ came to mind when I had to prepare for the All Day I Dream party in Rio last year. The song is originally by the Belgian band Arsenal, an amazing live band that has made some wonderful albums along the way, and ‘Saudade’ is one of their bigger hits that was perfect for me to give a more Housy/Dance vibe to. I’m proud that Arsenal gave me the green light to have a go at remixing this gem. We called the EP Saudade because it’s a beautiful word meaning “A feeling oflonging/nostalgia“.
Is there a sort of “signature sound” or element of yours that you could say shines through in the EP as a whole?
With this EP I wanted to spread out in style and genre, from very organic with Saudade including vocals, guitars, and strings, to a more Deep House vibe on ‘Dear To Me’. Some say it might be my grooves and percussion that make it feel like a lost Desert track or EP.
When producing, where do you often draw inspiration from? Landscapes, experiences, simply melodies written in the studio, etcetera?
Yeah, watching Bob Ross is a big inspiration! [laughs] No. It can be listening some classics or it can be just by starting a groove with my Native Instruments Maschine and let the drums and percussion lead me to a keynote on which I can start looking for melodies or scales to play, or I switch on one of my synthesizers and browse for a sound I like. I don’t have one way to go really.
What would you say is the most unexpected thing/gift/lesson that has come to you thanks to your music career?
Oh, now that’s a hard one to answer unless I start writing a book 😉
Music has given me everything I am, it has transported me from the biggest highs having some success, to the deepest valleys by failing to reach some self-set goals at some point. But it did teach me to keep going no matter what, in music, every time you start a new project or even a new track can change your life. And in my case, going out to DJ and meeting Lee Burridge changed mine.
On that same topic, how did it all start for you as a musician and as Lost Desert? And also, did you ever doubt it was the right path to follow?
Lee gave me the Lost Desert name back in 2015, I think because at that time I was really a lost unknown guy who was slowly fading away as a DJ / producer after a then 20-year career. Opening for Lee playing some music I had made got his attention and he asked, “Who are you?“.
That moment changed everything for me, the desert part (I think) came after me talking about my bucket list dream of going to Burning Man, if anything, being Lost Desert felt and still feels like a blessing and a home being on All Day I Dream.
Are there any acts you would want to collaborate with in the future? Someone who you maybe feel complements your style pretty well?
Yess, I love collabs, and if I had to name a few it would be Lou Rhodes – vocalist of Lamb, Roisin Murphy, RY X… and producers, I would love to lock myself in the studio for a week with Matthew Dekay, Lee [Burridge] and Rick Rubin at his Shangri-La studio ;-), I can daydream, can I!!
Any plans (releases, gigs, time off) you’re looking forward to this year? Any that you could share with us?
I’m over the moon with my latest ADID release, having a number 1 in Organic House on Beatport with ‘When Sun Rises’ and number 5 with ‘Saudade’, number 9 with ‘Dear To Me’, and ‘Dunes of Alula’ nearly hitting the Top 20 is beyond my wildest dreams. I can’t wait to go out and play this year, starting at Do Not Sit in Miami on February 28th, then Music4Lovers in San Diego on March 2nd, and Superior Ingredients in New York on March 8th.
Final Words
Thank you so much Patrick for your time and having opened up for this interview. There was one line that hit me like a truck, “Music has given me everything I am“. It’s such a hopeful and cheerful yet delicate and humble line that can only highlight the power of music, both over the listener and also the creator. It also gives strength to those (all day I) dreaming about making music their soul’s mitochondria.
Lost Desert’s Saudade EP is out now on All Day I Dream, and you can stream it on your favourite platform by clicking this link right here.
