The buildup's been gradual. Actually, that's an understatement. But now after nearly two decades spent refining his take on techno house, first behind the decks and then behind the soundboard, Leeds DJ-producer Simon Baker is finally gearing up for the release of his debut artist effort on Ralph Lawson's 2020vision Recordings.
Not that the 17-year wait wasn't worth every minute. Unlike a thousand of his less patient peers, Baker didn't rush into the studio before he was ready, throwing down half-baked tracks and making major mistakes.
Instead, he found a home in the clubs of London, South Beach, NYC, and Tokyo, where he could simply DJ, study, and evolve.
By 2004, the time had come. And that year's tagteam track "The Liptrick" was Baker's first big burst of production genius. Alongside then-partner Alex Grzybowski, he served up a minimal slice of stripped-down beats and paranoid bleeps that marked him among electronic music's emerging class. Then, he went solo, slamming together a streak of solo hits -- namely 2007's "Plastik," and this summer's "Piano Lesson" -- and a string of high-profile remixes for club killers like Simian Mobile Disco and Radio Slave.
All of that only leaves one last step to stardom: A full slab with "Simon Baker" stamped all over it. And it's coming soon.
Simon Baker with Patrick M and Louis Puig. Saturday, October 23. Space, 34 NE 11th St., Miami. Doors open at 10 p.m. and tickets cost $20 to $30 in advance via wantickets.com. Call 305-375-0001 or visit clubspace.com.
