Lucas Cornelis van Scheppingen rather betrays the Laidback part of his assumed DJ/production moniker. The man has not only clocked up infinite air miles again this year, but so too has he steered his Super You & Me brand to the top of the pile.
“It started off as my own night in Amsterdam a few years ago,” says Luke, “with the superhero concept, as that was the epic feeling I want a night to have. This mixed with a big dose of fun and the idea that everyone should feel like a hero, not only the DJ.”
It's a modus operandi that worked - the parties were quickly full and so the night hit the road. 2011, though, has been the best year for it yet, with a residency at Amnesia out in Ibiza, plus a packed Super You & Me arena at Creamfields, with every superhero under the sun dancing in some corner of the tent to Luke's supercharged house and electro sounds.
In fact, so impressed were Cream with Luke's concept that they commissioned him to do a two-disc mix representing the SY&M sound…
“It's a two-hour package of dancefloor energy and fun,” says the man who also accepted the advances of Ministry Of Sound this year (“they reached out and were determined to do something with me”). The result, 'Natural Disaster' was a smash hit collab with crossover star, Example, and is indicative of many main room house stars who have reached outside their normal field for inspiration this year.
American r&b singer Wynter Gordan has laid down vocals for the Manila-born man's next sure-fire hit, 'Speak Up'. “It's been a monster on my floors,” says Luke, “but the big question will be if it's suited for radio and TV play as well, as I'd like to have it cross over… fingers crossed!”