Metronome #004: Locke

Insomniac’s new Metronome series features mixes from some of today’s fastest-rising electronic stars, as well as championed legends. It takes listeners deep across a wide range of genres, movements, cultures, producers, artists and sounds that make up the diverse world of electronic music.

Producer/DJ Locke is the type of rare gem and unknown talent that deserves attention beyond recognition. A championed selector, the Brooklyn-based artist rose up the NYC DJ underground circuit through the years. He’s gone by many monikers, but his newborn Locke identity is what’s catching heat via his just-released, self-titled EP on T&A Records, the little indie that could, founded by Tittsworth and DJ Ayres and home to Dave Nada (one half of Nadastrom), Munchi, and the acclaimed Moombahton Forever EP.

Listening to Locke now is like listening to an actual, physical mixtape you found in your garage. Fitting, as Locke kicks down some old-school vibes on the three-track EP. Heavily influenced by UK garage house, ‘90s R&B and current mood-based electronics, Locke brings the best of classic house and modern dance music. The vocal samples and footwork-inducing vibes of “Only Buggin” create soulful vintage house, while “How My Love Is” brings futuristic UK bass-house bounce.

On his Metronome mix, Locke explores the past and present via timeless house and current-day sounds. Just like the Locke EP, it’ll make you want to time travel to 1991 and 2091 at the same time.

Not to be rude, but how old are you? We get the feeling you’re a ‘90s kid from your sound.
Yes, I’m definitely a product of my generation. I remember Mary J. Blige’s debut and buying a cassingle of SWV’s “Right Here” that I rocked daily for about a year in my mom’s Ford Escort. That should give you some idea.

There’s so much ‘90s R&B revivalism going on in today’s electronic music. Why is it that these two sounds mesh so well?
There seems to be this 20-year nostalgia thing. In the ‘90s, there was acid jazz and disco house, all really inspired by the ‘70s. The aughts had Italo disco and electro pop that referenced the ‘80s. I guess it’s only natural that producers have moved up to the next decade. There was also something very definitive in that era of R&B and hip-hop that people have been pulling from steadily since. It was a real creative time.

You go by a few different artist monikers. Where, when and how was Locke born?
If I can remember correctly, all of my monikers have really just been lazy variations of my own name. There’s nothing really to that, except that I have a hard time committing. I DJ in NYC, so I stopped using Cassady to avoid confusion with another local, much more famous DJ.

What’s going on currently in the world of Locke?
Ayres and I are working on a bass house thing with Tatiana Owens. I’m also trying to finish a follow-up to the T&A release—still heavy on the R&B influence, but a bit slower, on kind of a trap vibe. Not sure where that will end up. My other love is Caribbean music, and I’m working on some dancehall-inspired stuff. Maybe that’ll come out someday.

Track List:: Submotion Orchestra “Blind Spot” (Maribou State Remix)
Lxury “J.A.W.S.”
Locke “How My Love Is”
Friend Within “The Birth”
Jodeci “Freek ’n You” (MK Dub)
Doorly, Shadow Child “Piano Weapon”
Tymer, Shadow Child “23 (Kry Wolf VIP)”
Disciples “Poison Arrow” (Instrumental) + Lisa Millet “Don’t Bring Me Down” (Acapella)
Disclosure “Tenderly”
Huxley “Madatme”
Wookie ft. Lain “Battle”
Tourist ft. Lianne La Havas “Patterns”
Basecamp “Shudder” (Howie Lee Remix)
Nadus “Marriage Proposal”
Trippy Turtle “Take U Down”
Lido “Money”
Locke “Only Buggin’” (DJ Ayres Remix)