We’ve come a long long way together, through the hard times and the good. I have celebrate you baby, I have to praise you like I should….”
Reading Stephs feature on Ruckus Rhythms nearly brought a tear in my eye man. I’m so proud of everyone that helps make EMPT happen these days but no one has been with me longer than Steph, that’s the bottom line. We have a loyalty to the music that’s beyond any regular affection most people have and that’s a beautiful thing, not many understand that but we do and that’s why she’s my twin. I’m so proud of what LMDM has become, Steph and how it continues to inspire others. Who wouldn’t have thought right Steph? Enjoy.
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Steph Lund regularly contributes to the NYC based music blog Et Musique Pour Tous (EMPT). Her contribution isn’t in the form of a daily post, but instead a monthly playlist called: “Le Miel Du Mois” She is my music aficionado idol and yet I know nothing about her. This interview is meant to shed some light on the mystery that is Steph Lund and of course give us a very special guest Playlust (found at the bottom).
Your “Le Miel Du Mois” inspired me to create the P L A Y L U S T. How long have you been putting that together for EMPT?
Steph: That’s awesome. I’ve been honored to be able to create Le Miel Du Mois since April 2009- that was our first mixtape and still one of my favorites. I opened it with a Whitest Boy Alive track – Erlund Oye, I mean he’s a Lund…
How did that come to be?
Steph: I met the founder of Et Musique Pour Tous, Hector, through a mutual friend. We were at a concert a few months into our friendship and I ran the idea by him – At the time, I felt like it was something music blogs were lacking – a monthly curated playlist that focused on up-and-coming artists and remixes.
Do you DJ at all?
Steph: I do, but only with EMPT’s Hector – I haven’t put time into it as I should so I’ll only trust him to be there next to me. We do select parties in NY and LA if we feel passionate/ excited about them – Hec is amazing- he has played some incredible places – I’m envious where he’s traveled to for it
What are the top three ways you find music?
Steph: HYPE MACHINE, first and foremost. Spotify – listening to others playlists (Nicolaas Jaar,Pitchfork, etc) and artist and remix submissions to forthbeat’s twitter account– I usually can tell if I’m into something ten seconds in, and if I’m in love, about thirty seconds in
What’s one song you’re playing on loop right now and are seriously risking burning out on?
Steph: So many! I have a repeat problem- and not just with songs – current rEpEaT PrObLeMs are:
Foals – “Bad Habit” (Alex Metric remix)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Under the Earth” (my wake up track)
Hermitude- “HyperParadise” (Flume Remix)
and Angel Haze – “Werkin Girl”
This summer has been St Lucia – “All Eyes On You” for wayy wayyy too long (still is…)
Can you tell us more about your own music blog, forthebeat.com, and what made you want to start it?
Steph: So forthebeat was started as a placeholder- it sounds a bit odd but my friend and I who started forthebeat wanted to throw parties with bands we loved through shows we curated – the idea was to have these parties once every 4 months.
When we started reaching out to managers, we wanted a page to refer them to so they could have a reference for who we are. Then ABC News Amplified partnered with us for our CMJ shows and we started using the blog to post info on our parties and it grew from there. We did one of the first New York shows for Sleigh Bells – that was amazing to be a part of. We also worked with We Have Band,Kisses, Hooray for Earth, Dominant Legs, Wiseblood, Phantogram, and more. (Some photos here from those shows)
I’m the only one that posts on it anymore, and its not a pressure-do it every day or even every month thing – I do wish I had more time to post though. Maybe after the summer.
What do you do for a living?
Steph: I run a public relations firm – I head the Brooklyn office for a London based agency.
If you could tell our readers about one band they have to see live the next time they come to town, who would it be?
Steph: See Foals. See Beirut. See Solange. All have been hugely impresssionistic shows.
Can you tell us an anecdote of the most memorable time that you made a Ruckus?
Steph: I would say the entire year of 2009, which is when we started forthebeat. We were VPs at our jobs by day and running around to shows and parties every night. Can’t beat NY for that…
“S T E P H L U N D – L U S T”: These are the top tracks Steph is bumpin right now:
via RUCKUS RHYTHMS