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INTERVIEW & PREVIEW: Rachel Rixham talks to Senadee about his upcoming release “Life Support Machine” (Perfecto) and more!

Much has been said about Senadee, who with just a few well chosen dance productions under his belt has become one of the most sought after male vocalists and songwriters on the dance scene right now whilst simultaneously alluding to a far greater calling.

His vocal collaborations have featured on countless compilations worldwide including big hitters from Warner, Sony and Armada Music and have to date sold over a quarter of a million units.

Bubbling under the surface, Senadee has been crafting his own unique brand of brooding pathos pop that touches the soul both lyrically and melodically and has led to his debut solo single being snapped up by Paul Oakenfold’s Perfecto Records label.

It’s only a matter of time before the world is taken in, and thus begins its love affair with…… Senadee.

www.facebook.com/senadee

Rachel Rixham: Hi Senadee I hope you’re well? Seeing as we haven’t spoken before at Beatsmedia, let’s start with your artist background, how did you first become involved with music? And at what point do you believe, you truly established yourself as a professional songwriter?

Senadee: I’ve been involved with music in many ways throughout the years as a producer/writer. I’ve been a session player, toured with acts, been in my own bands and even toured as part of a Hip-Hop outfit at one point. I just kind of studied music unwittingly throughout my life, soaked it up like a sponge and at one point felt ready to contribute. I guess every artist at some point looks at themselves and thinks, ‘I can do this’, and I’m no different really.

I think I established myself in my own mind way before I really got anywhere, but I guess it was the feedback that I got from my friends and my manager, and their encouragement to press on with it that it started to take shape as more than a bedroom side-project to what it ended up becoming. The first memorable moment that I saw myself as a real bonafide songwriter was getting playlisted on Radio 1. That was a nice feeling.

Rachel Rixham: You’ve worked with many prestigious names like Paul Oakenfold, Ben Gold, Aly & Fila and Thomas Datt to name a few. Also with a number of well-respected labels such as Armada, Warner, and Sony. What tracks are you most proud of and why?

Senadee: I really enjoyed producing all of them actually, which is the most important thing to me. I think to date, my single “Life Support Machine” which comes out on Oakenfold’s label is a real big thing for me having grown up listening to Paul Oakenfold. And then to sign a deal with his label was a great moment in my heart.

It’s my first solo arrival into music without it being a feature or just as a songwriter, so for that I’m really excited. It’s a taster of things to come, leading up to my follow-up releases, eventual album and touring, which I’m really looking forward to. Getting to travel and play music has to be one of the greatest rewards in music.

Rachel Rixham: When writing lyrics, what muses you most? Do you write about situations in your own life, or do you create a persona to share the stories lyrically?

Senadee: It really does vary. I’ve written songs via external perspectives, and because my music touches so many different subjects I have to be able to switch viewpoints a lot. It’s really not a conscious selection, at the risk of sounding like a complete tool, the songs kind of write themselves!

I did a song a while back called “My Fault” (Which was sampled on Ben Gold’s Say The Words track), which was in the form of a suicide note written from the perspective of a hopeless man. I remember writing the words after reading a selection of ‘funny’ final letters written by various people, and some of them were genuinely amusing. But this one I read really hit me, so I just wrote the lyrics and it became the story in that song.

Rachel Rixham: Writers block, something I am sure you have experienced once or twice in your career, how do you get through it? Do you have any special routines that help get yourself back on track?

Senadee: Oh the dreaded writer’s block! I kinda just battle through songs, even if I know they might end up not being amazing. I’m not the best judge of my work, and also I’m not as precious about it as I used to be. It’s happened that the songs that I’ve thought not to be very good have turned out to be definites for the final cut of an album after I’ve played them to a few people, so I tend to take note of those experiences, and listen to feedback others give me.

I just keep writing. All the time. You may have to write ten crap ones before a good one emerges, and as I’ve got better at writing, that gap has seemed to have closed in every time. For which I’m very thankful!

Rachel Rixham: You seem to be a very soulful, honest and an extremely creative person deep down. Ingredients that seem to go hand-in-hand when it comes to successful songwriters. In addition, I stumbled across a great quote on your Facebook page: “My faith is much greater than my fears… Belief”. Senadee. Care to express what that quote means to you?

Senadee: Why thank you! In my opinion, soul is everything in music. If you don’t do what is authentic to your internal self, it won’t connect with people. In whatever genre of, and indeed in any form of creative expression/art, if it doesn’t come from a place of honesty, it will be forgotten as quickly as it was conceived. Humans are sensitive to frequencies, and very perceptive, so the way I see is, pretending is dangerous. Being honest takes guts, but the rewards are infinitely better.

That quote to me, pretty much just sums up the biggest obstacle humans can let get in the way of their hopes and dreams. Which is fear. I know where I’m going, I can see the whole journey and so I don’t fear judgement or ‘failure’, because my definitions of those things are so clear. Every thing that I produce comes from a real, authentic place. And that’s how I hope it’s always received.

Senadee Releases

Rachel Rixham: With releases such as “Today” “Say The Words” “Without You (The Never Knowing)” “In My Mind”, and of course the track that touches my soul the most “Speed Of Light” released on the Discover label. Which of the aforementioned means the most to you? And where does the inspiration come from?

Senadee: “Say The Words” was a great moment, as it was my first ever track I did as Senadee. It got us one Radio 1, ASOT, received amazing reviews in Mixmag and DJMag and seemed to have really travelled with people.

But, my favourite of those has to be “Today”, which I produced with Ben as well. The inspiration for that tune was simply about being present, and in the moment. It was a really free moment in the studio, and one which I won’t forget. Ben’s a great producer, he opened the door for me and I’m really proud of what he’s achieved, and for all the amazing things that are coming!

Rachel Rixham: Tell us about your written work away from trance music, name two tracks you would like us to check out and leave a brief description for each track.

Senadee: Well for the past 5 years I’ve been working on my first 3 albums. I’ve basically been recording anywhere and everywhere including New York, Russia and Holland with different producers. I’ve essentially been stocking up on material so that I can release music which is, like I said, honest, free and written fearlessly without time constraints, label deadlines and any sense of urgency.

This is one of my favourite songs, it’s called Home.

This one really did just kind of write itself. It’s about acceptance and non-resistance to situations beyond your control, like death, and the perceived unwanted actions of others, about wanting to leave a situation and go ‘home’ in your heart.

And this song Room 304.

I went to Russia last year alone for work, and one night I found myself in my hotel room partying with some locals who I’d met that night in the restaurant. Completely random, totally unplanned, and this party didn’t stop for 3 days. On the morning they left I just sat by the window with my laptop and wrote this tune whilst looking across this charming, desolate landscape. It was one of the most beautiful moments of my life. As you’ve probably guessed the room was number 304.

Rachel Rixham: Moving away from the past and in to the present, you have a new track named “Life Support Machine” soon to be released via Paul Oakenfold‘s label Perfecto. “Life Support Machine” is a captivating track which comes with an abundance of remixes from the likes of 16 Bit Lolitas, Richard Beynon, MeHilove and Bissen. Tell us about the title and how long it took you to complete?

Senadee: Yeah this song was written a few years back actually, and I recorded the lead mix in New York with Bissen. The package is pretty crazy, with some amazing remixes on there. All bases are covered and there’s a video coming out for it too, which is going to be awesome. I’m really excited about this release which comes out on 19th March, and the guys at the label have really done a great job on it. This is a taster for what’s to come, it’s big and ambitious and everyone involved with it reflects that. Especially John Askew, who is my head of A&R at the label, he recognized my ambition and signed me to Perfecto.

This song is a big, epic, sweeping tribute to an obsessive connection between one person and another. Its sentiment is really somebody expressing support and love for somebody else, but actually not realising that it is them that’s in real need of the support.

What’s Up Next?

Rachel Rixham: Tell us what’s coming next from Senadee? I hear you that you are currently very busy in the studio creating tracks with the likes of Grammy Nominated artist BT, Dubstep pioneer Akira Kiteshi and Cr2 Records?

Senadee: I’m currently working with BT on a track for his album which is coming out this year, which I’m really excited about as BT’s someone who I’ve admired for years, and to be working with him is a pretty big deal for me. He’s an amazing producer and someone that I’ve learnt a great deal from.

Again with Akira Kiteshi, I just heard some incredible remixes he did and I was instantly compelled to work with him. I got in touch, and we did a track called Silent Screams which is a banging Dubstep/Electro number on his album.

I’ve been back and forth from Holland working with 16 Bit Lolitas, and the stuff we’ve produced has just been amazing, and I’m really looking forward to getting them released because the scope and scale of the tracks are truly vast. Look out for those!

And most recently, I’ve been in the studio with MYNC and the guys from CR2 working on a track which we’re looking to release very soon. It’s a BIG song, and I don’t want to say too much but this one is going to be very special indeed.

Rachel Rixham: Aside from the studio, you are also covering many live shows at the moment, where can we catch you in action?

Senadee: Yup, I’m doing shows in and around the London area at the moment, and last year I did a few shows in New York which were great fun. I’ve been gigging for years with my band. Lately I’ve been putting most of my energies into recording material and getting the contractual stuff out of the way, but I’m very much looking forward to travelling the world some more and spreading the music as far and wide as it deserves.

Rachel Rixham: Let’s close this interview today with a special message for those friends, and fans who continuously support you, throughout your musical quest.

Senadee: Thanks very much, I really appreciate all the support. My message is simply to express my appreciation to every fan and every DJ that spreads the word through playing the tracks, getting the singles and spreading the message, I know they do it because it resonates, and means something and that to me is the greatest reward! The next few years are going to be colossal and I give thanks in advance! So I’d like everyone to hit me up at www.facebook.com/senadee and www.twitter.com/senadee to keep up to date with the journey! Cheers!