Kate: You have had an accomplished career that has spanned close to 20 years now, at what point/age did you realize you could earn a decent living by producing and performing?
Cari: After around 10 years I started to earn enough to support myself. I’m gonna be happy as long as I can eat and work with music, its not like I’m looking to buy a fancy car or anything like that.

Kate: Were your parents generally supportive of your career?
Cari: Off course not really in the beginning like most parents, but later on yes.

Kate: You've been part of some of the Drumcode 10th anniversary parties in 2006, and your own label H-productions just reached its 20th year. Did you celebrate this milestone in any way?
Cari: I have never really done any annual events on H-productions, but maybe I should do a 30 years thing when it’s time :)

Kate: Do you have any releases coming up?
Cari: Besides participating in the Drumcode Swedish silver 10 year’s compilation, I just released 2 album projects and a 12". Now I am currently reloading the barrels in my studio, like every winter season that’s usually when most producers get extra time to spend in the dungeon. And around February, March the first projects start to take shape. Hopefully the first releases will take place just before the summer season starts, and maybe a new album for the autumn.

Kate: I had interviewed Adam recently and he had mentioned he still goes to the local shops in Stockholm to get his records, is this something you also do?
Cari: Yes and when I travel, but nowadays I also get a lot of records with mail-order and as mp3 of course.

Kate: Speaking of Adam, years ago you performed a live PA with him at selected gigs including in Canada and the U.S. Do you think something like that will ever take place again?
Cari: That’s hard to predict for sure, there are many variables that need good timing. And a venture like that need loads of preparations. But on public demand absolut ;)

Kate: I have read that while you were mostly inspired by music in the beginning, nowadays you get your inspiration from a number of different mediums including visual, such as motion pictures. Do you expect, in turn, to eventually incorporate more visuals into your performances as well?
Cari: Would be fun off course, if someone would give me a budget for something like that I would like to bring my own Videojockey for sure, and maybe 2 MC´s. I love when sound is animating some kind of visual objects.

Kate: I heard that when you play gigs in the Netherlands you sometimes bring your own MC as well. Is this true and if so how did this collaboration start?
Cari: I only did this once, but would gladly do it again. I have always liked working with vocalists, so it’s only natural that you wanna try it out live whenever you get a chance. And it’s more fun than traveling alone also.

Kate: Have there been any up & coming artists who have impressed you lately?
Cari: oh yes of course, there are so many. Maybe I should drop a Swedish artist for that sake; check out BASUTBUDET, a crazy mix of Techno, Hip-Hop, Bootybass and what not. Really good humour stuff, and he has a 12", single plus album coming soon.



Kate: Are there any artists that you would like to collaborate with in the studio at some point?
Cari: For sure I can make you a list that goes on forever, but I think some excellent lyrics for my beats have been done by Aaron Phiri. It would be fun to produce an album with him. Say if some well-known artist suddenly would ask me to produce something for them, then I would most likely do it and go at it 1000%. I recently made an EP with Alexi Delano in New York as well, and we have just started to look for a home to this project. In January I will record an UK Grime artist called Slix for Devrim Productions (Swedish urban label), he’s got some stuff that is on fire for real.

Kate: What are some of your favorite sound system/clubs to play in the world?
Cari: I think the LA club Avalon sounded really good and I was recently in Japan where I played AGEHA in Tokyo. It’s one of the most amazing clubs in the world. But there are many others, I couldn’t run through them all here.

Kate: You had named your album from a few years ago the Architect, in part because of your appreciation for architecture, in your global travels throughout the years which cities stand out for you in this regard?
Cari: Every single one of them, I just love major cities in general and architecture. Every city is unique and I really appreciate the individual variety.

Kate: Is the crest on your website the Lekebusch family crest?
Cari: Yes they used to be knights, my father used it as well for his business and I think he would have liked me to do the same, so I did.

Kate: I remember reading that you study Kung Fu; do you have any other hobbies/interests outside of music?
Cari: I like to go snowboarding up in north of Sweden, in the mountains. A great contrast to the urban life.

Kate: On the topic of other hobbies, are you still active in the Graffiti scene?
Cari: I made 2 smaller pieces this summer, and I try to do that every summer actually. I just moved into a new neighborhood that really "promotes" this kind of activity so next season I’ll be at it again I reckon.

Kate: What is your current top 5? (Late December 2006)
01. Various artists - Swedish silver (Drumcode) 02. Alexi Delano presents AD1010 - Stories of an alien brother (Harthouse) 03. Basutbudet - Bellyroll (Devrim) 04. The return of Dr Octagon 05. Snoop - Blue carpet treatment

For more information about Cari Lekebusch, visit his website: www.lekebuschmusik.se

You can also purchase Cari’s music on his site as well as ring tones for your cellular phone!

CARI LEKEBUSCH / TOP CHART - Feb 11, 2007

01. Cari Lekebusch - Rawedge EP (Kaun Trax)
02. Patric Pulsinger - Dogmatic sequences III (Disko B)
03. Octave One - Love and hate (Tresor)
04. Cari Lekebusch - Level of reality (Truesoul)
05. Indigo Kennedy - Token 1
06. V/A - Swedish silver (Drumcode)
07. Cisco Ferreira - Transported thru (Parallel, 125)
08. Luke Eargoggle - Pawns of the field (Kust)
09. Steve Rachmad - i am a machine (Sino)
10. AD1010 - Stories of an alien brother (Harthouse)
11. Robert Hood - Hoodmusic 2 (Musicman)
12. Ante Zenit 038
13. Tor Löwkrantz - Covenant (MH)
14. Galactic collisions (Deep Pump Production)
15. Exium - Kill all lifeforms (Equator)
16. Heiko Laux - Waves (Kanzleramt)
17. Lorenzo Coe - Bale (Midnight Records 013)
18. New York City Survivors - Human rights EP (Sonic Grooves)
19. D. Eulberg - Bluten sind / Adam Beyer remix (Traum)
20. Pascal FEOS - Synaptic (Level Non Zero)
21. Richard Bartz - Big Remixes Pt2 (Kurbel 38)
22. Cari Lekebusch - No cammo EP feat NFL Kru (Lekebusch musik)
23. Vince Watson - Renaissance EP (Planet E)
24. Jerome Baker / Relentless muzic vol 1 (Relief)
25. DJ Godfather - Gangster Boogie EP (Databass)
26. Peter Horrevorts - Vaporize (Kanzleramt)

Interview done by Kate O'Neill

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