Eric Lau
Music Producer
Eric Lau is a London-based producer who has been busy making musical waves for others. He may well be a producer you’ve heard, but not heard of, by way of his productions for the likes of Lupe Fiasco, Dudley Perkins, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Guilty Simpson, Wildchild, Tanya Morgan, Hil St Soul, and a family of up n’coming artists who feature on New Territories, his debut solo album.
His slick and edgy productions have turned the ears of Gilles Peterson (Lau appeared on his Brownswood Bubblers release of October 2006) and Fat City Records who released Eric Lau presents Dudley & Friends in January 2007. Tastemakers and peers like Benji B (BBC Radio 1Xtra) called Lau’s soulful street sounds “Heavy!”, Phonte (of Little Brother) added that Lau is “One of the illest beatmakers”, Dudley Perkins (Stones Throw) said “His music did something to me,” and Dego (of 4Hero) asked “Who the f$%k is Eric Lau!?”
New Territories has a double meaning. It’s the area in Hong Kong that the Lau family are from and regularly visit. “People have a vision of Hong Kong being sky scrappers and high rises everywhere,” says Lau. “However, the area known as New Territories is full of mountain ranges, sea, villages and farm land. It’s very peaceful and pure there, and these are qualities I try to incorporate into my production.” Also, the title refers to the album and the global musical connections it made. “There are many young artists on the record and our roots are from around the world,” explains Lau. “Even though we are from different backgrounds we approached the album with the same mindset and all want to help each other get to where we want to be. This record is a new territory for us as a group of artists, and I hope that it is, in turn, a refreshing listen.”
UK born Lau has only relatively recently got into music production, but delved-in neck-deep. “I don’t really have a very musical family or musical upbringing,” he says. “But apparently my mother used to sing Chinese opera during the revolution in Hong Kong.” Moving to London at the age of 19 his time at University there turned him on to the possibility of music as a way of life. “Just being in London, with an open mind, that’s all it took,” he explains. Now 26 years old, Lau is either in the studio, or can be found teaching at RollingSound, a youth-led multimedia education company. At RollingSound under-privileged inner-city kids get to learn music production, DJ-ing, video gamed design, photography, film and web design. “I’ve been their head tutor and artistic consultant for the last 3 years and have had a big say in the design of the courses and delivery,” says Lau. “If I was not doing the music thing I would definitely put all my efforts in to teaching and work in the youth sector as I have seen so many talented young people take their skills in multimedia and more importantly life to the next level.”
With New Territories, Lau wants to make connections in China, particularly with the growing music scene in Shanghai. “Music making by the youth there is quite rare. I mean the music scene in Shanghai is still growing right now. I would love to be part of that, and to hopefully even pioneer and set a good example in the soul, hip hop, jazz world.” Lau has already made in-roads by way of a track he gave to Lupe Fiasco. Fiasco used it to produce a tune for Hong Kong movie actor, singer and entrepreneur Edison Chen.
“Being Chinese and growing up in England I was influenced by a lot of sounds. From Brit-pop, ‘60’s rock, Chinese opera, UK hip hop, and of course the west London scene,” says Lau. “I think that my Chinese roots have very subtlety affected my choice of key when making music, however it’s not really an in your face thing.” Jay Dee, Pete Rock, D’angelo, ?uestlove, James Poyser, Donald Byrd, Roy Ayers, and Shuggie Otis are frequently mentioned by Lau as main influences. But Lau has a sound of his own that jumps from the lush intro’ to the twisted soul of “I Don’t Do It To”. “Right Side” and “Confession Lounge” bump with the right dose of bottom-end, while “Final Chance” injects the party vibe to make way for the more reflective tracks like “Don’t Let Them.“ The latter was written on the day British Police shot a Brazilian man mistaken for a terrorist on the Underground. “In any trade you always look at the best. If you are aspiring to be a great basketball player you study and learn moves like Michael Jordan’s fade away, Magic Johnson’s passing, Larry Bird’s shooting etc” he says. “I guess in the first few years I would try and see what these guys were doing and would learn from their music. I still have a long way to go and a lot to learn but I guess I’ve slowly but surely come into my own sound. I guess the key and frequencies of sound that I choose shape the feel of my music. The tempo and rhythm kinda’ takes care of the mood,” he adds
Eric's accolades include coming runner-up in the Dazed and Confused Re-creation as one of the producers to look out for in 2005 and being nominated by Firetrap as one of the 66 emerging talents in the UK. He was also a Finalist of The Pearl Award for Most Promising Young Newcomer in 2005 and is based in London.
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Updated on 03 February, 2008
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His slick and edgy productions have turned the ears of Gilles Peterson (Lau appeared on his Brownswood Bubblers release of October 2006) and Fat City Records who released Eric Lau presents Dudley & Friends in January 2007. Tastemakers and peers like Benji B (BBC Radio 1Xtra) called Lau’s soulful street sounds “Heavy!”, Phonte (of Little Brother) added that Lau is “One of the illest beatmakers”, Dudley Perkins (Stones Throw) said “His music did something to me,” and Dego (of 4Hero) asked “Who the f$%k is Eric Lau!?”
New Territories has a double meaning. It’s the area in Hong Kong that the Lau family are from and regularly visit. “People have a vision of Hong Kong being sky scrappers and high rises everywhere,” says Lau. “However, the area known as New Territories is full of mountain ranges, sea, villages and farm land. It’s very peaceful and pure there, and these are qualities I try to incorporate into my production.” Also, the title refers to the album and the global musical connections it made. “There are many young artists on the record and our roots are from around the world,” explains Lau. “Even though we are from different backgrounds we approached the album with the same mindset and all want to help each other get to where we want to be. This record is a new territory for us as a group of artists, and I hope that it is, in turn, a refreshing listen.”
UK born Lau has only relatively recently got into music production, but delved-in neck-deep. “I don’t really have a very musical family or musical upbringing,” he says. “But apparently my mother used to sing Chinese opera during the revolution in Hong Kong.” Moving to London at the age of 19 his time at University there turned him on to the possibility of music as a way of life. “Just being in London, with an open mind, that’s all it took,” he explains. Now 26 years old, Lau is either in the studio, or can be found teaching at RollingSound, a youth-led multimedia education company. At RollingSound under-privileged inner-city kids get to learn music production, DJ-ing, video gamed design, photography, film and web design. “I’ve been their head tutor and artistic consultant for the last 3 years and have had a big say in the design of the courses and delivery,” says Lau. “If I was not doing the music thing I would definitely put all my efforts in to teaching and work in the youth sector as I have seen so many talented young people take their skills in multimedia and more importantly life to the next level.”
With New Territories, Lau wants to make connections in China, particularly with the growing music scene in Shanghai. “Music making by the youth there is quite rare. I mean the music scene in Shanghai is still growing right now. I would love to be part of that, and to hopefully even pioneer and set a good example in the soul, hip hop, jazz world.” Lau has already made in-roads by way of a track he gave to Lupe Fiasco. Fiasco used it to produce a tune for Hong Kong movie actor, singer and entrepreneur Edison Chen.
“Being Chinese and growing up in England I was influenced by a lot of sounds. From Brit-pop, ‘60’s rock, Chinese opera, UK hip hop, and of course the west London scene,” says Lau. “I think that my Chinese roots have very subtlety affected my choice of key when making music, however it’s not really an in your face thing.” Jay Dee, Pete Rock, D’angelo, ?uestlove, James Poyser, Donald Byrd, Roy Ayers, and Shuggie Otis are frequently mentioned by Lau as main influences. But Lau has a sound of his own that jumps from the lush intro’ to the twisted soul of “I Don’t Do It To”. “Right Side” and “Confession Lounge” bump with the right dose of bottom-end, while “Final Chance” injects the party vibe to make way for the more reflective tracks like “Don’t Let Them.“ The latter was written on the day British Police shot a Brazilian man mistaken for a terrorist on the Underground. “In any trade you always look at the best. If you are aspiring to be a great basketball player you study and learn moves like Michael Jordan’s fade away, Magic Johnson’s passing, Larry Bird’s shooting etc” he says. “I guess in the first few years I would try and see what these guys were doing and would learn from their music. I still have a long way to go and a lot to learn but I guess I’ve slowly but surely come into my own sound. I guess the key and frequencies of sound that I choose shape the feel of my music. The tempo and rhythm kinda’ takes care of the mood,” he adds
Eric's accolades include coming runner-up in the Dazed and Confused Re-creation as one of the producers to look out for in 2005 and being nominated by Firetrap as one of the 66 emerging talents in the UK. He was also a Finalist of The Pearl Award for Most Promising Young Newcomer in 2005 and is based in London.
Comments (below) : (7) • Permalink
Updated on 03 February, 2008
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Hello,
I am a freelance writer based in London. I am writing a piece for the Guardian newspaper on cutting edge Chinese design, fashion, architecture and music in London. It is for a 'China Design Now' exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. I am trying to get hold of a high res image of Eric Lau (and or his album cover). I have a very, very tight deadline. I wonder if you can help. I will also try to contact Eric via MySpace.
Best wishes
Nana Ocran
Posted by Nana Ocran on 02/07 at 11:30 PM
Hi Nana, Check this link: http://www.ubiquityrecords.com/press/#ericlau There are a few hi-res shots of Eric and of his album on there to download. Hope that helps!
Posted by on 02/08 at 12:47 AM
Just wanna say hi to you. I'm a Chinese too but living far from you which is new zealand.
Posted by Kelvin on 02/28 at 09:41 PM
Excellent clause, the author has tried, I shall visit is more often your site, here is about what to esteem.
Posted by on 04/26 at 03:15 PM
Nice cover. Cosmic design rules.
Posted by Llava on 05/05 at 11:21 AM
I'm sure Mr Lau would be very pleased to here that it was sold out in HMV!
Posted by on 06/27 at 10:15 AM
I have recently been reading alot on your website and I would like to say it is a great website for the chinese community in UK and great concept, good on you for your efforts, and keep up the good work.
Posted by China Luxury Travel on 07/31 at 07:38 AM
Posted by Nana Ocran on 02/07 at 11:30 PM
Hi Nana, Check this link: http://www.ubiquityrecords.com/press/#ericlau There are a few hi-res shots of Eric and of his album on there to download. Hope that helps!
Posted by on 02/08 at 12:47 AM
Just wanna say hi to you. I'm a Chinese too but living far from you which is new zealand.
Posted by Kelvin on 02/28 at 09:41 PM
Excellent clause, the author has tried, I shall visit is more often your site, here is about what to esteem.
Posted by on 04/26 at 03:15 PM
Nice cover. Cosmic design rules.
Posted by Llava on 05/05 at 11:21 AM
I'm sure Mr Lau would be very pleased to here that it was sold out in HMV!
Posted by on 06/27 at 10:15 AM
I have recently been reading alot on your website and I would like to say it is a great website for the chinese community in UK and great concept, good on you for your efforts, and keep up the good work.
Posted by China Luxury Travel on 07/31 at 07:38 AM
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