IN CONVERSATION WITH REVELLE27
Interview by Samo Šajn
Revelle27, the new project from British DJ and producer Laurie Revell, marks a powerful new chapter with the release of his debut album REVELATIONS. The record turns personal loss and reflection into uplifting dance music, created to move both the body and the heart.
REVELATIONS came from a very difficult chapter in your life. What made you feel ready to turn that experience into a full debut album?
I never really felt ready, I just found myself in a painful place, trying to find purpose again. Grief is such a complex experience; it can be difficult to communicate, or even understand, what you’re feeling. The music was a way I could let some of that out. I guess I’d always been waiting for a reason to create a full length project. I’ve always loved the connection you feel with an artist through an album. I was just waiting until I felt like I had something important to say.
You included a very raw voice recording from an emotional night. Why was it important for you to include that moment in the album?
When the concept of the album started coming together, I wanted to use things that would make it feel as personal as possible. This night I spent searching for something to help my mum with her pain ended up being a very introspective journey for myself. It’s a snapshot of what was going on inside my head during a time of desperation. But this was also the time that I was beginning to create these songs. I wanted you to hear the process as well as the result.
Your music mixes club energy with very personal stories. How do you balance those two worlds?
I think most people who enjoy clubs have a deep connection with music. I’ve seen first hand the healing possibilities of that energy, regardless of the location. The subject matter of this album originated in a dark, painful place, but I think that gives the light more purpose when it does shine through.
Several tracks celebrate your mum’s spirit. How did making those songs help you stay connected to her during the process?
Losing someone you love can break you. You feel helpless; you feel lost. Creating music that shed a light on her and what she meant to me was the closest thing I could do to keeping her spirit alive. It made me feel like it wasn’t all totally going to waste.
You’ve launched your own label, Dance Music Therapy. What kind of space do you want it to create for artists and listeners?
It’s for people who are searching for something a bit deeper, an experience that’s going to make you feel something, and maybe help you see things a little differently. It’s music that can uplift, but also heal. I’m undecided whether I will open it up to other artists to release on yet, but it’s a possibility in the future.
This project marks a new chapter after stepping away from music for a while. How has your identity as an artist shifted since becoming Revelle27?
It’s made me even more immersed in it. People are finding real value in this music and the perspective I bring. I now have a more personal connection with the people listening and engaging with me. It’s ended up being a space that people can reach out to and feel heard and understood. That gives this project even more purpose.
What was the most memorable part of bringing your music to Amsterdam for the listening session at ADE?
Meeting with people afterwards and seeing how much the experience had moved them. It was amazing to sit on stage and explain the deep meaning behind the album, the reasons why I made certain decisions, and the impact it’s had on me. It’s an honour to be able to touch people in this way.
Now that REVELATIONS is out in the world, what excites you most about what comes next, whether in your music, live shows, or personal journey?
Releasing REVELATIONS was quite an emotional weight off my shoulders. But the response has helped me see the potential of my music. Now that I’ve seen the impact it can have, I feel free to create the next wave, in whatever shape that needs to take. Making music now has more meaning than ever, so I’m loving my time in the studio.
