Celebrating over 20 years of innovative sounds is UK live act – SAYTEK. An exciting and colourful path has seen SAYTEK travel the world with his hardware, showcasing his sound in all corners of the globe from Montreal to Mumbai, the legendary terrace of Space Ibiza, London’s Fabric, Berlin’s famous Tresor, Awakenings and Mysteryland in Holland, to more obscure shows such as illegal warehouse parties in Helsinki. Whilst heavily touring he has also found the time to release 9 albums, and over 500 tracks (most recorded live) on heavyweight labels such as Soma, Fabric, TRAX, R&S, Bedrock, KMS, Superfreq and most recently Carl Cox and Christopher Coe’s Awesome Soundwave, and was described by Cox himself as a “genius” at playing live. Another sign of this would be his anticipated live stream jams which have racked up tens of millions of views over the years.

 

Saytek talks to 6AM on his 20+ years of live performance, sharing insights on his creative process, global club culture, mental health journey, and upcoming milestone performance at Rave The Planet Parade.

 

Hi Saytek! Thanks for talking to the 6AM Group. How are you doing?

Hello, my pleasure! I'm good, thanks! It's a busy time in the studio—this time of year is great for creating music since the gig schedule is much quieter.

 

First off, congrats on hitting 20+ years of live performing! You've been delivering live hardware sets everywhere, from illegal London parties to major festivals like Awakenings and Mysteryland. What inspired you to start performing live, and how has your approach evolved over the years? With your 20 years of experience, what advice would you give to other artists interested in live performance?

I’ve always loved jamming in the studio, and at the time, I was releasing vinyl. Then suddenly, all the distribution companies started going bust, and the labels I was signed to folded. So, I decided to start performing live! It was amazing—I could create something during the day and jam it out that night.

My approach has evolved a lot, but jamming with hardware synths and grooveboxes alongside Ableton has always remained central to my setup. For new artists, I’d say: make the music you love, don’t buy too much gear too quickly, research your purchases thoroughly, and remember that less is more when it comes to equipment.

 

You just finished your first USA tour! How was it? You were also back in India last year—how do the clubs there compare to the European scene?

Yeah, both the USA and India were fantastic! House of Chapora in Goa, an intimate show in Brooklyn, and a warehouse rave in Washington, DC, really stood out. The vibe felt very similar to shows in Europe or anywhere else. It's amazing how club culture is a global phenomenon—people of all races, sexualities, and backgrounds come together to celebrate life. I think that's more important than ever, given the state of the world today.

 

You were voted by Faze Magazine readers as one of the top 10 best live acts. What do you think makes you stand out?

I’m truly honored! Being voted in the top ten of anything by the public is incredible. Techno is huge in Germany, so knowing that people there enjoy my music—especially as a UK artist—is mind-blowing for me. I just make the music I love and always try to do my best. I never feel like my work is finished; I’m constantly creating new music. Ultimately, I think it’s because I’m a music lover first—I just try to share what makes me happy with everyone else.

 

Speaking of your live performance, your sets are known for their spontaneity and raw energy, often created entirely on the fly. Can you walk us through your creative process when building a live performance? Do you go in with a plan, or do you prefer to let the moment guide you? Do you have different approaches depending on the venue or event?

My process is roughly broken into three stages. The first is creating patterns—sometimes on hardware, sometimes in Ableton. This stage is very creative and quite chaotic, just purely making music on different machines.

The second stage is the least creative but essential—organizing and naming all the patterns. I’m naturally very disorganized, so I really have to push myself to do this, but it’s worth it.

The final stage is jamming—getting a feel for the patterns and seeing what works. My live set is planned out beforehand, but it’s designed to be highly improvisational. There’s a structure, but I can easily break away from it. Often, I don’t even know exactly where I’ll start or finish—I just play it by ear!

 

You have a live track out on Rave The Planet as part of the supporter series tell us about that.

I actually had another track in mind that was recorded at the parade last year for the release . But during my set at House Of Chapora in Goa Ellen & Dr. Motte from Rave The Planet came running up to me and said “we want this one is it available?”. It was, I was actually quite supprised as it’s one of the darkest in my set with heavy acid and dissonant pads, one of my personal faves so very happy they were so into it! The Track is Called “Extra Dramatics” (live) and it’s out now everywhere! 

Managing an intense touring schedule while releasing nine albums and over 500 tracks is impressive. How do you maintain creativity and productivity amidst such a demanding routine?

I have a very efficient way of making music for release. I simply chop the tracks out of my live set and release them as they are. For the past ten years, all my releases (except for the occasional remix) have been made this way. This means DJs get to play the exact music I would during a live jam—just with professional mastering!

 

You've been open about overcoming mental health struggles and addiction, as well as embracing your neurodivergence. How have these personal experiences influenced your music and live performances? Why did you decide it was important to be open about this?

Yeah, I’ve been clean for 16 years now, and my mental health is much better than it used to be. I’ve seen so many people struggle with addiction, and sadly, many don’t make it. I think it’s important to share my experiences to help others, but it’s also cathartic for me. I wouldn’t be who I am today without those struggles, so in a way, I’m grateful for my journey. I try to express my emotions through my music.

 

This year, you're set to perform live on the main truck at the Rave The Planet Parade. What does this milestone mean to you? What can fans expect from your set, and how do you feel about participating in this event at this level?

It’s amazing—it’s such a great event with so many people coming together to dance to techno! Last year, there were 380,000 attendees. I’ve played Rave The Planet twice before on the B:east float, and I can’t wait to perform live on the main float this year. This event is about celebrating diversity and peace, which are more important than ever. Techno and love go hand in hand.

I always dreamed of playing Love Parade, and since this is the modern version, it’s truly a dream come true. In 2025, the message behind it is more important than ever!

 

Thanks so much for taking the time to share your story. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Just a big thank you for having me!

 

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