Blending progressive house, melodic textures, breaks, and chill-out atmospheres, Melbourne-based producer Dave Leck has steadily carved out a reputation for emotionally rich and technically refined productions.
Photo credit: Dave Leck – Official
With releases on labels like Meanwhile, Sound Avenue, and Particles, and support from artists such as Hernan Cattaneo, Solarstone, and Mariano Mellino, Dave’s music continues to make waves on the global stage.
As he returns with his latest single ‘Circular’ via Magnetic Magazine Recordings, Dave reflects on his early beginnings, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and why perseverance and self-trust remain essential in an increasingly demanding industry.
EG: Hi Dave! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. Where did you grow up, and how did your environment shape your relationship with music?
Dave Leck: Thanks for the invite. I grew up in Melbourne and Hong Kong and started with acoustic guitar lessons at around 9 years old. I stayed consistent with it, developed a love for it, and then played electric guitar in various bands through high school and university.
EG: Who was the most influential person in your life growing up in terms of your musical development?
Dave Leck: In the beginning, it was a lonely journey, but I found the love of music inside myself. I did have inspirations, including Eddie Van Halen and Ace Frehley.
EG: What’s the first memory you have of making music?
Dave Leck: The first music that I created was a punk rock band in high school. I had just purchased a Boss distortion pedal and cranked it up through an Ibanez amp. We recorded it through a portable tape deck, and it was well and truly horrible.
EG: When you think back to your earliest projects, what’s something you would do differently now?
Dave Leck: Once I ventured into electronic music production many years later and started making my own original productions, I used so many different plug-ins and synths that I got overwhelmed. I threw too many elements together and over-processed them. Now I have cut down my workflow to precisely what I need, and have put in the hours to really know the tools well. Now, whenever I add a new tool or sound pack to my work palette, I thoroughly research them and make sure I allow adequate time and space for the learning curve involved.
“In the beginning, it was a lonely journey but I found the love of music inside myself”
EG: Why do you think persistence is such an important part of making it in the music industry?
Dave Leck: Because it takes a long time to produce decent material, and there are so many challenges and refusals along the way. Also, a lot of artists can be quiet, introspective people, and opening up and showing our material can be quite a vulnerable experience. It takes strength to keep going and continue to put yourself out there year after year. There is also a cost financially and energetically, and this can take a toll on our mental health at times. It’s a hard road, and we only do it because it’s part of our DNA, I think.
EG: What’s a key piece of advice you would give to your younger self at the start of your journey?
Dave Leck: Don’t rush, enjoy the journey, and try not to compare yourself to others.
EG: Who’s been your biggest supporter throughout your career, and what’s their impact been on your success?
Dave Leck: My wife is and has been a huge supporter of mine. Also, the lads from Depth have been a tremendous support for me, producing incredible live music and interview video content, even organizing my album launch party here in Melbourne earlier this year.
EG: What’s the hardest part of maintaining a music career that people don’t often talk about?
Dave Leck: The sheer number of areas an artist needs to manage, above and beyond just creating music. So now, alongside song creation and arrangement, there is mixing, mastering, IT system and data knowledge, DAW and Plug-in knowledge, social media, legal, networking, design, videography, and more.
“It takes strength to keep going and continue to put yourself out there year after year”
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Dave! We wish you all the best for the future. Take care!
Dave Leck: Thank you for having me. It’s been a pleasure to share my journey with you.
Dave Leck’s ‘Circular’ is out now via Magnetic Magazine Recordings. Stream and download here.
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