Heavenly Revisited EP2

World Of Deep

FØPA is the creative project of Darwin, Australia born Steven Lees an artist who thrives on blurring the lines between genres. His catalog reflects both club energy and meditative depth: the bass-heavy punch of “Purple Ghost Cat,” the house pulse of “Keep On Dancing” and “Crocodile House,” and the atmospheric resonance of “ÆTHERIA,” and Techno favourite “Stop.”Each release is crafted with intention, designed to move both body and mind, whether on the dancefloor or in deep listening spaces.

This project is the culmination of over 17 years in music and culture: from his beginnings as a radio host and founder of Shamzine Magazine amplifying Northern Territory artists, to producing large-scale festivals like the Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival and Mindil Beach Sunset Markets. His work with NT DAW’s further showcased his passion for building producer communities, while co-founding L.A.B. Music Management sharpened his skills in mentoring artists, managing tours, and securing Triple J airplay. FØPA emerges from this blend of production craft, community-building, and industry experience — a project that translates years of shaping music culture into a singular, forward-looking sound.

Older works: Dante, Melbourne Australia 
https://on.soundcloud.com/X52nwVagL6THRfrXL4

MGMT: L.A.B Music Management 
https://www.facebook.com/share/19kJi6BqnF/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Record Label: Croc Records
https://www.instagram.com/croc_records?igsh=MXV2MHVnZXQ1ajV1bA==

Production:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5188I98sW00ERzcvPy2frN?si=3C3si3IZQQS2Knxd4MRgEw&pi=gwsfcdgdQz2TK

Listen to Melodica now: https://found.ee/EDancer-Melodica

Bookings: ed@arcade-talent.com 
Management: phil@onehouse.com

Platinum-selling recording artist, label boss, festival promoter, true innovator in the pantheon of popular music, cultural champion, cracking DJ: there’s a lot to be said about Kevin Saunderson.

His influence runs deep, through both adopted hometown of Detroit, and music culture as a whole: as one of the Belleville Three, the high school trio which also includes Juan Atkins and Derrick May, he irreparably changed the face of electronic music; with Inner City, he gave it some of its most memorable tunes. 

The genesis of today’s enormous techno scene can be retraced straight to Kevin, Derrick and Juan, as their formative experiments on rudimentary hardware sketched a blueprint for a genre that was yet to exist. By absorbing Kraftwerk, cutting-edge funk, local radio stalwart The Electrifying Mojo’s electicism, and all manner of new synthesiser and drum machine-led pop music, the Belleville Three broke new ground as musicians and DJs in the 80s. 

Saunderson’s comparatively late start as a producer – kicking off in ’87 under the moniker of Kreem, with E-Dancer and Reese two of the more well-known names to follow – inadvertently gifted him a headstart. With the eruption of house music a few hours down the I-94 in Chicago, Saunderson married Detroit’s raw sound to more tactile, pop-leaning sensibilities. Inner City was born, and global success followed.

Between “Big Fun”, “Good Life”, debut album Paradise and a number of follow-up singles, Inner City (Saunderson and vocalist Paris Grey) amassed 12 UK top 40 hits and over six million records sold worldwide during their peak. A dancefloor-dominating remix by Luciano in 2008, and a globetrotting reunion tour in 2012, underscores the longevity of Inner City’s classic sound. 

His nickname of ‘The Elevator’ is apt: for his role in transporting Detroit’s new sound to a wider audience; as anyone who has seen him perform live can attest, his high-energy, high-spirit and high-impact DJ sets; and for spending the past 35 years of his life progressing the culture he helped create. 

Operating in tandem to his golden run as a producer in the late 80s and early 90s, Saunderson’s own KMS record label – a remarkable 30 years strong in 2017 – has chronicled the early footsteps of R-Tyme, Blake Baxter, MK, Chez Damier, Derrick Carter, Bicep and even Saunderson’s son and regular DJ partner Dantiez more recently. 

A special 12” series in 2008 called History Elevate, released in tandem with fellow polymath Carl Craig’s Planet E label, brought contemporary names like Mathew Jonson, Simian Mobile Disco and Loco Dice into the fold, proving his nous for fostering relationships with each new wave to come through techno’s gates. 25th anniversary compilations and numerous reissues have followed suit. 

Saunderson has a behind-the-scenes role to play, too: he is intertwined with the history of Detroit’s flagship Movement (formerly Detroit Electronic Music Festival / Fuse-In). Having produced the event in the mid-2000s, the last handful of years have seen repeated invites from Movement to display his ORIGINS showcase at the festival, bringing acts like Delano Smith, Phuture and DJ Minx under his curatorial umbrella. 

And of course, with a stacked international touring schedule over the decades, playing in nearly every country and at nearly every festival or club worth mention, he has not stopped pushing the feeling of techno on and on. 

The Groove That Won’t Stop, indeed.

Been following dance music since the early days, started off listening to house, migrated to techno after listening to a life changing essential mix from Darren emerson and being educated by a friend back home about the joys and intricacies of techno who also introduced me to the Arches in Glasgow when it was in full swing with the Slam boys doing their weekly sessions.

Always looking for music that challenges and pushes the boundaries and I still like to keep an open mind and ears to all kinds of music from general pop, rock and Jazz. My passion still remains for techno which I fell is often misunderstood to be banging 4/4 euro trance. Music has to be about emotion and feeling, with my insprations and loves coming in particular the Detroit sound from the likes of Robert Hood, Carl Craig. However, not forgetting my Glasgow roots, they have been central to my inspiration. Maybe it's the dull grey winter nights that helps bring out the creativity in us!

Hoping that I can share my passion and enthusiasm and give something for others to enjoy while getting plenty of personal pleasure at the same time.
