Ben Stevens
DJ and Producer, Lucid Promotions

Written by Katharina Schmelzer on 2009-10-09

Ben Stevens is an up and coming talented local DJ and producer working with Lucid Promotions on the Sunshine Coast. Still a fresh face, Ben Stevens is quickly making a name for himself on the local dance music scene.

Tell me about Lucid. What are its goals and what is the organisation attempting to achieve?

Lucid was founded in 2007, when we recognised the demand to bring the rapidly expanding dance music scene to the Sunshine Coast. Our main goal was to attract local club goers and enthusiasts from out of town to the Sunshine Coast by making it a perfect weekend getaway spot for all music lovers. We have seen a growing number of partygoers make the hour trip to Brisbane to experience a more diverse range of entertainment. It is our objective to offer good value nights out with the best of dance music performances and to transform the Sunshine Coast into the newest beach and club hotspot.

We are currently looking to spread our events to surrounding venues, as well as organising various community events such as underage dance parties and DJ competitions. Lucid is also aiming to build a strong community network by gaining the support of local businesses in efforts to expand the business even further.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in the media and communications industry?

Music has always been a great passion of mine and before I joined the industry I often mixed tracks just for fun, for friends or at private parties. My love of music and passion for sharing it with people eventually led me to pursue a career in the industry when the opportunity presented itself.

What has been your most memorable achievement or experience working as a part of Brisbane’s media landscape?

The most memorable experience I would have to say would be the very first time I played in a club. Just to see all of my friends come out to give me their support, and to see them and hundreds of other people dancing and enjoying my music – that was an amazing feeling. I am loving being able to share the music that I love with thousands of people in some of the most awesome places Queensland has to offer.

What are the biggest challenges you and your organisation face as a member of the Brisbane media community?

Probably the biggest challenge is just the fact that there is so much competition in this industry, so I guess we’re just striving to be the best and to outdo ourselves at everything we take on. We are attempting to offer something different on the Sunshine Coast, and to make our shows and productions that little bit better than what everyone else is doing. The Sunshine Coast currently doesn’t have a great clubbing reputation, however, that is one of the things Lucid is trying to change. We are building a reputation for providing great music and a different clubbing experience that will keep people coming back for more again and again.

In your opinion, what is the most prominent trend in the Music industry at the moment?

Within the dance music scene it would probably be that nowadays a younger and larger number of people want to be DJs. However, most people still only listen to mainstream music, and genres such as hard style and minimal techno are neglected. The majority of new DJs only mix the usual R&B or Top 40 music. That’s why Lucid is aiming to provide less conventional music, in order to show people what else is out there.

What changes do you see happening over the next five years in the Music industry?

I believe a lot more people will attempt to break into the industry, particularly following the national and international success of local DJs such as Tydi. Hopefully there will be a lot more producers and DJs from Queensland experiencing similar success. There are a lot of great up and coming producers who just haven’t been discovered yet. The Queensland music industry is growing and getting both national and international recognition thanks to the quality and calibre of the artists from this area, so I am hoping to see this continue in the future.

What are your plans for the future, for both your part in the Music industry and with Lucid?

For Lucid, we are aiming to expand our organisation and to bring fresh artists, sounds and productions to people in south-east Queensland. My personal plans involve me continuing to do what I love and hopefully one day becoming good enough to play nationally and around the world. But most of all, I just want to continue to have fun and promote music to all.