This post is also available in: Nederlands (Dutch)
This week in the MY FIRST GIG series: Dutch DJ/producer and live performer Steve Liem, a.k.a. Ritzi Lee, who is truly one of the most modest and nicest people in the dance scene. “After my gig, there were full glasses everywhere in the booth.”
“My father often played guitar at home and even spent some time in a band. My mother, originally from the former Yugoslavia, was passionate about singing from a young age. Unfortunately, her somewhat orthodox parents weren’t very supportive, so her singing ambitions didn’t go far. You could say music is in my genes thanks to them. I definitely inherited my musical ear from them. How do they say it again? Music runs in my blood!”
Hooked
“In primary school, I had to make do with cassette tapes. I grew up in Amsterdam’s Osdorp neighborhood and listened to a lot of hip-hop, including Public Enemy. Around 1993/1994, I started buying records now and then to play on my only turntable. Just before starting high school, I discovered house music. From the very first moment, I was hooked. House was everything! I listened to all its forms, from techno to gabber and acid.”
Less mainstream
“At the time, my parents ran a karate school. It was a completely different world. I became friends with a few guys who trained there. One of them was a professional dancer at Club iT. He occasionally gave me vinyl records, often less mainstream ones. I thought they were amazing and kept diving deeper into house music.”
RoXY and Chemistry
“During that journey, I ended up at Blackbeat Records, later known as Midtown Records. Of course, I met new people there, including those involved with Club RoXY. When I eventually got to Outland Records, I met the people behind the Chemistry nights at Club Escape. I was only thirteen or fourteen, so I was too young to go to those clubs, but by the time I turned fifteen, they let me in for RoXY and Chemistry nights.”
House supporter
“I was just a student, so my budget was minimal. For years, I had to make do with my cassette recorder and a turntable without pitch control. Luckily, I knew a few people who had two turntables, and they let me practice on them occasionally. The fact is, I was a huge supporter of house music.”
Graduation party
“The janitor at my high school was a kindred spirit. I also had a few classmates who loved house music. Together, we decided to organize our graduation party and DJ ourselves. That would become my official first gig. The party took place at De Knijn in Amsterdam.”
‘This is my music!’
“I wasn’t nervous because I felt ready to share my music. But it was exciting. After all, you’re playing for your peers, and you want them to enjoy it. At the same time, I really wanted to convey: ‘This is my music!’”
Mystery Forces
“The party was a success and led to my first club gig in 1996. I was 18 at the time. Together with a few others, I organized my first event, which we called Mystery Forces. Here’s a funny story: around that same time, the name Mystery Land emerged. While distributing our flyers, we suddenly saw flyers for that festival too. Pure coincidence. We thought, ‘Oh well, whatever.’” (laughs)
MTV event
“Since I often attended Chemistry, I eventually got to know the club owner. Through him, we got permission to organize a club night as a tryout. I wasn’t nervous about my set this time, but I was very anxious about attendance. The next day, a big MTV event was happening at Escape, launching simultaneously in several European capitals. That event was completely sold out, so I was worried about how our night would fare.”
Not my thing
“When you first step into the music world, there’s so much to deal with. You know nothing about management or promotion. It’s overwhelming. I quickly realized that organizing events wasn’t for me — but DJing definitely was.”
Legends
“In the end, the night was a huge success! It was a thrill to play for over a thousand people. I also felt completely at home in the booth—I knew what I was doing! Of course, it was amazing to stand in the same booth where legends like Marcello, Dimitri, and Remy played every Saturday night. I felt a deep respect! But the best part was the feedback I received. It felt like I suddenly had fans! People I didn’t know were asking when and where they could hear me play again. I remember playing some Outland Records tracks, now considered classics but new at the time, like “Agrophobia” (Kenny Larkin Remix) and “This Is The Only Way” by Lovebeads Feat. Courtney Grey (Heller ‘n’ Farley Project Mix).”
‘Free format’
“At home, I selected all the records I might use, but even then, I did what I still do today. I bring my record bags, but I only decide what the first track will be once I’m there. At least, that’s how I approach club gigs. I see a club as ‘free format.’ A mix for a podcast or festival set is, of course, different.”
Different times
“My parents were at that first gig, by the way. They’ve always supported me and thought it was great. That wasn’t the case for many DJs. My parents said, ‘In the sixties and seventies, we were into punk and rock. It’s naive to think other parents weren’t doing the same.’ Times were different back then.”
Fatherly advice
“You asked if I had a mentor. That’s a tough question. Now that I think about it, I’d say Pieter Hoovers, the owner of Outland Records, gave me a lot of advice. He’d say in a fatherly tone: ‘Steve, you’re still young and have potential.’ He believed in me and taught me about being an artist, the expectations, and how the dance scene works.”
Interesting sets
“Steve Rachmad worked at Outland Records, where I was a regular. He seemed to see me as ‘one of the guys’ and would often set aside records for me. I really appreciated that because it helped me keep my sets interesting.”
No time to drink
“Did I make any mistakes? Not that I know of. I didn’t leave the booth for a second that night—not even for a drink. People kept bringing me beers or other drinks, but I didn’t touch them. You never know what’s in them.” (laughs) “Plus, I was focused on my set. I didn’t have time to drink. After my gig, the booth was full of untouched glasses.”
Eye-opener
“What I learned that night is how crucial the buildup is in a club set. I quickly noticed how certain tracks influenced the vibe and realized the DJ has full control over the night’s direction. That hadn’t occurred to me during the school party but was a real eye-opener at the club. Unfortunately, there was no follow-up to our evenings at the Escape, but we did get the chance to set up our own stage in the Vijzelstraat on Queen’s Day.”
100% love for music
“Do I have tips for upcoming DJs/producers? Well, the scene has changed a lot over the years. I’d say don’t set your expectations too high. I often see people give up after two years because they didn’t ‘make it.’ You need the right motivation—100% love for the music you’re creating. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; they’re essential. Know your history and understand what we house pioneers had to overcome.”
‘You did it!’
“Not every DJ has a signature sound, but most strive for it. I aim for people to hear me and instantly think: ‘That’s Ritzi Lee!’ If you can achieve that, you’ve made it!”
“This past year, with gigs on hold, I’ve focused on producing. I’m working on a trilogy for Rotterdam’s MORD Records. The first part just came out, and the second is due in October, with the final part early next year. I’m also working on some exciting concepts, but I can’t share details yet.”
This interview with Ritzi Lee was originally published in September 2021 on This Is Our House.
Who is Ritzi Lee?
Ritzi Lee is a techno music artist from Amsterdam, playing and creating techno music for decades. Working his craft for many years now, this Dutch techno phenomenon was already there in the early days. Making his way through the Amsterdam nightlife, where this graduate math student witnessed the euphoria in famous clubs like RoXY and Escape, Ritzi Lee discovered his love for techno music. Winning a DJ contest held by dance magazine ‘Bassic Groove’ he caught a wave, getting to play renowned events like Dance Valley and the FFWD Dance Parade.
Even though Ritzi Lee was already spinning records for a couple of years, now a bigger audience noticed his talent. A flawless technique and recognizable straight techno sound made him one of techno music’s underground stars. Especially when the Dutchman launched his Underground Liberation imprint, where he’d be releasing some of the most successful techno tracks, Ritzi Lee became a household name in the international scene. He was omnipresent throughout the 00s, playing the largest festivals, performing at Awakenings, doing club gigs supporting DJs like Jeff Mills and Ben Sims, playing ADE on Dave Clarke’s night, gaining fans everywhere. A solid reputation he’s kept until today.
Definitely something noteworthy, with a career that started in the late 90s, up to this day Ritzi Lee has stayed true to the unpolished techno music he fell in love with. So, this is an artist not afraid to go back to the source, getting inspiration from Detroit to Tresor, while always renewing and finetuning his music. Ritzi Lee is about to unleash more of his trademark productions. Things have never been more exciting, and that’s something after an already more than impressive career – Ritzi Lee is just getting started.
More Ritzi Lee?
More First Gigs? Check them all here!
