Local DJ LT Balkin is about to release his album “7 Years Too Late” at his launch party ‘Electronica’. Luke Balkin has been DJing since he was 18 years old. He studied Audio Engineering in Melbourne while working parttime as a punk DJ, before moving back to Mount Gambier and DJing at venues including Flanagans, Skins, The Funk Lounge, Shadows and the Gambier Hotel.
He then moved to Adelaide and began producing his own music. The talented DJ had a residency weekly DJ gig at the Adelaide Casino and played at venues around the city including HQ, New Year’s Eve gigs and other events. “It was a big part of my life for many years,” he said.
After forming a two-piece electronic group with a friend called Running with Bulls in 2013, Mr Balkin said he made some tracks but nothing came from them. However, when COVID hit, he decided it was time to change this. “They had potential,” he said. “I started looking for artists to work with for vocals, to finish the tracks off with mastering and producing some finer details.”
Mr Balkin connected with different artists to complete the album, including vocalists Charlotte Lock and Eric Castiglia. “I just wanted to bring it to life,” he said. The album title, ‘7 Years Too Late,’ refers to when he started the songs back in 2013 and contains 10 catchy, original tracks, which Mr Balkin described as electronic with elements of hip-hop.
There are songs reflecting confidence and positivity, such as ‘Higher Ground,’ along with some darker tracks such as ‘Lucid Dream’ and ‘Ice.’ “It’s a very vocal-inspired album,” he said. Mr Balkin said he cannot wait for the launch event. “I haven’t done an event in Mount Gambier for probably close to over 10 years now,” he said.
“I’m excited to get back out there and see what it’s like.” Singer Alison Newman will cover some of Mr Balkin’s songs at the launch party and said she was keen for the event to bring something different to Mount Gambier. “I am so excited. I really do hope people get behind it,” she said.
The launch party is free to attend and will be held at the South Aussie Hotel on March 5, where he will be joined by DJ Bongo and DJ Armando and will feature live vocals by Alison Newman and Scott Finck. ‘7 Years Too Late’ is available on all platforms including Spotify, iTunes, YouTube and Beatport.
