If you were reading music blogs during 2006-2008, there's a certain electronic genre that can be associated with those years — catchy tracks that balance house with pop for a classic sound colloquially known as blog house, charged up with energy and alight with ambition. The internet was a different beast back then, somewhat in its infancy and so much more innocent. A time when you could actually read the comment sections.

Hype Machine helped to usher in a new era as the scene evolved from downloads to streams and beyond. Pat Lok's invigorated EP My Own Throne is like a bridge between the recent past and present, with his disco-driven house tracks standing as a reminder and more realized version of the gold you could stumble upon in blogland, but that now lives on via Soundcloud. It's music that sounds both cutting edge and nostalgic at the same time, equally suited to pumping from an iPhone as it's ready to fill a dancefloor. 

Since the EP came out over the summer on definitive electro label Kitsune, Lok has kept a calendar full of dates, traversing the globe from Paris to Shanghai in support of the EP's two original songs and accompanying remix. We caught with Lok on the eve of his Asia tour to chat about his early music and the evolution of his production, the scene in Vancouver, his alliance with Kitsune and the rewards of playing out.

Hometown/Homebase: Vancouver, BC

How did you get into electronic and house music? Was there a conduit such as a blog, club or producer that acted as a gateway?

I started DJing on vinyl back in university... I'd listen to Pete Tong's BBC Essential Mix every Saturday and would try to spot all the tracks and find them on Juno or in local stores. Then I'd take all these big dance and house records and try to fit them into my weekly five-hour gig at the bar. Looking back, those sets must have sounded pretty intense, since electronic music wasn't really big or mainstream yet in Vancouver outside of raves.

How did you start producing music to begin with? What were your earliest tracks like? How would you describe the evolution to now?

I used to run Fruity Loops (FL Studio), now mostly Ableton. It really doesn't matter what you make music on, but my early stuff was terrible. Everyone has to deal with that. It's funny when some artists pretend like they started yesterday and their shit never stank, because the truth is you start out making a lot of hot garbage before it gets less garbage-y.

How did you link up with Kitsune?

Kitsune has obviously been an iconic tastemaker over the years, I remember listening to the early Digitalism and MSTRKRFT stuff. I probably even sent them a few demos back in the day. A few months ago they reached out asking to hear some demos, so I sent over an early cut of My Own Throne and it sort of went from there. I'm excited to be a part of this legendary brand!

How would you describe the current scene of Vancouver in terms of music and the club scene?

Vancouver always punches above its weight class. Lots of terrific producers and artists, touring on the international stage and also locally — I'm proud to have worked with several on my own records (Claire Mortifee, Desiree Dawson, Dirty Radio). There are also a few collectives doing their thing which is really important, building communities through workshops and putting on cool events. In terms of shows, the city gets a ton of great acts and has a dialed-in and knowledgeable crowd too.

You tour widely. How important is playing out to you and what's the best part? How would you describe the balance between production, internet presence and packing out clubs?

Touring is integral to any artist's career in the YouTube era. It's always been important, but now there is so much quality music out there that making a connection in-person can be a difference maker. Playing live shows, which I started doing this year, is yet another level because the crowd's energy and focus is so different and because your margin for error is so small compared to DJing.

One of my favorite things is when someone comes up after a show to say: maybe their friend brought them there, but they didn't know who I was before, and now they're a fan. I feel that the balance between making music and touring, and the marketing aspect, is a choice each artist has to make for themselves. Some artists are okay with having other people make their music while they DJ shows around the world. Others don't like to be on social media and just want the music to speak for itself. It really goes back to what your own goals are, your motivations. I love DJing and playing live shows, but finishing an original song or track, not much can compare to that feeling (except performing it live).

If someone is throwing a small party at their apartment, but wants an epic night, what should their playlist include?

It's always about the vibe. Is it a dinner party? Someone's birthday? New jams are key, but I'm also about the throwbacks. You can never go wrong with Janet [Jackson].

What do you find most magic about music?

The moment when you're listening to something, maybe at a show, and you get those chills. Sometimes (very rarely) it might even be your own music. Goosebumps... that's the sweet spot.

What's next on the horizon for you in terms of 2017?

Lots of writing. I'm currently finishing an album to be released on Kitsune, working on some exciting tours and developing new elements for my live show. Hope you'll stay tuned!

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.