TuneLab
CHRIS LAKE returns in The Lab LA
Chris Lake's return to The Lab LA is a clinic in how to make tech house feel both massive and clever—no small feat in an era where every other track seems to be a 'vibey' loop. The setting is all California cool, with sleek visuals and a crowd primed for those iconic drops. This is peak-time tech house, locked at a unwavering 125 BPM and driven by the key of 12A for its anthemic, energy-sustaining properties. The energy profile is heavily low-end focused, with avg_low at 0.69, ensuring every kick drum hits with stadium weight, while the mid-range carries catchy vocal chops and synth stabs.
Lake's mixing is razor-sharp, using long blends and precise eq work to create seamless transitions that build tension relentlessly. Harmonic modulations into 7A and 3B provide subtle variations, keeping the journey engaging without deviating from the genre's core pulse. His tracklist is a mix of his own weapons and savvy picks. Opening with BETON's 'Directions' sets a deep, atmospheric mood before unleashing classics like 'Lose My Mind' and FISHER's 'Losing It'—tracks that have become shorthand for tech house euphoria.
Dosem & Prok & Fitch's 'Doors' adds a darker, more progressive edge, while Yaeji's 'Raingurl' reworked into this context is a genius left-field moment. Each selection feels engineered for maximum dancefloor impact. The journey starts with that moody opener, escalates to a frenzy with his own anthems, and closes with Kemal Vatansever & Yigitoglu's 'Brain Storming', leaving the room buzzing with residual energy.