By Rachael Grealish

A Cumbrian DJ who was inspired by Erasure and Depeche Mode’s Vince Clarke has produced his debut vinyl EP.

Stuart Wright, from Whitehaven, has just dropped his first hard-copy EP, The Voices, after producing it by himself using skills he built up during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 47-year-old released digital tracks in 2022, but this is the first time his music will be available on vinyl, something he called a ‘strange feeling’.

He said: “It’s a strange feeling really as it’s not something I set out to do when I got into dance music all those years ago but it’s a buzz to see DJs playing it at events across the North West, and also a buzz when I’ve played out myself at events and people dance and even singing along to them.”

Depeche Mode’s Vince Clarke Supplies Inspiration

Stuart told The Herdwick News, his inspiration for the new music comes from his love of various house music and none other than Vince Clarke from Depeche Mode and Erasure as the musician called his idol a ‘genius’.

“The inspiration came from a resurgence of piano house, old school and Italian house,” he explained, “a lot of reunions and new nights have appeared so I wanted to create music along the same lines but with a new vibrant feel.

“If I was to name a person it would be Vince Clarke of Erasure, Yazoo, Depeche Mode. He’s a genius and was always ahead of his time musically.”

The Whitehaven-based musician used his time in lockdown, during the pandemic, to hone in on his music-making skills and learn about home music production all aiding the release of his EP.

“I have done all the production myself, one good thing about the covid pandemic was I put the time and effort into learning about home music production now that you don’t need to spend thousands on hardware as technology has given us this in software format,” Stuart said.

“It’s far too easy to be a ghost producer, which is to pay an established producer to make a track then release it as your own, which is happening more and more these days.”

30 Years In Music And Still Learning

However, Stuart isn’t a novice on the scene, the producer began his journey into the music industry over 30 years ago when he was DJing around Cumbria – including his hometown’s now-closed iconic nightclub, The Park Nightspot.

Talking about his beginnings, Stuart said: “I started Djing at around the age of 15 or 16, 30-plus years ago at the time the dance movement was massive all over the country none more so than in Cumbria.

“Mainly it was just with a group of friends but became serious when I was given my first residency at the age of 17 in the Park Nightspot in Whitehaven, I did stop for around 20 years when I started my family but started again just before lockdown.”

Now, Stuart goes by the stage name S-Rite – an ode to one of his favourite dance tracks by an artist named S-Moore and his first release called “Its Allrite”.

S-Rite isn’t stopping with his debut vinyl EP, he plans to continue to learn new producing skills and even has a new track out later in 2023.

He said: “I’m still raw at producing and have a lot still to learn so I’ll continue to update my knowledge but every day is a school day regardless of hobby interest etc.

“I’ve got one project that I’ve worked on recently but won’t know any outcome of that for a few months. I’ve got a new digital track which is inspired by 80s synth but with a new feel which will be available in August or September, called “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love” which will be available on Beatport.com via On to The Groove Records then all other platforms shortly after.”

Stuart Dedicates EP To Supporters And Friends

Of course, Stuart also thanked everyone who has shown support to him and shared his work, saying: “It’s massively appreciated and never taken for granted so I dedicate the EP to them and to anyone that hasn’t let age bother them and get back out to lots of dance events that’s currently booming at the minute.”

The EP is called The Voices EP, named for the first track on side A, and consists of “The Voices”, “I Say Yeah”, “Free Your Body” and “A Little Love”. It’s available by contacting Stuart directly on his social media.

Fans can next see Stuart perform at Electric Soup, in Workington, on July 14 for the Madison’s Summer Bash.