Scratching the Surface

It takes a lot more than just being able to mix records and look cool doing it for a DJ to stand out these days. Even well-established jocks like Steve Lawler are aware that to stay ahead of the pack, you've got to do something to make your sets special. Lawler has distinguished himself by taking the time to re-edit many of the tracks he plays in his twisted house repertoire, literally making each song his own. A prolific producer for the past decade, Lawler has released songs under his own name as well as such pseudonyms as Novacane and Chameleon. This keeps the U.K.-based DJ in demand at key clubs from Ibiza to New York City. He'll bring his own brand of twisted house to the Church this Thursday, June 23.