VIVa MUSIC

Solarc Q&A

Hello and welcome to Magazine Sixty, Carlos. Let’s start with the alias, Solarc. Can you tell us the meaning behind the name?

Hello, thanks for the invite and for the interview!
About my alias Solarc it comes from a crazy idea I think, actually its an anagram of my name (which is Carlos) besides a secret meaning that I can’t tell you haha.

Your new single for Crosstown Rebels sub-label Rebellion: Dark Wings sounds smoky and hot. Can you talk us through how you produced the track, from where the initial idea came from to any particular pieces of favourite software/ hardware you like to use?

Well actually I never know what will come out from my studio. I try to set up all my ideas but sometimes I get lost in the middle and finish in another way, but this time I can say that I have been focused to produce something deep, dark and modern. I used to work on Studio One but nowadays I am more on Ableton and use hardware like Moog Voyager or Supernova also the access Virus, which for me is an amazing synthesizer.

Buy Dark Wings https://lnk.to/RBL054

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikQQ2pci_K4

Tell us about your relationship with the label and how getting the track signed happened?

I think we have developed a great relationship, I have worked with many labels and I can say that Crosstown Rebels works in a different way and they support the artist in a very special way. I feel really honoured to be part of this family and to get my music signed with them.

How has your Central America / North America tour been going? Any standout moments you would care to share?

Well the tour was great, I went to Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico besides Panama where I am staying part time nowadays. I can say the parties were amazing in every single country, specially in Guatemala, the energy and the crowd there was so special. Unfortunately we’ve experienced a very sad moment in Guatemala Antigua City as I was there when the “Volcan de Fuego” erupted some days ago. It was crazy, I was DJing in the city at an after hour right in front the Volcano that morning and it was magical and beautiful, then a couple of hours later we had to evacuate the city. Unbelievable.

Outside of the world of electronic music who are your biggest influences? Have any artists, authors, poets etc inspired you in relation to creating music?

Of course, I like every single expression of art, I’m a big fan of DaVinci, Salvador Dali, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Michael Murphy to name a few.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh2y58m6ETc

You have had music released on a number of major labels including: Toolroom and VIVA Music. How would you describe your journey to that status? And do you think that music is in a good place at the moment regarding how artists can support themselves in today’s climate?

Well it’s difficult, I think the industry goes so fast nowadays and it’s not easy to be on top of the wave full time. It’s not only about music I’m afraid, now you need to take care on your social media and profile, and need to get exposure in different ways. There are lots of tools but for me at the end is your music that matters, you know, that’s why is good to earn attention from big labels that’s the most important thing for me.

You have said that Club Vertigo is one of your favourite clubs in the world. Why?

Well I’ve got a nice connection with the club, starting with the sound system design which is Gary Stewart Audio, and where it’s located. I always enjoy when I play there.

And finally. Can you tell us about any forthcoming plans?

Well I’ve got some important releases coming out after this one on Rebellion, as you said VIVA Music, Toolroom and I am working on some new stuff for Crosstown Rebels and Hot Creations too. Also I am working on my Sample Tools Album and VA mixed Album that will be released before 2019, and hopefully ill keep touring taking my music worldwide.

https://www.facebook.com/SolarcMusic

https://twitter.com/solarcmusic

https://soundcloud.com/solarc/coiba-original-mix

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Decadedance Remixes – Part 1 – VIVa MUSiC

Continuing the party VIVa MUSiC expands the celebration beyond last year’s tenth anniversary via these blistering remixes. Kicking off number one is the Jesse Perez interpretation of Steve Lawler’s ‘Show The Way’ which increases the bass-pumping possibilities to the extreme, that plus a seriously ecstatic breakdown and accompanying carnival of fiery percussion. The high-energy rhythms of Richy Ahmed’s remix of Catz ‘n Dogz ‘Ali’ then succeeds in reaching dizzying heights next, as Groove Armada ease down the frenzy with their driving Dubathon of Emanuel Satie ‘Zombie Love’, although only by degrees. Kim Ann Foxman then does her thing completing the release with an excellent reworking of MANIK ‘The Right Moves’, which jacks in all the right places, effortlessly hitting the bass and intoxicating funk buttons simultaneously.

Release: November 24

https://www.facebook.com/VIVaMUSiCLabel

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12 Stories Q&A

12How did you team up to form 12 Stories and where did the name originate from?

We’ve know each other for a couple of years and made an EP as Inxec & Mark Jenkyns  for Leftroom Recordings. 12 Stories is respectfully a totally different concept and we are trying to lay focus without and pre conception. The name comes from Chris trying to be clever.

Your excellent new release: Bright Lights on VIVa MUSIC features a striking vocal from Digitaria. How did that come about?

Mark & Daniella (Digitaria) had been talking about doing something, and the vocals that she had recently sent gave us the idea for Bright Lights.

Buy http://www.junodownload.com/products/12-stories-digitaria-bright-lights-ep/2927937-02/
DMC magazine review http://www.dmcworld.net/reviews/entry/house/12-stories-feat-digitaria-bright-lights–viva-music.html

https://soundcloud.com/insomniacevents/track-of-the-day-12-stories-ft-digitaria-bright-lights-walker-royce-remix

Can you talk us through how you produced the track – including any favourite studio software/ hardware you like to use?

Not really it’s a secret.

Who would you say are your main influences both old and new?

VIVa121Mark: One of my biggest influences is Matthew Jonson and to date, is still my favourite producer.
Chris: My Little Brother, he got me into making electronic and he’s the only person who truly tells me if my stuffs shit.

How do you feel about the current replaying of old sounds from the late 80’s/ early 90’s: positive or negative for Dance music?

Well if it’s done right. Then well done. Obviously a rave horn isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, my mum included. Marks mum is full on rave horn friendly.

What’s the story behind your current Night Obscure EP for Hot Creations? And where did the inspiration come from for that production?

This reverts back to us forming, and this being the first ep signed, was probably catalyst behind 12 Stories progressing and being BLESSED enough to sit here doing this interview…

Buy on Beatport: https://pro.beatport.com/release/night-obscure-ep/1617161

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWeB0mo3mfU

What are your plans for 2016?

Getting on with it, more music, less huffs and working on a live set (More huffs).

www.facebook.com/12StoriesMusic
@12STORIESMUSIC
www.facebook.com/VIVaMUSiCLabel
@vivamusic

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Paul C & Paolo Martini Q&A

Your latest release for Hot Creations is excellent ‘Pinball’. Where did the idea come from for the track and can you talk us through how you produced it?

p c 2In the first step we were looking hard for an interesting bassline to make up the track, much like how we began our successful tracks ‘Take Some Time’, ‘Get This!’ or ‘Spunk’ for example. We did find a couple of interesting sounds that when we mixed together and played around with really excited us. Then we followed the unusual sequence of claps and percussion and by that point building the track up became quite simple as we felt we had secured most of the winning elements.

https://www.facebook.com/petetong/videos/10153700657689929/

 

You also have music coming out on Gruuv, Noir, VIVa MUSiC and more. How would you describe your relationship between DJ’ing and Producing – could one work without the other?

Yes, there are a lot of good DJs around that don’t produce very much but these days’ producing has become a full part of a DJ’s job. We’ve been doing this with a lot of passion for so many years and the difference is that in comparison to the early days you produced a track to promote it in the club and not necessarily with your own name on it because what counted was to be a good DJ… today you have to make tracks to promote yourself, so in that sense the scene has completely changed. But that’s ok – if we are known around the world because of our productions then let’s go! 🙂

https://soundcloud.com/gruuv/sets/gru055-paul-c-paolo-martini

purchase https://pro.beatport.com/release/striptease-ep/1633763

Italy has a long and important history with Dance music. What were your earliest encounters with the music, and who were you first inspirations?

We get into Disco Music and Funk since we were very young. We always loved that kind of sound and at the time Giorgio Moroder was our hero and everything he produced together with Pete Bellotte as Donna Summer, Munich Machine and all the albums under his own name. Other great artists of that period were Gregg Diamond, Kraftwerk, Dennis Coffey, Chic and Vincent Montana Jr – just to name a few!

You DJ all over the world, do you find that people like different sounds in different countries?

Honestly no! We always bring our own sound and generally it goes very well. In recent years promoters calls us because they know our tracks, of course, so they expect to hear that kind of sound during the night and the audience seems to appreciate it 🙂

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt2mlddLVpU

How do you feel about the importance of song writing now as compared with the past, and its relevance in today’s music?

p cIf you have a good songwriter and singer it’s always worth taking risks. It also depends on the target you want to achieve. The main thing is to always have a great idea and a great song and if you do not have that it is better create a good track instead. This is a rule that was true yesterday and still is today.
For sure it would take more effort, energy and investment to produce a song instead of a club track with some spare sample voices here and there, but obviously if is a good one it will have a much longer life and better chance to have success .We use to do that in the early 2000s when I produced as Bini & Martini together with Gianni Bini. We are very open minded, so maybe in the future we will do some features as well if we find the right partners.

Can you tell us about your studio and a typical working day there?

We have a really basic studio and work with Logic and both analog and digital instruments. We listen to lots of music and everything inspires us, including old tracks, samples, or whatever brings us some energy and strong emotions. We don’t have any rules, though we often start from a strong bassline, a simple percussions or listening to a DJ set from some of our heroes that inspires us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOeKp5Bc02g

What plans do you have for 2016?

We produced a lot of stuff throughout the last six months that will get released between now until March next year. At the end of this year we have releases on Hot Creations and Gruuv as well as remixes on VIVA, Time Has Changed and Noexcuse. Then from January onwards we will have releases on Suara, Material, UNI and a remix on King Street of the anthem Johnny Dangerous ‘Beat That Bitch’ – a track that we really love, so we were really excited to get our hands on it when we were asked to do it. We are also working on a collaboration with Anek that will probably be release on early 2016.
As DJ’s, besides Italy where we do most of our gigs, we have already scheduled Berlin, London and Ginevra for the beginning of the next year so we’re looking forward to it!

www.facebook.com/PaulCPaoloMartini
@paul-c-15

Paul C & Paolo Martini ‘Pinball’ released on Hot Creations 27/11/15

HOTC070_artwork

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Pablo Marco (Cadenza Lab/ VIVa Music/ Low to high) Q&A

pablomarcoYour excellent new single: Deja Vu (with Hash Hendrex) is coming out on Luciano’s Cadenza Lab. How did the relationship with the label, and Hash Hendrex, happen?

Well my relation with Cadenza started right when I when to London to study sound, I discover the Blind Behaviour of Luciano in Peacefrog and it did really inspire me,, then Cadenza came out, was one of my main influences, with Ricardo, in the techno side and electronic..
Hash I meet her in London a few years ago, randomly at my friend’s house, we had a particular connection and since then it has been like an intense and unique experience 🙂

At over ten minutes long: Time is a brave arrangement and one that works particularly well. Can you talk us through the process of producing the track, and what inspired it?

Actually happen quite quick. Was a kind of emotional process, like the peace after the storm of a history. I had my studio overlooking the sea, like right on the top of the water (As u can hear is kind of aquatic, like being in a boat somehow), was amazing,, plus I had all this positive feelings in my mind, and I made it in a few hours 🙂

I get like taken by the energy of the tune and I do forget about the world when I am working in something I love.

https://soundcloud.com/cadenzamusic/sets/pablo-marco-hash-hendrex-deja

How did you first get into Dance music, who initially inspired you?

I been a big music lover since I can remember. I played classical guitar since I am 7 and l listen to Classical, Heavy Metal, Rock, Punk, Reggae and Electronic since I was very young too. I remember before going to bed when I was a kid I could get my headphones on till very late and listen to the radio, at this late time dance music programs, and I remember hearing the hit The Night Train at the radio when I was very young,, later the first band really hitting me into electronics was Depeche Mode,, my friend woke me up with a Banger of Depech when we were in one of this Camping summer things, being a Teen and it did blew my mind….

After I started partying and electronic music House and Techno became like my priority, here is when I discover Telefon Tel Aviv, Luciano, Ricardo, Herbert, Isolee, Juan Atkins, Saunderson, and many more artists.

You are about to start a summer tour beginning in Columbia at Low to high, and then onto Ibiza. Do you fell that Dance music is now a global language, and how would you define what is ‘underground’ music in 2015?

Yes, very happy to go to Colombia,, my first time there and I must say my favorite dancers came from this country,, ………………………..And yeah music doesn’t need to use words 🙂 is an universal language,, that’s why is special.

Underground, is a paradoxical term. I think underground should be Overground but the masses are not use to pure art, their ears and eyes are not use to it so it can’t sell so much as mainstream, or get to so many people. Something actually Luciano, Richie and a few others did quite good was bringing the underground to the over ground, I mean for many people and that’s really good. The problem is that when u are a pure underground artist and suddenly you became huge,, is not easy to balance cause u have too many people and energy around u telling: oh is better if play this or that and underground can get easily distracted,, is just human. But yeah is anyhow a quite complex matter and I guess not easy to balance as an artist when making music,, is like a choice,, u can choose to make music like David Guetta, use the same formula and get super commercial, but yeah I guess is mainly doing something with a non-commercial aim what keep things true and underground, like just for the pure love of doing it, but by no means I try to do underground or no underground music, I like good music and innovation, to surprise myself and get Goosebumps. But yeah the paradox is when u play underground music for millions of people and is a super production. Is that underground anymore? Anyhow, I think the most people gets the better!!

https://soundcloud.com/lowtohighrecords/low-to-high-takeover-by-pablo-marco-promo-set

Can you tell us about any projects that you are involved in that exist outside of nightclubs?

I had a few, like with Heart in Ibiza but I don’t have time cause I’m really focused on my own projects (all these projects require a lot of time ) that actually lately are all dance music. I am opening a Label so for this, all the gigs, eps I need to finish for other labels etc is keeping me busy enough 🙂 I am always open to new experiences though.

What are you looking forward to most in 2015?

Well my goal when I started making my own music was traveling the world sharing the love and opening minds,, and yeah still is 🙂 Playing for bigger crowds, new Places and with different artists I can learn from are in My Mind. Actually I did a little course of Percussion in Cuba a few years ago and I would love to find time in 2015 to go there and learn a bit more Before Cuba is totally changed.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pablo-Marco/233922136810440

http://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/pablomarco

https://soundcloud.com/pablomarco/pablo-marco-principel-viva

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Reviews: 144

Single of the Week

Monday Club
Blackout
VIVa MUSIC

VIVa115_artworkLuke May & Paul Sidoli aka the Monday Club are the perfect partnership to deliver what is essentially excellent Acid House with a vaguely contemporary twist – and that’s just fine by me. The title track obviously combines feverish Acid loops along with punchy drum machines and current production values that sequence fresh synthesisers lines together with the tried and tested. Luke Solomon then proceeds to extend the pleasure somewhat further across almost thirteen minutes of suitable craziness playing commanding Organ hits against shuffling percussion and gritty bass. Footprints is next with addictive vocals again riding the Acid intensity this time accompanied by moody pads and if anything feels even hotter than the title track. The deeper and sleazier Girls Jackin ends on immoral high with irresistible basslines plus adventurous vocals telling it like it is (or could be).

Release: March 16

https://www.facebook.com/VIVaMUSiCLabel
https://soundcloud.com/vivamusic

Larry Cadge
Attitude
Smiley Fingers

This great new release from Larry Cadge only gets better with the addition of the stunning animated video (see below). You can hear echoes of the timeless Manuel Gottsching plus Adeva in here as the excellent production delivers pounding beats amid more subtle touches lending the arrangement an enticing, hypnotic feel.

Buy https://pro.beatport.com/release/attitude/1468908

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVIiDxP5F08&feature=youtu.be

Monoplay
Trust Me
NOPASSPORT

3516-259979_600Another first rate release from this Moscow based label which again succeeds in blending a sense of individually alongside the most engaging music. First thing to be said of Trust Me is that it’s low-slung nature appeals very much to the horizontal with captivating drum rhythms combining with smoky, cool vocals producing an almost melancholy though tempting arrangement of words and sounds. Lost, is next and gets darker with moodier basslines plus background synth lines, leaving Fly to retain the tempo although this time adds more energy to the vocal that sits neatly alongside funky guitar licks.

Release: March 3 (Beatport)

http://nopassport.com

Pollyester
In My Boots (Remixes)
Disko B

DB172-Pollyester-Maxihülle-RZThis is GREAT. Not only because I loved the original’s Hi-Energy fun and cheeky words but because this new set of remixes simply develop and continue the theme. First and foremost is the WhateverWhatever Remix by Justin Strauss and Bryan Mette which delivers deliciously dark basslines, swirling synthesisers and heavy drums that set the vocal touches on fire on what is undoutbaly the standout version. Josh Druckman’s funky cowbell driven Outlier Inn Remix follows with a more playful groove that hits party central hard, as indeed does the self-explanatory Disco Edit of the original. Bartellow’s more up-tempo version ends.

Release: March 9

http://pollyester.net
http://wp.diskob.com

The original release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqtQD7LReaA

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