In an interview with rapidly rising Argentinian artist WHO ELSE, he shares how his craft has developed, the importance of reading the crowd while performing and he unveils an exclusive mix. DJ Mag Latinoamérica dubbed him as one of the top South American producers, while he’s had releases on Get Physical, Universal Music, Defected and Knee Deep In Sound. Additionally, WHO ELSE has received support from the likes of Solomun, Tale Of Us, Adam Beyer, and Hot Since 82. Read our interview with WHO ELSE and stream his exclusive mix below!
Set the tone for us. Why the arts?
I chose the arts because I was a music lover from a very young age, first with rock and now with electronic music, and since I started I have never dedicated myself to anything else. I love being able to express myself in some way and even more so if it is through music.
Which comes first when you’re producing – the sound or the idea?
I think both, but usually I already have a lot of ideas in my head before I start producing. The bad thing is that I have little memory, so I need to make several recordings on my phone, so when I get to the studio I put everything into a project and then perfect the sounds.
Does your material feature any collaborations?
Yes, in my set mix that I made for you I included two new tunes that I have in collaboration with an artist from Ukraine and another from Brazil. I really like to mix my ideas with others and thus get a different product.
What’s on your current playlist?
In my playlist I usually like to include the tracks I’m playing lately along with my own, I also like to help promote music from my friends and colleagues.
Tell us about the chemistry you have with your fans on stage.
The truth is that I am very observant on the dance floor, I look at their faces and how they move to see if they are enjoying and feeling my music. I am also aware that if that doesn’t happen, people don’t have fun and I have to turn in another direction. Each place has its own different mood and you have to know how to read them all.
What techniques do you experiment with to get your original sound?
The truth is, I like to mix things from different styles but more than anything my sound is melodic, I could go to progressive house, Indie Dance or Melodic Techno, but I combine things from each one in my productions and also in my sets.
Take us through a day in the recording studio.
My studio is in a very nice place in Barcelona, where there are several other studios with well-known artists in the industry, so I feel privileged about that. I go there from Monday to Friday, I arrive, I make a coffee, I answer some emails and I start to review my projects, since I do several at the same time, so I start to listen a lot to where I am with them, and some references too, and I start to produce for at least 7 or 8 hours.
Was there a specific moment in your life where you thought, “this is what I want to do”?
Yes, of course! When I finished high school I put together a rock band with friends (I was the drummer) and I also started studying music at university. Some time later I discovered electronic music, then I studied a bit of production and DJing and I launched myself into the market. I never hesitated for a second to dedicate myself to something other than anything related to the music scene.
What do you keep close by while you’re playing a set?
In the past I used to play with a computer and a controller, so I traveled everywhere with these things, but now with CDJs everything is easier and more practical and I only take my case with my flash drives and headphones.
Any emerging artists on your radar?
Eelke Kleijn, ID ID, 19:26, Notre Dame
What gets your creative juices flowing?
Simply listen to more music of all different styles, I think you can rescue something from everything.
Take us through your collection of gear, tech or software that accompanies your creative expression.
In my studio I have 7 inch monitors with a subwoofer, some midi controllers, Ableton Push and a modular synth. I also use many plug-ins like Diva, Serum, Moog, Waves and Fabfilter.
Any side projects you’re working on?
Yes, I also have my record label called ZEF Music together with two partners from Argentina, we have some pretty good releases for this year, a lot of strong support on the last ones we already released.
How have you refined your craft since you entered the industry?
Well, with the passage of time and a lot of practice, one learns and matures, I think. Also, having traveled a lot and interacting with people from different places makes one learn and can thus perfect one’s own work, basically with mistakes and successes.
Breakdown the news for us: what can we expect from you this year?
Several very interesting releases and I am always trying to present my shows in places where I have never been before, as well as in some festivals where I play every year. I’ll leave the last part as a surprise hahaha
Famous last words?
Work hard and don’t give up, everything is possible!
Stream WHO ELSE’s exclusive PLAYY. Mag mix below:
Tracklist:
Follow WHO ELSE:
Spotify – Instagram – Facebook – SoundCloud – YouTube
