We interviewed Cristian Varela, Dj, composer, producer, broadcaster, great techno figure and founder of the label Pornographic Records, which celebrates 15 years.
we interviewed Cristian Varela, an artist multifaceted, charismatic and multidisciplinary with incredible creativity, which combines its facets as Dj, producer, composer, entrepreneur, promoter, announcer, teacher… Besides, it is founder of the seal Pornographic Records, which celebrates its 15 º aniversario, and the sub-label Donkeyhead. He has been awarded several times Best Techno Dj and it is also very remarkable its passion for ambient, style in which this series is publishing this year Varela Concept.
It is always said that you started out in music very young, studying piano and even composing classical pieces ... Was music always your vocation, were you clear that you wanted to dedicate yourself to this?
Totally, since I was very little I had a very special attraction for music and it was always a dream for me to know how to play an instrument and be able to devote my whole life.
Dj, producer, composer, promoter, businessman, teacher, broadcaster ... You are an artist with great versatility who plays practically all facets of electronics, how did you start in this world?
My older brother was dj and he always brought me tapes (cassette) with electronic music. With just 7 u 8 añitos I started to study piano and solfeggio and you can imagine the sensation of listening to these tapes with a music and sounds that seemed to me from another planet. Since then I fell in love with electronic music with almost as much passion as classical music.
And which of all these facets fills you the most?
My other facets of Dj, businessman and producer also fascinate me because they are the perfect complement to my life as a composer. I think that one thing without the other would not be as strong, but if I had to choose only one facet would certainly be the composer.
This year is the 15 anniversary of your label, Pornographic Records. Apart from congratulating you for the more 100 references published and that incredible trajectory, we would like you to take a small balance of these years.
The beginnings were spectacular since I started with the label in the leading English distributor in the field of electronic music, Prime Distribution. We reached sales almost superior to the main seal that had called Primate Recordings, arriving at sales of until 6000 vinyl copies of some reference. Later the crisis and the new formats made all these distributors fall and consequently the sale of vinyls. For several years all record labels we suffer the transformation to the digital sale and very few we survive to this hecatomb. Fortunately since 4 or 5 years ago Pornographic Recordings is living again a very sweet time in which digital sales are reaching highs and, with this 15 birthday, big names of the scene have wanted to be part of this special delivery.
To celebrate the anniversary you are going to publish a special limited edition of 4 vinyls with unpublished collaborations… Why do we need to buy it? Sell it to us ... 😉
More than a necessity is a whim since we have focused it as a luxury item in which for the first time we have gathered so important names in a single delivery and with the additive of being able to have them in vinyl 180 grams with an exquisite sound. Vinyl Boxes often make great groups and big record companies as a collector's item for their fans that only a few privileged can get. This time we will only manufacture 200 boxes.
In addition, you are also presenting a very special tour inspired by the Pornographic Label Nights… Tell us about the tour, will you also visit Ibiza?
Indeed, we retake all the events of the seal that were previously held in cities as important as Tokyo, Miami, Brussels, Toulouse, Frankfurt and that in commemoration of this anniversary we will resume with great force, new show and, of course, high quality guest artists. There are not any yet nothing confirmed for Ibiza but there are many odds.
With respect to Donkeyhead Recordings, the subscript of Pornographic, what are the differences between the two?
Above all it is a musical difference. Donkeyhead is more based on Sounds House or Tech House Unlike Pornographic that has always been more focused to Techno. However, there are many artists which edit in both stamps as the vast majority produce both styles as is my case, and it's one of the reasons why I created this seal.
On April 25 you published the fourth installment of Varela Concept, tell us about this project and what it means to you ...
It is a project based on our relationship with the planet earth and everything around us. It is a kind of musical cry for awareness to the humans of the great disaster we are creating in our natural home, the earth. For pure selfishness and as a "superior" race of this planet not only are we not protecting our species but we are extinguishing them.
What do you think of the current music scene on the island?
I think he's living a excellent moment in which there is more collaborations between us. Large groups and artists of other styles are counting on the collaboration and remixes of electronic producers. They come very good times.
Last season we were able to enjoy Blue Nineties at Blue Marlin Ibiza. What are your plans for this summer 2015? Any residence planned? Where are we going to be able to see you playing in Ibiza?
This year we have preferred to focus our dates in Space with Carl Cox, Blue Marlin, Sankeys Ibiza, Km5 and 4 exclusive dates for La Belle Ibiza (old Ayoun), also based on music from 80 and 90 in view of the success we had last summer at Blue Marlin. We will have very special guests and they will surely be sessions on vinyl one hundred percent.
Something that always stands out about your sessions is that you have never recorded them, you always play with 4 turntables and on vinyl ...
Mostly I try to be very handmade, handmade and with vinyl, and always combining them with the latest technologies that we use the Djs, but prevailing vinyl as the main incentive.
You have DJed all over the world… What is your favorite place to DJ?
Japan
And in Ibiza?
Each club has its magic. But I'm very excited to click on Space again.
This Thursday you will be in the Closing of So Cool in Pacha Ibiza. Tell us a little about this party and what we are going to find on Thursday ...
I will pin my shed more housera, these sessions that carried out under the pseudonym of Carlos Durán but fortunately everyone already knows as my special house sets like Cristian Varela. Of course I will combine some classics of the greats like Frankie Knuckles, and very interesting remixes I'm sure that the So Cool attendants at Pacha will love them.
A session or moment of your career that you keep a special memory of ...
My first performance in Liquid Room from Tokyo to 4 dishes. It was the first time a Dj made a set like this in Japan and had a acceptance and magic.
What would your dream B2B be or who would you like to share the stage with?
I have already done it on various occasions with Carl Cox and Space from Ibiza, but unot from my dreams is to do a concert next to the great Vangelis.
What are your favorite musical references and Djs of the moment?
I like to listen to another type of music, and my references are more focused on large composers from the actuality like Hans Zimmers, James Newton Howard, Jon Williams or Vangelis.
Make us a bet on someone you think is going to hit a bombshell this summer ...
Without a doubt, Dosem u Oscar Aguilera.
Do you confess your favorite place on the island?
Na Xamena.
If you had to keep just one, what would you choose, techno or ambient ...?
Hahahaha, as it is not going to be the case, I'll take two!
How would you define your musical style?
Wide, deep and always very energetic Pricked with the soul.
Further information:
www.cristianvarela.com
facebook.com/cristianvareladj
twitter.com/cristianvarela
www.youtube.com/user/cristianvarelatv
