This article needs no recommendation. Check out what the 6th DJ in the world had to say 3 weeks prior to the results of the “DJ Mag” Top 100 poll.
You came to Poland at midnight and left at noon. On Friday you played in London. You don't have much time to sleep, do you? Have you ever stayed in a country where you had a gig for a bit longer to see some more of it, to have some short vacation maybe? Where do you spend your time-off?
Yes sometimes I do, but it’s hard usually as I have other gigs or work to do. It’s just part of the job really. I’ll have some days off in Japan next week. I'll go there for ten days and only do 4 gigs so almost one week off. I haven’t had a proper long vacation in years I think and every time I planned one, then some other good things come up and I’m still postponing them! I travel the world everyday and have a great time on different cities. Of course I wish I could stay a week on each one but... But I do not complain. I think I have the best job in the world.
Does this no-sleep trouble make you dislike after-parties?
I just don't like after parties really. I prefer to play in clubs as long as possible. I love to do 6 hour sets starting deep and housey and then building slowly to a bigger sound towards the end of the night. That's a good clubbing experience to me. I believe if you have one like this there is no need for after-parties.
You know that the history of our countries may look quite similar? We
where under soviet reigns, you lived in a military country for many years. Did it reflect to the dance scene in Argentina? We didn't have one at all.
I found some similarities, yes. We both been thru a lot of hard times and the polish crowds are fantastic as the Argentineans. Actually I think the whole Eastern Europe is really good lately. You can find the energy and enthusiasm only comparable to South American.
I think your international career started from playing gig by gig in
England in 2001. How did it happen that a DJ from Argentina could play 5 gigs a week in England for 6 months? Who helped you to achieve that?
I started traveling with Oakenfold and Cream in ‘98 and then moved to London. In 2001 it’s been a lot of traveling and work but it’s been great and I’m really happy with the results. At that time I was a Cream resident in Liverpool and Ibiza plus a lot of other gigs around Europe. It was a great opportunity to put my then unknown name on the dance music map.
How has Ibiza changed in the past few years? I've heard that progressive parties do not gather so many people anymore. Most of the clubbers go to trance and techno venues. Why is that?
That's one side of the story and it’s just because trance is a more commercial sound. Still, I did have many amazing nights at Space and Pacha. Played with Sasha @ Renaissance, Satoshi @ Def Mix and Lawler @ We love Sundays at Space and the sound was mainly prog and house. No trance at all! So that tells us a lot about what the sound that is rocking the biggest is and the best nights on the island.
A cousin of ours has seen you, Sasha, Digweed and Zabiela at Global Gathering in England. He says you where the best. Do you already feel like taking place of current number ones in the scene?
He may like me more than the others but that doesn't mean I’m better than anyone else, and especially those who you mentioned. Those are all fantastic DJs! Sasha & John are truly pioneers of their sound and I don't think any other dj will achieve what they did in the prog scene. As for James, he’s the most talented young DJ I’ve seen in ages. Many people still refer to him as a new breeder but for me he is already a big DJ and his future is as big as his wish.
By the way - why aren't you running your own label?
I just don’t have the time at the moment but been thinking about it. Maybe in the near future I will have one. There have been some really good producers from South America in the past. Two years and will be great for me to create a platform for them. I will probably work on the idea early or mid next year. At the moment I try to help them by passing their stuff onto the right labels.
You used to play Way Out West track called "Anything But You". Did you hear the vocal version from the album? If yes, don't you feel it should remain instrumental?
It depends on what you are looking. I think the vocal it’s great, but I really like the way the instruments work together on the other mix and with the vocal, many ones get lost. There are tracks that work different on different places. If I was doing a radio show I think the vocal would suit really nicely. Now in a club, the instrumental works better in my opinion.
Do you feel pressure to produce your own tracks and remixes? To be honest, Hernan DJ and Hernan producer are in my opinion two different brands. I enjoy you more when DJing...
I'm glad with the stuff I’ve done with Martin in the studio, still I never take the proper time needed to make myself a great producer. I'm working on some really good stuff at the moment so time will tell. I’ve been DJing for 15 years and producing for around 4 so there is no way to compare the experience I have on each area.
What would you say if I stated that there's something like the "Cattaneo beat"?
Maybe after the years I have my own sound I choose records with some kind of vibe I like and also I have many influences from all over the world. So maybe that makes some kind of personal sound which could be a mix of those certain elements.
Do you know that Metrodance became so much popular in Europe? According to that we know how to pronounce your name. Why didn't you tell Digweed how to do it?
Ha ha, that's funny! My name is really hard for English people. John is the man, and a really good friend. He supported me big time since day one and even when he pronounces my last name always wrong I will always forgive him. And apart from being a fantastic inspiration he is the nicest guy around so what I’m gonna say to him?
What do you think about the music evolution "started" by James Holden and people at Border Community? I see from your chart that you seem to like this future funk prog techno (call it what you want)
I love James Holden stuff, I think he is really talented and put some great records out. They went for a different sound and really got it right! I wish there will be more people like him, Nathan Fake and co.
You're also a fan of tech-housies from Southampton. Are there other areas/sources that you eagerly and almost regularly take music from?
Yes. JZ introduced me to a lot of young new producers from the area that I like a lot. Also I like lots of producers from around the world. Greece is always a great source, and also Japan and Eastern Europe
Tell me something more about the "Warsaw" tune with John Tonks. Why the title?
He choose the name first and because I had really good memories of Poland agreed 100% on it. “Warsaw” is a breakbeat track with a big riff in the breakdown that been working really well in my sets. It starts really slow with a big bass and some chords but halfway changes completely and goes into a bigger kind of record. We are still touching some thing for the final mix. It will come out next year along some other stuff we’ve been working together.
What's with "Behind The Music"? Is it ever going to be released?
Well, we did it with Dean to be included on my first Renaissance CD so it was always meant to be an exclusive for the compilation. Since then we have many people asking about it so maybe some day we will put it out.
How is the "Renaissance Masters" compilation selling? I've heard you're doing another one?
Yes, it sold really well and Renaissance just asked me for another one. Probably will start working on the new one next month. It will come out early February and will do another 3-month worldwide tour like I did this year.
Questions by Sebastian i Łukasz Napora
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Comments (2)
~Elmo (November 18th, 2004):
really nice indeed! :)
