Now then it’s fair to say Hector Couto is no stranger to When We Dip. In fact it was only a month ago now that the Roush Label runner provided us with 60 minutes of bliss for our central mix series, serving up the 84th edition in serious Spanish style. On top of that, it was only a couple of weeks back that we premiered ‘Alive‘, the second track of the ‘Mr Magic‘ EP, out on his very own Roush imprint.
So with that already on the books, we caught up with Hector for a quick Q&A. Catch the chat below.
WWD: First off Hector thank you for sitting down with us for a chat! Where are you in the world right now?
HC: Hi guys right now I’m at my house in Tenerife getting ready to play tomorrow at Do Not Sleep (Ibiza) B2b with Darius Syrossian.
WWD: Sounds exciting! Now obviously your recent MR. Magic EP came out a couple weeks back on your very own Roush Label, and we premiered the track titled ‘Alive’. We couldn’t find any faults, with such a wibbly-wobbly bassline to keep all ravers on their toes! From an artist’s perspective, how do you decide when a track is finished? Because surely you could keep tweaking a tune forever…
HC: I don’t know how to explain it, but over the years in my experience I can feel when a track its done. With ‘Alive’ I tried to create a track with a driving bassline, guided by shimmering hats and rugged kicks, to reveal a production destined for the peak time.
WWD: And you certainly did! Speaking of Roush, what was it that lead you to form your own music label? Had it always been something you’d wanted to do, or did it feel more like a natural progression?
HC: I always wanted to have a label that offers something different, not based on new trends. And the main focus would always be on “good underground house music”. Roush appears as a natural progression of my DJ career, and now we’ve been releasing music for the last four years, from many artists around the globe.
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WWD: Another thing we’d like to ask you Hector: As such an established DJ, producer and label runner, what advice would you give to any upcoming producers and DJs that are trying to break into the scene?
HC: Best advice is to be humble and patient, if you work hard everything has its reward in the end!
WWD: Sound advice indeed! And between a busy tour schedule and being in and out of the studio, what activities do you get up to when you’re not working? Because we’ve heard you’re a bit of a skateboarding enthusiast…
HC: Yes I love skateboarding and surfing, and I’m also a big fan of fishing. I practice every time I’m at my home in Tenerife!
WWD: Nice! Here come some quick-fire questions Hector: the warehouse, the festival or the nightclub? What would you go for and why?
HC: I love to play in the “warehouse” because they are the essence of the underground music.
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WWD: And if you could only DJ in one of these places for the rest of your life (Tenerife or Ibiza), which one would you choose and why?
HC: I’d choose Ibiza because I’ve always dreamed of playing on the White Isle ever since I grew up as a DJ.
WWD: Nice one mate! Thanks for chatting to us today!
HC: No problem!