New-school House champion Santé is back on Moon Harbour for the first time since 2016 with ‘Calypso Dream’ another of his fantastically edgy and essential productions.

Over the last decade, Avotre label boss Philipp Maier aka Santé has defined a new house sound that is rock solid and built on big bass and rolling drums. He rarely steps away from this own well-regarded label, but in the past has remixed Ninetoes and Marco Faraone on Moon Harbour. His refined sound palette constantly evolves but always remains firmly focussed on the groove.

This superb new offering ‘Calypso Dream’ has a sunny vibe thanks to the fluttering toms and big, expressive steel drums. They are laid over chunky kicks and grinding bass to make for a roomy track filled with organic feelings and tropical colours. After a playful breakdown, the tune drops again and will make an indelible mark on indoor and outdoor parties alike.

Santé shows a more playful side to his sound here, and it will please legions of fans old and new. We chat with the producer about his EP, upcoming project and more… Enjoy!

WWD: Hey Santé, thanks for your time. You’re having a release on Moon Harbour (LINK). How and where did you created the track?

I moved three years ago to Portugal and spend most of the time at the beach, which influences my sound a lot. I think my sound became more housy and positive. I heard a portugese folk song at a beach bar with some steel drums so I went back to the studio and that track is the result.

WWD: What is the story behind your track title?

I was searching for a name and this came up while i was listening to the premaster. It reminds me on a dreamy island

WWD: What was your first experience with Moon Harbour (and when)?

I am following the label since ages and was always a fan of Matthias Tanzmann, he was one of the first who represented the house music in Germany

WWD: What’s your history with music in general and DJ-ing especially?

It all started when Santé bought an Akai MPC-2000 aged 16 and set the ball rolling for a life entrenched in electronic music. “I was totally into sampling and house”, he recalls of those early days of button bashing and experimentation. He left his hometown when he was 21 to immerse himself in the dance music mecca that is Berlin. A studio internship blossomed into a full-time career, with the emerging talent spending six years producing jingles and ad music and nurturing his passion for house music at any opportunity. Nothing was released, however, until one of his demos found its way to Matt ‘Radio Slave’ Edwards. My first ever release came out on Edwards’ acclaimed REKIDS imprint, setting the bar incredibly high and garnering him a lot of high-profile attention in the process.

WWD: How did you spend your time during the corona lockdowns?

I spend the first lockdown of grid in a forrest close to Berlin, immediately they opened the boarder again I flew back to portugal and spend the second lockdown there and made this record and many more.

WWD: Do you have any plans for the summer?

Hopefully seeing all my friends again.

WWD: Is there anything else you’d like us to know?

I started a new project together with my brother Re.you which is called SANREY. We’re are setting up a new live act. We produced 2 albums over the last year and are going to tour it as soon as possible when the pandemic is over.

Buy his new track on Moon Harbour HERE