For episode 122 of the When We Dip Mix Series, our guest is someone that has a very special connection to Montreal. From playing his famed marathon sets in Stereo with former artistic partner Pablo Ceballos to having his tracks played on speakers of all shapes and sizes all over the city, Chus is a name that will always resonate with music lovers of our city. He prepared an hour-long set that’s perfect for dancing under the sun and celebrating the return of summer. We also caught up with him to chat about his new artistic endeavors, his legacy, and more. Enjoy!
WWD: Hi Chus! It’s a pleasure for us to have you on for WWD122. Where are you in the world right now and have you been up to lately?
Hola Hola! I’m in Mexico, I Just arrived from Madrid, this is the first stop of a two months Summer Tour crossing over North America, playing in Tulum, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Miami, New York, Washington, San Francisco, San Diego to name but a few! Beyond excited to be back on the road after many months locked down in the Studio due Covid-19. I’ve been working non-stop making music, remixes, originals and also a few collaborations, so I am beyond excited and happy with the result, because music always speaks!
WWD: Let’s first talk about your recent release on your own label Redolent, ‘Who’, with Tosz and Rosewall. What was the main inspiration behind the creation of the track, and then of the remixes?
This project was the first one of my new-beginnings adventure, digging into deeper grounds, exploring a new form of writing and composing electronic music, making songs and not only tracks. Finding Thomas, aka TOSZ, was very inspiring. He is such a talented person, we connected from the very first moment, and the creative process was easy and exciting, exactly how I love to work. With such a beautiful song, working on the remixes was also a fun task. Having involved two great artists and long-time friends, Haze-M and Made by Pete, they did a fantastic job.
WWD: Looking back at some of the important points in your musical journey, it seems like collaboration is almost at the heart of your process. What is it that gives you that drive to co-create so much?
Music is all about sharing, and for me, that feeling begins from the very first moment when I’m sitting down in the studio creating a new song. I love to share experiences, learning, and teaching, surrounded by people who inspire each other. It’s a beautiful process that tastes better when you have somebody who you respect by your side.
WWD: And how do you approach launching a new label project with Redolent after having accomplished so much with Stereo Productions, the first independent electronic music label in Spain, more than 20 years ago? What is still to achieve in your opinion?
Stereo Productions have accomplished many things over the years. I’m so proud of it, but this is not the end for the label. We still have too much to do and to achieve. We can’t let down our fans, the Iberican Sound lovers, and last but no less, our families. Stereo is a label with a very particular style, where the Dance-Floor is our primary goal, pure energy, groove, and rhythm.
Redolent is something that I was dreaming about for so long, a label without musical boundaries, focus on the most intimate side of me and my partner, La Santa, a beautiful person, a great artist, and a better soul. We wanted to create a label and a community of artists that share the same love and passion for Deep Electronic Music in all its forms, genres, and tags.
WWD: What artists you’d say are really to look out for coming up on this project? Any names to look out for?
First of all, we want to give a chance to up-and-coming talents. There are many amazing artists out there that deserve an opportunity. But we also want to have well-known artists, all of them with a common peculiarity, respect for each other, friendship feeling, and belonging sense. We already have tracks signed by Sparrow & Barbossa, Cee ElAssaad, Floyd Lavine, D-Formation, La Santa, Leo Guardo, Oscar L under his new alter ego REIYM, Safar FR, PAAX Tulum, TOSZ, Haze-M, Laroz, Coherence, Double Drop or Dorian Craft among others. We would love to have onboard names such as Pablo Fierro, Musumeci, Shai-T, Nico de Andrea, CIOZ, Armonica, Dee Montero, FNX Omar, or Oliver Koletzki, to name but a few.
WWD: And speaking of achievements, is there something on your radar for the coming years? Another dream to bring to reality?
Yes, for sure, after 35 years of this personal musical journey and the split-up of Chus & Ceballos, the time is now for my first solo album, but of course, it will be a collaborative album involving some of the most influential artists of my career. I’ll keep you posted, promise.
WWD: As gigging and parties come back throughout the second half of this year, how do you see the scene evolving? As someone famous for those marathon sets along with Ceballos, do you think there will be adaptation in that direction?
I have the feeling that we are going to live a marvelous time after this uncertain period of Covid-19. People need to party, forget the last months, and release so much stress and pressure. Indeed, playing marathon sets is always challenging, but I am more than ready to accept the challenge. As I said, I am in a very sweet moment of my career and about to turn 50 in a few months, exciting times are coming!
WWD: And how is that relationship still with Ceballos? How do you guys interact now that you’re not zoned in the same artistic project? Will it be a bit scary to go out there and play solo? Or rather freeing?
We are keeping a polite relationship, but we have not much contact, to be honest. Pablo is living in Los Angeles, and I live in Madrid, with a nine hours time difference, which makes our professional relationship very difficult. I had my solo career 15 years before meeting Pablo, and I continued to play alone as much as I could, so scare is not the right word, freedom is the feeling.
WWD: Thank you once again for answering our questions, We can’t wait to hear the set you’ve prepared for us! What can we expect for this one? Any tracks that you have a special connection to?
Thank You Guys for the opportunity, always grateful and flattered for having me. Here you have the tracklist for the music lovers. It is loaded with amazing tracks, including some Redolent releases and unreleased ones. Also, my latest remix for AWEN in Madoras titled ‘In Your Eyes’ and my new studio collaboration along with Amine K titled ‘Cigano’ for Sol Selectas. Enjoy the show!
01. Kiko Navarro – Everything Happens for a Reason Pt2
02. KEENE, Cee ElAssaad – Butundaile (Instrumental Mix)
03. CIOZ – Chapter 5
04. Coherence, Ayoze Erbanni – El Canamenho
05. Moses Moises – Navajo (CHUS Private Edit)
06. Massimo Lippoli – Oguere
07. Los Cabra & Bondi – Caminata
08. Baiuca – Olvidame (Pomboklap Edit)
09. Laroz, Hellogoodbye – Close (D-Formation Remix)
10. Amine K – Taran (Dr Gonzo Remix)
11. AWEN, Liva K – In Your Eyes (CHUS Remix)
12. Guzzk – Passion (with CHUS & Rosewall – Who Acapella)
13. Yes – Matthias
14. Argy, Bayoga – Under No Illusion
15. CHUS, Amine K – Cigano