A balancing act, Partenaire’s sound treads with elegance and raw emotion over twilight. Powerful, yet intimate, his creations traffic a unique sensibility for expression. Blazing his own trail, Partenaire has released music on some of the most forward-thinking labels on the scene. Now, with his latest release ‘Pleasurestate’ having come out via Australian imprint Recovery Collective, we took the opportunity to delve a little deeper into his world. Check out our conversation with him just below!

Stream or get your copy of Partenaire’s ‘Pleasurestate’ EP here.

WWD: Hey Axel! Great to chat with you. First of all, how’s the year going so far?

Partenaire: Hey guys! It’s pleasure to link up with WWD. Everything is looking kind of rose-y over here! I’ve been crazy busy in the studio cooking up guest mixes, remixes, and tons of originals, so I really can’t complain. It’s been good so far.

WWD: Congratulations on the release of your ‘Pleasurestate’ EP on the mighty Recovery Collective. What has the initial reception been like?

Partenaire: Thanks! I’m actually very proud of the ‘Pleasurestate’ EP, and especially to be able to present it through Recovery Collective. This new EP finds me knee-deep in jet-black waters, exploring a side of me that I’ve always been very fond of, but rarely explore as I am also naturally drawn to more iridescent sounds. I mean, there are always some dark elements in my tracks, whether it’s prog, deep house, or breaks, but this time, the frames in which the music is contained have a techno-ish / mechanical feel to them, and the melodies are sparse and ethereal, with mangled vocals running amok. I feel like I’ve found the ghost in the machine. It’s a different kind of outing, for sure.

WWD: How do you figure out the story behind building a 3-track EP?

Partenaire. Well, to be honest, these actually stemmed from a larger, more ambitious project. At the start of the pandemic, I set out to create my first full-length album, which was also a concept/storyline, and possibly, some kind of graphic novel/NTF, set in a dystopian future where some emotions, like true love, have been suppressed and erased from mankind. It was meant to work as a ‘night-drive’ album. I’ve always been a big fan of late-nite drives through the big, buoyant cities like Buenos Aires. As I went in deeper down the rabbit hole, I became more and more invested and entangled. I wanted the tracks to relate to each other, and create this ‘seamless’ experience.

But, with little to go, I couldn’t find the remaining pieces inside of me. I got blinded and went in too deep. However, I still had some clear connections between the tracks. All three tracks came from these sessions, and this ‘Pleasurestate’ EP contains a glimpse into this dystopian future that never came to materialize.

WWD: Do you have a favorite from the EP? Why?

Partenaire: That’s a tough one! I’d have to say that ‘Pleasurestate’ is probably it. It feels like this hybrid, this outcast that blends techno, progressive, and trance, but is not enough of any of those things to belong there.

On the other hand, I feel like ‘Grayscale’ is pretty special itself too. It’s a really gritty take on breaks, where the melodic tones are delayed and sparse. I’m a sucker for these tunes that have a short, sweet moment buried inside a pile of distortion and noise. It’s a bit like life, right? You gotta dig really hard to find these sublime moments, and then, they’re just gone, leaving you longing for more.

I always get these ‘Oh, that’s beautiful, that should run throughout the track’ comments, which I think completely miss the point. If you heard that across several instances, the magic is gone. I bet you it won’t sound as magical as a fleeting moment does. The beauty is in the ephemeral.

WWD: Did you have any prior relationship with Recovery Collective? Can you share any favorites from their catalog?

Partenaire: I’ve actually never had any contact with Recovery Collective before I sent the tracks over, but they had been on my radar for a while now. Apart from the DJing and music production, I work behind the scenes as a journalist in the electronic dance music industry, which in a way means it’s my job to know who’s who and what’s everyone up to. And these guys have been absolutely smashing it, all while staying true to this ‘Collective’ ethos, which is something I really admire. That and some fucking killer music and artworks as well.

When I got in contact with Ben, Bongani, and Jiayden, I initially sent over 2 cuts, and they picked them up. So, as we started talking, I felt comfortable with them and decided to show them some more tracks, and we ended up with the ‘Plasurestate’ EP. And I’ve gotta say, these are some true gents, fronting it up with the big boys. I’m sure you’ll be hearing a LOT from RC and these guys.

About the tune…it’s always hard to pick a fave, BUT, I’ve been obsessing over JYDN’s breaks remix of PassONE’s ‘Emerald’. Go check that shit out. Roll one up, and get ready for fucking lift-off. Broken beats, rides, wicked guitar riffs, and chopped-up female vocals. Need I say more?

WWD: Did you follow some specific process to submit your music? Can you recommend to other producers what’s your view on correctly pitching an EP?

Partenaire: Not really. Well, yes. I mean, I always recommend first knowing who you’re pitching to. So, find the name of the label owner or the A&R. Introduce yourself, be knowledgeable about the label, and casually present a couple of milestones in your career, like labels you’ve singed with, or if you have a monthly radio show, or whatever thing you’ve done this far that you’re proud of. Try NOT to sound like a self-centered a-hole about it. No ‘this is the shit!’ or ‘this track is my finest work’, or any crap like that. Remember, they will be the judge of that.

If you don’t have any worth mentioning, don’t worry. We all started at the same place. Without anything, so just introduce yourself.

Oh, And do leave links to your socials and press-kit (if you’ve got it)…people wanna know about the artist behind the music. They are not just investing in your music, they are also investing in you as a person.

WWD: Moving into music production…Where do you find inspiration to create new music and follow a path into the unknown? Where does the evolution of your sound come from?

Partenaire: Wow…deep question here. Love it. I know my sound has changed a lot since I first started. I definitely know myself better, because I’ve managed to listen to myself better. I also think I know where I’ve been…It’s a weird feeling, but you know, it’s like a deja vu. And I’ve been curious as fuck my whole life. As a child, I wanted to be an astronaut, a paleontologist, and Indiana fucking Jones. So, I don’t really care about walking around the same streets, you know?. The studio is always the same, so what I can do to change it, is to hit hyperspeed and look for new horizons.

But I guess that kinda covers more of a ‘drive’ aspect, right? In terms of inspiration. I’ve had a wonderful life…I’ve read books I loved, watched incredible movies, I’ve traveled, tripped, and had even more amazing personal interrelationships. So I draw from there…there’s a recurring love theme, whether it’s about loving someone, or heartbreak, past, present or imaginary future lines…I love the ghosts of ‘what could have been’. So, a ‘partenaire’ is, by definition, a partner. Usually in an artistic setting or a romantic one. Of course, you can ‘get down’ by yourself. But, as you know, it takes two to make a thing go right, and it takes two to take it outta sight. Right?

WWD: Now that you mention books and movies. Have you read or seen anything worth sharing with our readers?

Partenaire: Well, yes. I have been big into Murakami. His take on romance and the weight it has on our shoulders is just sublime. I have also been enjoying some animated comedies on Netflix, particularly Final Space. Also, Big Mouth and Human Resources have proven to be a smart, funny take on feelings that we all go through as we develop as people.

WWD: Going back to music, more specifically events, how has it been growing in your country since everything went bonkers a few years ago? Are there any new styles taking over? New events or production companies that are doing things right?

Partenaire: It’s a bit hard for new genres in Argentina. That’s not to say we’re not a very forward-thinking crowd, but rather, a very exigent one. We’re known for being one of the ‘progressive’ capitals of the world, a sanctuary for progressive house, so that’s not really gonna change. But melodic techno has definitely taken a big space. There’s a lot of business techno rocking Mandarine Park on the regular.

The scene itself is ever-growing, and due to capitalist interests, sometimes it grows a bit too fast for my taste. But people here tend to know when they are being sold shards of glass as diamonds. As far as production companies, I’ve been FP BEATS and Flama really grow and develop into serious hitters.

WWD: What are your favorite clubs/venues in Buenos Aires? And which one should we visit?

Partenaire: Quite possibly my favorite one is Bahrein. Although it might be somewhat smaller, when compared to other venues like Mandarine, or Crobar, I always prefer the more intimate vibes. Of course, what is now known as Moscou is also a must, since it’s where the legendary Pacha Buenos Aires used to run. I gotta say La Biblioteca also has its own appeal.

WWD: So, what’s next on the agenda for Partenaire? Any sneak peek on what’s to come?

Partenaire: Oh, there’s a lot more to come. I’ll enjoy these ‘Pleasurestate’ waves for a while, and then I’ll look forward to my next release, which will be my ‘Strangeways’ three-tracker for Suza Records. You can also expect to see me back on onedotsixtwo later down the line, and I’ve got some really cool surprises in store for the rest of the year, so keep an eye on this guy.

WWD: Thanks for taking the time and all the best!

Partenaire: Thank you, guys! It’s my pleasure. Take care!

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