Boasting an impressive triad of critically acclaimed releases since launching back in April 2022 (Here To Stay EP, Starlight EP and Disconnect), burgeoning underground house imprint Scenarios now looks to continue its enviable run of first-rate studio output as it unveils its fourth official offering, with Looking In The Sky. Due for worldwide release on Friday, November 25, Looking In The Sky marks the first single on the label to feature all five constituent members of the Scenarios collective – Emanuel Satie, Maga, Tim Engelhardt, Sean Doron and Yulia Niko – who team up with Berlin-based vocalist Paul Brenning for one of the biggest records on the label to date.
Ebbing and flowing with hypnotic purpose, the spellbinding vocal cut delivers everything we’ve come to expect and more from the prolific collective, who continue to showcase their innate knack for creating deep, emotive and intelligent electronic music of the very highest calibre. A sophisticated and emotionally charged offering, characterised by dynamic synth structures, Brenning’s lingering vocals and a heady concoction of pulsating four-four beats, Scenarios’ trademark composite of deep, melodic, club music shines front and centre, as the six artists pull out all the stops with a rousing dancefloor weapon.
We caught up with label co-founder MAGA to find out more.
WWD: Hey MAGA, how are you today?
Lovely, thank you in Bali currently. I just came back from a hike by the waterfall of Munduk.
WWD: Please can you quickly introduce yourself for our WWD readers?
This year is my 10 year anniversary in my career as a music producer and DJ arround the globe. I’m the founder of SCENARIOS music label & CHILDREN OF THE FUTURE, a non-profit music label that supports a foundation of 60 kids in Mexico City.
Also, I’m currently curating my home residency in Lisbon called “Stories” which invites mainly friends from the scene such has Damian Lazarus, WhoMadeWho, Mira & many more….
WWD: You’re gearing up to release your brand new single ‘Looking In The Sky’ on Scenarios — a record created with all five members of the Scenarios crew. What can you tell us about the record?
This is a record that was created in lisbon with the five of us and we are really happy with the outcome from the singer Paul Brenning. We create this record with the mindset of doing something that has a pop feeling, but still is very much dancefloor orientated.
WWD: Can you explain the concept behind Scenarios and why you decided to set it up earlier this year?
Scenarios was built to help one another to grow in our careers and to achieve better-sounding music together. We define our own musical identity, which now is leading us by showcasing our music for the shows we are booking worldwide with the crew.
WWD: How did you all come together in the first instance? Was there one person who instigated the formation of the collective?
Myself & Sean Doron put all of the label together. We have been working together for nine months, but realistically we been working on this for over a year and half. The structure of the label took awhile to design, from branding to team players, to who should be involved in every part of the plan.
We really happy of the outcome so far, since we have so many new showcases booked and many releases in the pipeline.
WWD: Going back to your own formative years, what were the first records you can remember being into, the ones that really made an impression on you?
‘Julien Jabre – Swimming Places’ was the begining of musical discovery’s in starting to dig music.
WWD: Do you remember the moment you decided you were going to make and play records for a living?
Actually, it was back in the day in 2012 when I use to own my nightclub restaurant in Cape Town. My resident dj taught me how to put one record after another and then I was like “that’s it! this is it, that’s what I want to do”. It’s now been 10 years.
WWD: Fast forward to the present day, who are some of the standout producers, live acts and DJs that resonate with you these days?
Producers: Mano Le Tough, Ivory…
WWD: What non-musical projects do you fill your time with when you’re not DJing or in the studio?
Travelling and discovering the world has been my favorite thing to do.
WWD: What else can we expect from you over the next few months? Any exciting projects we can look forward to?
A lot of new music coming on scenarios and many showcases planned around the world. This year has been absolute blast and have played over 115 shows, from going back to some places I’ve played in the past to being able to discover many new spots. The journey has been enlightening.
WWD: Thanks so much for taking the time MAGA, we wish you all the best!
Thanks 🙂
Emanuel Satie, Maga, Tim Engelhardt, Sean Doron and Yulia Niko – Looking In The Sky (ft. Paul Brenning) will be released on Friday, November 25 via Scenarios. Pre-order here.