At just 28 years old, Joan has already shared the booth with the likes of Paul Oakenfold, Eric Prydz, Patrice Baumel, Hernan Cattaneo, Nick Warren, Guy J, Nic Fanciulli, Idris Elba, Mathias Kaden, Nora en Pure, Davide Squillace, Pig & Dan, Dave Seaman, dubspeeka and many more in clubs and festivals like Burning Man, Ministry Of Sound, E1 London, Pacha, EGG London, Miami Music Week, Amsterdam Dance Event and Metropolitano Rosario.

He has released music on important labels in the scene; like Paul Oakenfold’s Perfecto Records, Tiesto’s Black Hole Recordings, New State Music, Hernan Cattaneo’s SUDBEAT Music, Nick Warren’s Hope Recordings, and DJ Mag Latinoamerica. One of his most important tracks, She Dreamed Through The Sky, was selected by Paul Oakenfold to be included in his prestigious compilation Sunset At Stonehenge, with music from U2, Hans Zimmer, Vangelis, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of Prague, Empire Of The Sun and more.

How is your Argentina tour going? Talk to us about some of the highlights.

Hey guys, happy to be speaking with you. Argentina is going amazingly. We did really good shows in Buenos Aires, Rosario, and Santa Fe, with Mendoza, Paraná coming and more being spoken at the moment. Argentina’s scene is great and I am always happy to be here. Some of the highlights are my shows at Crobar and The Bow, two of the main clubs in Buenos Aires. I never played in Buenos Aires before because I felt it was an important one and wanted to wait for the right moment. Playing with Monolink in my hometown was also great it was a day to remember.

What originally gave you the urge to start making music, and DJing? What was some of the first music you was into/purchasing?

I always loved movies and storytelling and always felt music has a key role in that narrative. I had a big love for art, music, and cinema when I was a kid and when I was a teenager wanted to get involved with it, so started studying music production and everything related to audio. Everything started from there. In the meantime, I started listening to more and more DJs playing live and loved how stories were told. A DJ set has the full potential to be narrative and electronic music is perfect for it. I grew up listening to Vangelis’s Blade Runner and the first record that was gifted to me was “A Hard’s Day Night” by The Beatles.

Your debut single landed on Hernan Cattaneo’s SUDBEAT, a pioneer from your native country. How did it feel to release on such a label? Are there more collaborations between you in the future?

That was a key moment in my career. I sent Hernan the first track that I felt it was “finished” and feeling great. He liked it and then I got a proposal to release it in Sudbeat. When that happened (it was another time for the electronic music scene) I decided that I wanted to go “all in”, left everything, and started working 24/7 in my career. It felt and feels great to release with Sudbeat and Hernan is a big inspiration. I am pretty confident we will work together again in the near future.

Talking of legends, you also have had a consistent relationship with Paul Oakenfold throughout your career. Tell us about this relationship, how did it come about, and again, releasing on Perfecto must of been a milestone moment for you. Not to mention featuring on his “Sunset At Stone Henge” compilation.

Paul is an absolute superstar and more than nothing a great friend. We met thanks to music in the Ministry Of Sound. I gave him my music and we started releasing music in Perfecto. I was a kid when I started to listen to electronic music and Perfecto has been a key for how big electronic music is today, so releasing music on this label means a lot and feels like family, made a lot of friends thanks to it.

We spent great times together on his return to Buenos Aires a week ago and spoke about the future. “Sunset at Stonehenge” is unforgettable. Being on an album with Vangelis, Hans Zimmer, and U2 still gives me chills.

Often your music contains a lot of depth and emotion, how important is it to portray these different feelings in your music? Do you think this is something that is maybe lost in today’s busy market and the new generation?

I think this question is probably the most important to speak about right now (laughs). I speak with colleagues about this topic every single day and there is a clear idea to speak about this a bit more.

I always do my best to tell stories and express myself with my music. There is real art in learning how to create different moments in a track and give every moment the emotion that represents it.

When a track is genuine, is easy to feel it, more considering what is going on right now. What’s going on right now is a bit tricky and super debatable. In the meantime, I can say it is possible to be commercial and still be expressive with music. It’s not easy but if there is an intention to be genuine with what you create, it can be done.

2023 has been strong for you all round, how is 2024 looking? What do you have planned in terms of releases, and any exciting gigs you can already tell our readers about?

There is honestly a lot going on. 2023 has been great and intense. Didnt have a proper home the whole year and music brought me to places. Or had many homes, better said. I played my first gig in 2016 and a lot happened ever since. I always loved the versatility and when I started playing in London I played from classic House to Techno depending on the artists I shared the stage with and the different venues, so I am focusing a lot on this versatility I like in presentations and also in the new music I am creating. I have a special release next March and there is a lot of work on what will happen after that one.

Finally, can you leave us with your favorite track of 2023? And why did you choose this one?

Difficult one. I have two tunes that came to my mind with these questions. Strobe Queen by Radio Slave and Tim Green’s remix of “Two Months Off” by Underworld.

Joan Retamero: Instagram / Soundcloud / Spotify