We sit down with the incredibly talented DJ and producer, Rafael Cerato, as he takes us behind the scenes of his latest venture — the ‘Picture’ mini-album on Diynamic. This series, known for capturing an artist’s current creative essence, unfolds a spectrum of influences and sounds that define Rafael’s unique musical identity. Join us as he shares insights into the curation process, his relationship with Solomun and Diynamic, and a glimpse into the vibrant landscape of his evolving career. Welcome to the world of Rafael Cerato, where each track tells a story, and the music resonates with a timeless energy. Let’s dive in! 🎶✨

WWD: Your upcoming ‘Picture’ mini-album on Diynamic is a snapshot of your current creative output. Can you give us a glimpse into the thematic and sonic elements that define this release?

Hey guys! Thanks for having me here! The process of this special EP is to show all the spectrum of my different influences and sounds. Its always special to release a Picture on Diynamic and it was a super exciting project 🙂

WWD: As part of the ‘Picture:’ series, each track is a facet of your artistic expression. How did you approach the curation of these dancefloor-oriented pieces, and what story do they collectively tell?

It was pretty simple, I was producing a bunch of tracks that I sent to Diynamic and Solomun, and they picked 6 songs to build the EP following the theme of the Picture series: all tracks are telling a different story but all tracks together are showing my identity and perception of the music 🙂

WWD: How did you decide on the tracks that made it into ‘Picture,’ and what kind of emotions or moods do you hope listeners experience?

To be honest, we all decided together with the Diynamic Team about the order of tracks, based on Solomun feedbacks. It was such a good experience to build this EP because its a mix between my old-school influences and new wave. I really hope that the listeners will feel the soul that I put into the tracks and I hope that they will enjoy them as much as I do.

WWD: What is your relation with Solomun and Diynamic?

Its a long love story, my first release on Diynamic was 10years ago with a track on the very first Four To The Floor series. And now, I released 13 tracks there over the last years. And I can say that the Diynamic team is super professional and all of them are so lovely and friendly. Its always a pleasure to work with them, and meeting them all around the world. Regarding Solomun, we played a really nice b2b last September in Ibiza for Pacha at El Cielo, it was an amazing moment, and we have a really nice relationship, he is always taking time to give feedbacks and he is spreading the love around him.

WWD: Growing up with a passion for electronics and drawing from various genres, how has your diverse musical background influenced your unique style as a DJ and producer?

I’m a product from old-school electronic music, from Kraftwerk to Daft Punk, Joy Orbison to Plastikman to new a few. But I got a really big influence from the french producers like ED Banger crew, and many others. This scene was a game changer for me and my music.

WWD: You’ve established yourself as a flexible producer of melodic genres. How do you navigate between different styles while maintaining a distinctive sound that is uniquely ‘Rafael Cerato’?

It was a long process to find my own identity, I was experimenting differents sounds and spending hours and hours in studio to finally be able to feel comfortable with a proper specific sound. I always keep experimenting new sounds without losing my identity.

WWD: Your performances are known for their energy and ability to connect with fans of house, indie, and melodic sounds. How do you tailor your sets to create an immersive experience for your audience?

I always try to feel the crowd first because I never play the same set, I don’t prepare my sets. I’m always waiting to be connected with the club, the crowd, the city, the country and the set time and who will play after me. For me being a DJ is to be able to change immediately if u feel that the crowd is not understanding the story that u want to tell.

WWD: Having released music on labels like Systematic, Stil Vor Talent, and Diynamic, how do you perceive the evolution of your sound over the years and the impact of these experiences on your artistic growth?

Over the last 15 years I use to produce many different genres of electronic music, and my music is in constant evolution. Its important as an artist to go out of your comfort zone to give new feelings and emotions into your music. These labels was following my music evolution and always gave me a huge support and confident. Its important to work with labels that u really love and get inspired with.

WWD: Tell us about your own label, RITUAL. What motivated you to start your own imprint, and how does it contribute to your vision as an artist?

I started my label Ritual naturally in 2019 because I was organizing parties under that name. The biggest motivation was to create a platform for new artists that I discover daily while receiving promos and demos. And also to build something around my vision of the music, and having the opportunity to release my own tracks when I want and I have a space of freedom.

WWD: In the process of creating music, what are some rituals or routines that you find essential for enhancing your creativity and maintaining a consistent workflow?

I’m following a daily routine, doing sport, cooking, trying to keep my mind safe and clean as much as I can, and then the creativity is coming naturally. Regarding the process of creating music, I try to stay in my own bubble, experimenting things and when I find a strong element I will build the track around.

WWD: As an artist who has been a part of the contemporary music scene for years, how do you see the current landscape, and what trends or changes are you excited about?

To be honest, the visuals was the biggest improvement of the electronic scene these years. I used to love the idea and the experience but from my point of view, the music itself needs to be back at the center of the experience because I have the feeling that most of the people are coming to these shows for the visuals and not for the music anymore unfortunately. But as I said, it’s my opinion 🙂

WWD: Collaborations have been a notable part of your career. Are there any dream collaborations or artists you’d love to work with in the future?

I used to release more solo tracks than collabs but yes I always loved to share projects with artists that I love. You are always learning from different producers skills 🙂 Regarding a dream collaboration, i don’t have something specific in mind because I really like many producers and singers. But if I need to say only one, I would say Rufus Du Sol for their amazing vocals.

WWD: Looking ahead, what can fans expect from Rafael Cerato in terms of future releases, collaborations, or any exciting projects in the pipeline?

2024 is full of new music and one of the most important year of my career. After the release of my Picture EP on Diynamic, I will release an EP on Systematic, and then we will start the promotion of my second full LP on Systematic too coming in June 2024. And also, a bunch of remix for Vintage Culture, another one for Bedrock and many others projects coming but I will keep them secret for now haha 🙂