After a huge 2016, which included his barnstorming Kickstarter campaign and the commencement of recording 10 tracks in 10 locations around the world, Natura Sonoris boss Henry Saiz closes out the calendar year with a two track remix pack around Eloy collaboration ‘For Days and Nights’. In addition, to sharing an exclusive preview of Shall Ocin’s work, he’s fielded an onslaught of questions from WWD HQ touching on his tour of the globe and the upcoming ten year anniversary of the label.
WWD: Hi Henry, thanks for joining us. Talk to us through the new album project. How have things progressed since the KickStarter campaign?
My pleasure. Well, we´ve done 4 of the tracks/videos already, Canary Islands, Joshua tree, Dubai and Australia/New Zealand. We´ll do 2 more in January so things are going pretty fast, it´s been amazing so far, even more intense and challenging than I expected.
WWD: Were you surprised by the success of the fundraising campaign?
To be honest I’ve always trusted my audience so I knew I could count on them for this, but even though I was confident the reaction was pretty amazing considering it´s a pretty complex project. Lot of experts on crowd funding told us that we achieved something great so I have nothing but love for all the people who trusted us and helped this project to become real.
WWD: Where else do you hope to visit and record?
We are going to Tokyo and Vietnam in January and hopefully Egypt in March, also working now in Kenya, Sweden, Mexico and Argentina. But some places are changing due to different reasons so this is evolving all the time.
WWD: Maybe Electronic Music is no longer the fresh, vibrant scene it once was for those who have been in the game a while. Is it important to find ways to reignite the passion?
That´s why I don’t follow any trend and I just do my own thing, otherwise I would be tired of doing the same formula over and over again. For me IT’S still fresh and vibrant because I find my own way to make it that way, for example this new album project, I don’t think someone has done something like this before and that makes me keep my love for music and song writing.
WWD: The ten year anniversary of your label is fast approaching. What are your abiding memories of the last decade?
It´s amazing to look back and see such a great collection of music, I feel very proud and honored to share my platform with so many great artists, that was the main point of running my own label. We are working on something very special to celebrate the 10 years anniversary, so stay tuned
WWD: How will Natura Sonoris in the next decade be different to that of the last one?
The spirit is the same and will keep the same if we last 10 more years, honest music from good people who are here for the love of music and trying to add something special to the electronic music scene taking risks, having no prejudices and following no trends.
WWD: What is the one memory from 2016 that will stay with you?
Being involved in an intense project like this new album makes it hard to choose only one memory, but I can tell you the last one I remember which happened last night; when I played at Crobar club in Buenos Aires, what an amazing night and crowd, one of those perfect nights!
WWD: From all the music across the scene this year, What’s been the defining dance-floor track of 2016 in your eyes?
It´s impossible for me to pick only one track. One track I’m in love with lately is Joep Mencke – “Shelter In The Sky” and also the remixes Shall Ocin and AFFKT did for my track “For Days and Nights”
WWD: Who’s been your standout performer live or behind the decks?
The best concert I’ve seen this year was M83 at Glastonbury festival when I played there with my live band show. Absolutely stunning.
WWD: What would make 2017 a happy year for you?
I´ll be more than happy if I’m able to enjoy all this creative process I’m involved in despite all the stress and pressure. I think I will, otherwise what’s the point?
Follow: Henry Saiz / Natura Sonoris