Madrid-based artist Rene Lorenzo is the latest debutant on the SOL imprint with his new four track release ‘Belleza Oculta’ having dropped on December 10. Ambient lovers may be familiar with his previous work, which includes standout releases on the likes of Shimmering Moods, Askance Discs and Seven Villas Music.
‘Belleza Oculta’ presents his intricate sonic touch in a soothing package, which fuses rich textures, detailed synth-work and entrancing atmospheres. This week, the Spaniard took the time to discuss the new EP with, as well as sharing some background on his musical influences and his vinyl affinity. It’s all below, enjoy!
WWD: Thanks for joining us Rene! Where in the world are you right now and what has been on your to-do list this week?
Thank you very much for inviting me to do this interview !!
Currently I live in my hometown Madrid, I really like my city and its surroundings and the amount of activities that can be done.This last week I have been finishing unfinished tracks that I had pending to finish, I have also been recording a podcast that I had to deliver and testing things in the studio! I like to read or watch tutorials on production techniques and then put them into practice.
Also doing sports, I think you have to have a fresh mind to be creative, I go out to ride a bike regularly.
WWD: You’ve just debuted on SOL with the beautiful 4-track ambient EP “Belleza Oculta!. When you approach a new project, do you tend to have the “bigger picture” in mind from the start, or do your productions and EPs shift as you dive deeper into studio sessions?
I usually try to visualize based on whether it is an EP or an album. I try for each release to have an energy which is the energy that I have at that moment and it is reflected in the tracks that I produce.
Besides, I listen to a lot of music and that makes me have new ideas that in the end I translate them into my tracks. What I have in mind doesn’t always come out first time, but I know the direction I want each release to go and in one way or another I get to shape my tracks to the point I want.
WWD: Can you tell us a little bit about the creative process behind this EP?
The process of this EP has consisted of using recordings that I myself have made in the city, in the country or in the mountains. They are there even if they are not appreciated, I process each recording with resonators and multiple effects until something tonal starts to sound and from there I start to build each track using hardware and software elements.
On this occasion I wanted the recordings to be subliminal, other times I use them in their original format.
They are all recordings of my environment or trips that I make and I always try to make a recording of the place where I am, such as the sound of rivers, forests, birds … Beautiful sounds but they are hidden
WWD: Can you tell us more about your background in music? When did you start to produce and what is about music and sound that drew you to it?
I’ve always liked music, especially synthesized music. I started from a young age listening to Hip-Hop. My first album that I remember ordering is one by Kris Kross that my mother couldn’t find anywhere, she had to order it from a well-known music store in my country, it was a bit difficult to find that music here in the early nineties.
Little by little I was discovering more Hip-Hop music until the year 2001.
My father had a night club at that time and I was in the DJ booth, the guys from the area who came to play music at night taught me to mix records and DJ techniques, that was my first contact with electronic dance music. .
I have gone through various styles when it comes to playing records, Techno, Hard Techno, Deep House, Minimal,Broken Beat…
Years later I studied electronic music production and then sound technician. I’ve been producing music since 2014, looking for the sound that defines me and I think now I’m starting to find it, I still have a lot to learn and explore!
WWD: Obviously every artist has their own style, but who/what do you look to for inspiration musically?
In recent years I have been changing my sound to warmer and deeper grounds, which is what I really like, hard rhythms no longer attract my attention, I have albums by many artists from the past and present that inspire me such as Purl, Araceae , Biosphere, Multicast Dynamics, Suso Saiz, ASC, Jan Jelinek, Plaid,Garrett, The Chi Factory, Kraftwerk, Aphex Twin, Brendon Moeller or Poemme among many others.
WWD: You are a self-proclaimed vinyl and hardware lover. Where does that stem from?
Yes, of course, it is something that will always accompany me, I learned to mix with vinyl records and the only way to do it was buying vinyl. I like being able to go to the store and look for something that surprises me, consuming music in physical format makes you be more selective when buying.
The same thing happens with hardware, I like to be able to touch the machines and be able to move controls and feel it, although I also use software, the two worlds get along well when producing.
WWD: What can you tell us about your label “Cellular Memory”?
Well, it is a site where I also publish things but I do not give it a constant follow-up, the last thing I published was in January of this year 2021, some more Techno tracks.
I’m not very good at doing all the work of promotion, distribution and doing the design of the covers, I prefer to dedicate myself to producing music.
I will dedicate more time to it in the future, for sure!
WWD: And lastly, what!s coming next for you? What are your plans for 2022?
In my plans for 2022 is to continue publishing music and learning more production techniques to be able to offer quality music, travel as much as possible, be with the people I love and enjoy life in general!
Stream/Download: https://solxyz.lnk.to/bellezaoculta
Follow: Rene Lorenzo