Asides

August 3rd, 2007

The Mediterranean talks to us in a luscious language delivered through broad airwaves of advanced technology. What is this sound you hear? The ethnic cultures of Africa and South America echo a tribal pulse from ancestral decades of human existence. These drum-centric rhythms were the driving force behind spiritual rituals. Over the seas and across the airwaves from the Spanish regions of Madrid and Portugal, comes the sound of STEREO! Chus and Ceballos are STEREO Productions, coined flavor, the Iberican Sound. These two have independently developed an underground sound synonymous of its historical culture and landscape, the Iberican Peninsula. Percussion, warm tribal rhythm and electronic groove help describe the sound of STEREO!, but mere words cannot catch the essence of distinct music. A mixture of global sound and passionate culture, Stereo delivers a dance floor pitcher of Sangria(sangre’).

Chus L. Esteban aka Dr. Chus! started his musical journey at 16 years old at a club called Alien, Grupo Kapital in Madrid. Chus was a resident at Kadoc in Vilamoura, Portugal and played along side of the best djs in the world. He soon would play at the top events in and around Spain and the world. He started producing with David Penn (Black Vinyl rec.). In 2001 with Pablo Ceballos and Carlos Calico (head of A&R and responsible for Stereo Management and Dj Agency), STEREO Productions was born.

Pablo Ceballos also started at the very young age DJing and producing. First drawn to the Techno scene then developed a passion of progressive house. His quality productions and collective roots teamed him with Chus, jump starting a talented label into a worldwide production haus. Their teamed efforts contribute to a definitive brand of high quality music.

Together Chus and Ceballos have acquired a long list of accomplishments. They have released a number of tracks and compilations on Yoshitoshi, Shinichi, Defected and Twisted to name a few. Notable remixes include Deep Dish’s “Say Hello”, Danny Tenaglia’s “Dibza” and remix of Madonna’s “Hung Up”. Several times elected “Best DJ of the Year” by the Spanish Deejaymags Awards, Chus is quoted amongst the top 100 world DJs, next to Ceballos, by the British DJ Magazine.

These two are relentless in their labor. It’s difficult to capture word for word, all things known about these two, but nonetheless time well spent. I remember coming across the STEREO web site a couple years ago, it immediately caught my attention with top notch sound, recognizable branding and attention to detail. So, I downloaded their custom desktop image and set it as my background on my Apple G4 while working through design school(It’s still there). Little did I know how much of an impact they would soon make in the electronic music industry.

Crossing the Bay Bridge, we slipped into the city of San Francisco with Chus and Ceballos before their Rubyskye appearance for a private interview.

VM: How do you manage running your own club, record labels, digital download site and tour around the world as djs?
Chus: Good question, we try to do the best and sometimes it’s very difficult. We try to separate DJing, running labels and personal life, it’s not easy.
Ceballos: There are two keys, one is we are workaholics, we are always working on our laptops in the hotel, on tour, pretty much everywhere. The second is help, our partner Carlos Calico who helps runs the labels and also with a team about 4 or 5 people working full time.

VM: What are the names of labels you currently run?
Ceballos:We currently have 5 labels, Stereo Productions, Stereo Cool!, Iberican! Recordings, Solar Recordings, and Tribal Recordings. We also started a digital download site called Trackingspain.com, you can download alot of tracks that come from our labels and artists that work with us.

VM: Both of you grew up in Madrid, you must have had several musical influences. What was you first dance music experience?
Chus: About 20 years ago, I was at a big festival in Portugal, of course DJ Vibe and it was the first time I saw Danny Tenaglia. Long time!
Ceballos: I’m 31 now, I started producing when I was 18 and started DJing at 20. I started DJing in my hometown at a local club, really underground. I started producing on my own and came out with some demos. We are somewhat pioneers in Madrid, of course there were DJs and producers before us. We are pioneers in a sense because we went abroad, we started remixing for international artists and labels.
Chus: We were the first label with a global mentality in Spain(Stereo Productions), which is very important and many people followed.

VM: You both have produced numerous tracks and compilations, any particular project you’ve had a memorable time with? and why?
Chus: Maybe the remix we did of Haunting Me by Cuba Computers…there are so many tracks, they were are all good memories.
Ceballos: Cuba Computers was supported and a favorite of Danny Tenagalia that year and at WMC, it was important to us because that was when people first started to notice Chus and Ceballos. The Strong Rhythm was the first track on Stereo Productions and the remix of Baguio Track with Luzon which was the 100th release for Yoshitoshi EP, just to name a few. Good times!

VM: When can we expect something from the “Madricians“, Chus and Ceballos and Danny Tenagalia?
Ceballos: It’s going to be a crazy groovy thing, dance floor destruction.
Chus: We are working on it, it’s very difficult for us all to get together, maybe in the next year or two.
Ceballos: We started the collaboration, it hard to find time. Danny is very busy and we are really busy too, maybe by next year.
Chus: It’s going to be huge, for sure!

VM: How did Dibiza on Stereo come about?
Ceballos: What happened with Dibiza, Danny sold us Dibiza about three or four years ago, I remember like it was yesterday, a magic day.:D It was at his loft, he has his own disco. He said, “Guys, I want to release this on Stereo.” We were like, “Wow!”
Chus: He said he needed to fix some things, record some voices, and go to the studio and work together. Danny came to Madrid and stayed one week with us in the studio. Recorded some voices… Bring the Drums Back, Bum BUm BUM!! It was an amazing and magical experience.
Ceballos: I remember it being a lot of fun. Sometimes it’s a little strange because you have to do what you have to do, and you have deadlines. That week with Danny was just fun, you know. We had fun eating going out to dinner, going to the studio and recording some takes. Danny was kidding and jumping around. If you listen to Dibiza it has a lot energy and a lot of fun.

VM: Define what is quiet time for you and how do you relax?
Chus: We don’t have time to relax.
Ceballos: (Laughs) There is no time for relax. We have maybe just a few days, it a lot of work with our labels, remixes and the studio.
Chus: I have a special place to lose myself in South Portugal, Algarve. I have a house there, my family, daughter and wife go there. I try to relax a little bit there.
Ceballos: I travel a lot, I stay one or two extra days here or there because I have friends where I go, but no real holidays.

VM: Any particular producers killing it right now that we should be on the look ut for?
Ceballos: Peter Bailey and Richie Santana having been doing stuff for a long time now and I think they are on fire now. They are doing good stuff laterally with new remixes, very interesting.
Chus: There is a lot of new talent on TrackingSpain.com, Spanish producers like like D-Formation, Sergio Fernandez, Oscar De Rivera, Peter Tha Zouk from Portugal, Rob Mirage from New York and Simon and Shaker from Spain.

VM: Which places do you like to visit and play?
Ceballos: There something special about Stereo in Montreal, we have a residency there every three or four months, it’s magic. It’s a special night every time we go. It’s an after hours club we play from 4am to 12pm, 8 hours of good music, good vibe, an amazing club, an amazing sound system, and a good booth, but the best is the people. The people listen to you and you can feel what they are listening to.
Chus: Theres another club in Asia it’s Zouk in Singapore.
Ceballos: Bulgaria is an amazing country, with two or three cities with different clubs but the crowds are amazing. It’s a pleasure to play there.

VM: What would you like to say to the global dance community in 2007?
Ceballos: All the people in house music, it’s a transitions time, a hard time for labels, because of vinyl and piracy. Support the music, buy legal music, and go to the clubs to see DJs and support dance music.
Chus: Keep the music alive, don’t destroy it, the music industry please!!
Ceballos: Support the music!

VM: We would like to thank Chus and Ceballos, Carlos and Victor at Stereo, Malik at Vital and everyone at Rubyskye. Chus and Ceballos, thank you for all the time and energy you have given to dance music, lord knows we all appreciate the Iberican sound.
Keep doing what you do! Gracias!

April 21st, 2007

Life provides us with so much over time. Its good to occasionally stop and look at the work we have done over the years. And sometimes we haven’t even begun. In some instances you could say this about one amazing DJ/producer named Behrouz(myspace). In a class of his own and an undefined style to pin him to, he travels the world astounding dance fans all over.

Behrouz Nazari, born in Iran and raised in the Bay Area(CA), got his start playing at Club DV8 in San Francisco, after 7 years he moved on to play for Release at 1015 Folsom. Release quickly became one of San Francisco’s premier nights for dance music. His undeniable sound took flight, he started playing at top clubs around the world. Behrouz eventually starting producing/remixing notable tracks such as Safe From Harm, Never Felt So Good, What You Do In Life Echoes in Eternity, and Narcotic Thrust,…. on the labels Yoshitoshi, Renaissance and Shinichi his sound quickly traveled. Behrouz has also mixed astounding compilation CDs such as In House We trust, Frontiers with Yousef, an Essential Mix for Pete Tong’s Radio One Show and the widely praised CD Yoshitoshi Ibiza.

Behrouz began working alongside tops djs/producers throughout electronic music. He met with Deep Dish at WMC and they eventually held a monthly residency in SF. They pushed Behrouz further along with similar likes which became a lasted friendship. In 2003, Behrouz was named DJ to watch in DJ Mag’s annual Top 100 DJ issue. IN 2004, Behrouz was nominated for Best Breakthrough DJ at the Dancestar Award, nominated also for Best Breakthrough DJ at the 2004 DJ Awards in Ibiza and nominated for Best Resident DJ at the 2005 Club World Awards for his famous Pure Behrouz residency at Ruby Skye in San Francisco. At this time Behrouz had already been djing for over 20 years, he’s just getting started.:D A special moment at the 2002 Winter Music Conference, good friend Danny Tenaglia stopped the music and played two of Behrouz tracks. “He’s the bomb”, Tenaglia said to devoted music fans.

Straight from the 2007 WMC, Behrouz had six successful gigs and each one gave him an opportunity to show a different side of Behrouz. we got a chance to enjoy a special B-day Celebration at his SF
residency at Ruby Skye, Pure Behrouz on April 21st. An amazing show to the very end, he painted a portrait of a nice future for house music.

VM: You were born in Iran, when did you come over to SF?
Whats your best childhood memory?
Behrouz: Yes, I was born in Iran but I grew up in Santa Cruz. I actually came here when I was very young and was fortunate enough to have most of my family here as well. One of my best childhood memories was going to my first record store in Tehran and being fascinated by all the international music. At the time Cerrone, Bonny M and Jean Michelle Jarre were big.

VM:With such a diverse background growing up, do you have mixed feelings about the US and it’s world affairs?
Behrouz: I have mixed feelings about the prejudices that still exists in the world. For me, my family and culture taught me that we are all the same and are all human beings. But as I travel around the world, I see the opposite. These days you are judged by your religion or color of your skin and it exists right here our backyard in the US. My music is my foreign policy and through it I teach others to love and to express themselves in a positive way.

VM: You play in SF, Paris and Miami routinely for residencies. How do you prepare yourself for your many travels and gigs throughout the year?
Behrouz: Preparation begins with realizing what region of the world you are playing for and for what club. You have to know what people are feeling in all those regions. For instance in Europe, people are more into minimal or techno so I have to program my music geared towards that sound. But it all comes down to walking into the club and feeling the overall vibe of the crowd. There is no preparation for this. You just have to open your mind and your heart and taking your listeners on a journey.

VM: Behrouz, you’re an artist and a storyteller when it comes to DJing. What inspires you outside of music? Explain to us a little of your musical stories…..
Behrouz: I am inspired by so many things- everything around me depending on how I feel. If I’m sad, you can feel in my music because my music is full of emotions. My mother, my wife even my dog inspires me as does some of the amazing books I read. Then you have the people from all over the world I meet, good and bad. These inspirations, whether good or bad, affect my music and are incorporated into my journeys into sound

VM: You have completed four new tracks this year, Touch, Free Your Mind with DJ Simi, Beat Box and the highly reveared track, Dreams. What was everyone’s reaction to them at WMC 2007? Is there a new Behrouz label we don’t know about?
Behrouz: I got a great reaction from all my tracks at my Pure Behrouz show at Mokai this year during the conference. My set was aired live on Sirius Radio and people called and emailed me about my tracks which made me very happy. I really produced each one of those tracks based on life experiences I had this year so to get positive reactions from my fans really means a lot to me. I’m working on some great projects this year and who knows, a label might be in the works.

VM: Any new artists or djs that continue to impress you?
Behrouz: I’m impressed by so much great talent out there. First and foremost, my mentor and good friend Danny Tenaglia continues to amaze me with his dedication to music. EVERY year he out does himself during the conference and every year I continue to learn so much from him. There are a lot of new producers / remixers like Radioslave, Shlomi Aber, DJ Yellow, Roman S., DJ Simi, Martin H from Sweden, Andy Slate and so many others. I’m so impressed with the unique sounds that each of these producers are coming out with.

VM: Some of us don’t get to see what its like in Dubai, Shanghai or Bangkok, what’s it like?
Any particular parts of the world that embrace what you do most?
Behrouz: I really enjoy the scene and fans in Tunisia as well in Dubai. Whenever I play in Dubai I have many fans that come from Iran (clubs are not allowed in Iran so it’s great to see so many fans enjoying themselves).

VM: What is the toughest decision you have had to make professionally?
Behrouz: Transitioning from the corporate world into the dance music industry. I spent half of my life preparing for corporate America and sacrificed all of my education and work experience for the love of music and today I realize I made the best decision of my life. There is no greater feeling in this world than waking up and doing what makes you most happy in life.

VM: Many have heard you play for SF Releases 15th Anniversary with Danny Tenaglia, what an amazing night in music for SF. Any other amazing Berouzza and DT moments you care to share?
Behrouz:All of my sets with Danny have been amazing. We did a great set together in Ibiza at DC10 and we both dove into the crowd. We did a techno wedding at the Cannes Film Festival (we were playing techno for a bunch of guys in tuxedos, lol). I love playing with Danny in NY as well. We bring out the best in each other. It’s like two soccer players passing the ball to each other – you know exactly what the other wants to do with the ball and we know the timing and where we want to go without speaking to one another. It’s about knowing the professionalism of how to build up a night properly and setting it up right for Danny.

VM: Scenario: Its the very last night for house music, the very last night of house music to be played anywhere on this planet. Where would you play and whats the last track you’d play?
Behrouz: I would play in New York city because I love the people there and my last track would be my track What You Do In Life Echoes in Eternity (on the Shinichi label).

VM: Any expressive words you would like to share with global dance community for 2007?
Behrouz: Good music is good music. Stop making it all about genres. If you feel the music play it and don’t be judgmental about what others play. At the end of the day, good music is good music.

VM: On behalf of Behrouz fans around the world and the many people who get to enjoy life for what it is, whether its music, art, traveling, good food or even if its just watering the grass…… Thank You, Behrouz what you do is endless. Special thanks to Megan, for making this interview happen….. your a gem!