CoolJunkie Interviews Dubfire

June 29, 2009 5:02 PM
by Marcos Colón

One of the most prominent names in tech house at the moment is without a doubt Dubfire. His infectious blend of dark tech-house can easily be identified by any fan of the sub-genre, and that’s a hell of an accomplishment in any aspect of music, but when it comes to the endless producers that EDM is constantly pumping out day in and day out, it really says something. He’s no stranger to Miami, and this week he’ll be back again at Mansion for a highly anticipated Independence Day weekend set. He’s recently been hard at work on a mix that’s about to release, Ten Years Cocoon Ibiza, which he worked on with Loco Dice and has wrapped up since, and now he’s back on a massive tour which we’re lucky enough to be a part of.

CoolJunkie recently interviewed the head of Sci+Tec and caught up with him about his show this Saturday night at Mansion, the mix he worked on with Loco Dice and if Ibiza really is the EDM mecca of the world.

CoolJunkie: How has your schedule been treating you lately?

Dubfire: It's been tough but in some ways the calm before the storm; early July is when things really pick up.

CJ: You're about to embark on an extensive summer tour. What are you looking forward to most?
Dubfire: Living in Barcelona, soaking up the great vibe and music in my travels and having a great experiences with all of the amazing locations I visit.

CJ: What can be the most grueling part of being on the road for you?

Dubfire: Well, the travel. Lately, it's been missed flights due to delays, long drives and heading straight to the airport after a gig.

CJ: You recently got Davide Squillace on Sci+Tec. What do you look for in artists that should join your label?

Dubfire: My criteria is pretty simple; it's well-crafted, unique music that speaks to me or whatever I happen to be into, musically, at that point in time.

CJ: How do you balance the relationship with Bullit and Sci+Tec seeing as you play an integral part in both?

Dubfire: Well the Bullitt machine is fully capable of running without real involvement from me but I do try to devote considerable time to SCI+TEC. I am very fortunate in that I am surrounded by passionate people who share my vision and work tirelessly to realize it on a daily basis.

CJ: You're about to release 'Ten Years of Cocoon Ibiza,' which is a highly anticipated compilation album that you and Loco Dice independently worked on. Can you go into that a little bit?

Dubfire: It's simple really: Dice and I tried to create an independent mix that represented where we're at musically and also tried to infuse the vibe we've felt not only from the island but the unique musical agenda of the Cocoon nights. For me personally, Sven was a huge inspiration. Cocoon boasts the most musically relevant night on the island.

CJ: Although you guys worked independently on this, did you communicate on any aspects? Also, how would you say your signature styles work together on this project?

Dubfire: Dice and I are old friends and we did speak during the process of working thru the comp but it wasn't a collaborative alliance by any means. We have different styles but have a deep understanding of each others as well since we both have a significant past in hip-hop music. And we were both actually faced with the same time crunch of about two days to finish the mix!

CJ: Many say that Ibiza is the Mecca of electronic dance music. Do you agree? Is there another city that you think could compare in some way?

Dufire: I don't think anything compares really; the combination of the world's greatest DJ talent, some of the top tier venues and the tropical background all converging for an entire season makes it unrivaled.

CJ: What would you say irks you most of the EDM world today?

Dubfire: Naysayers and a punishing barrage of badly produced music.

CJ: You're set to play Mansion in Miami on the 4th of July. How do you like playing that club compared to some others in Miami?

Dubfire: It's different. In all honesty, it was an experiment and I didn't know how it would turn out. But How can you turn down Carlos Correal? He can get you really pumped and excited about everything! It was an amazing gig and I'm really looking forward to see how the 4th turns out.

CJ: Other than touring this summer, what other work do you have lined up?

Dubfire: Well the Cocoon Amnesia 10 Year Anniversary mix CD will be out on July 6th and I'll also be releasing a new single called "Rabid' this summer along with a new collaboration with Oliver Huntemann called 'Fuego.'

Click here to hear more from Dubfire.