Gui Boratto – “Vejo você na pista de dança!”
Guest writer, Zul Andra from Kiss My Culture, rolls up his sleeves and gets down jotting anecdotes by the Brazilian techno maestro, infamous for his hauntingly beatific melodies.
Gui Boratto Interview (Live) @ Zouk, Singapore
21 May 2010 by Zul Andra
Zul: How was your gig at Eleven at Toyko yesterday?
Gui Boratto: It was surprisingly amazing. It’s really hard for a Thursday to make a party there. It wasn’t full capacity, only 80% full but you can tell that the people there were really for the music. It was really nice, I mean after 5 seconds of each track the people already knew which tracks I was starting and they cheered. Loads of fun.
What was the transition from graduating architect to legendary DJ like?
I think it is the passion, right. The reason why I graduated in architecture was because music, especially in Brazil, was a very hard path to take. Music is not a recognizable area, like its better in Europe, US or even Asia. But in 3rd world countries it’s really hard to follow music but it has always been my passion. And I decided to follow it. My time was to find time to do anything because if you really want it, you’ll find time to do it.
Tell us about Sao Paulo.
I still live there because the city has many things to offer. I am a total foodie! You can go about and experience the top restaurants similar to that of France, London, New York and Tokyo. Sao Paulo is just like any other huge metropolis.
Speaking about electronic music we have amazing clubs, like Clash and DH which is probably one of the best clubs in the world and guys play there for free and it’s really for the passion.
We have amazing theaters, films and arts; our cultural programmes have always been very busy.
Sao Paulo’s city motto is Non ducor, duco which is translated to, “I am not led, I lead.” How do you handle your insane schedule?
I am self-managed and I don’t have a manager. I decide which remixes I want to do and plan my tours. I have three booking agencies that are representing me; 3Plus handles South and Central America; Windish handles USA and Canada and Kompakt, Martin he’s my booker, he’s here, they take care of Europe and Asia.
Actually these agencies they know normally that in summer I will be in Europe for the festivals. I would have one Asian tour and this year I split between Australia after Carnaval in Brazil and then the rest of Asia. There’s Rock in Rio Lisbon next week, so we’ve set up the whole tour around that.
Well it’s not really hard, as long as I can spare time with my wife and daughter. For example when I toured in the summer for two months, I brought my family along. No problem; I mix pleasure with work.
Does much of Brazilian music influence your production?
Of course, we always put everything in our music environment. I would have to say harmonically Bossa Nova influenced me a lot. But I don’t use typical Brazilian or African elements like bongos or congas. Techno is a very universal language, but you don’t hear my music and pick it out as very Brazilian.
Your latest album 2009′s “Take My Breath Away” carries the same melodious mood to that of your 2007 album “Chromophobia”.
It’s sort of a continuation from 2007’s “Chromophobia”. The process was really similar; like I did it in my living room with my daughter running around. Most of the tracks were composed and produced during the morning and afternoon. I am totally a day guy. I love to wake up in the morning at 7am, have breakfast and start on the tracks. And it really reflects on the final result because when you produce a track after some scotch, some wine, in the middle of the night at 2am, the result is really different. It’s just my preference.
I guess because of that the result for both albums were pretty similar. They were moody but still happy at the same time. Of course there are some dark tracks but there are some shiny tracks also.
Like a morning track.
Yes, ‘No Turning Back’ was probably a morning track. (Laughs)
And that track won “Best minimal/techno track” at the 25th Annual International Dance Music Awards earlier this year didn’t it?
Yeah exactly, in Miami right? I wasn’t there but a lot of my Brazilian friends were playing there and they called me, “Gi! You won the award!” (Laughs)
I decided to skip Miami this year because if I was to do it, it’ll be a full month and I this year was a bit too much. It was right after Australia and I already had Europe in the beginning and I had Carnaval in Brazil which was 5 gigs in a row.
DJs to look out for?
Wow, there are so many good guys…but I have been playing a lot with Michael Mayer because of Kompakt. He played an amazing set at Warung Beach Club in Santa Catarina, Brazil earlier this year. He’s a very clever DJ because it’s hard to find a DJ who plays his own production but at the same time work with the crowd. The crowd speaks to you and Michael is able to change the direction according to the floor in his own style.
I’ve also been listening to Seth Troxler, he’s an amazing DJ. Flying Lotus too, he seems to be everywhere.
Any words for your Singapore fans?
First of all I am excited to be here again thanks to Zouk; it has been two years now and I hope to see everybody excited and having fun later!
Ok I want to try this, “Vejo você na pista de dança!”
“I’ll see you on the dancefloor!” (Laughs) Perfect, it was perfect!
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And our personal favourite track from Gui:
Gui Boratto – No Turning Back by nichodges
Not forgetting, Seth Troxler makes his Singapore debut at Velvet Underground next Saturday, 5 June 2010!
