 |
|
|
|
|
Def Mix Ibiza: Interview with DJ Vibe
Coming to the forefront of the international dance music community firstly as a producer via the massive Underground Sound of Lisbon's "So Get Up", co-produced with Rui Da Silva, Portugal's DJ Vibe or Antonio "To" Pereira has finally begun to receive the DJ plaudits he deserves in the last 12 months.
Whereas many former hot producers have since crashed and burned or struggled to equate their DJ skills with their production acumen, DJ Vibe's career as a DJ and producer has continued to steadily grow; a fact reflected in his entry into the DJ Mag Top 100 poll in 2004 and recent high praise from the likes of John Digweed and Carl Cox.
It was back at Lisbon's Kremlin club that Vibe first acquired a taste for marathon sets when, as the resident DJ for almost seven years, he was required to play all-night long. These days you're more likely to find him at Lisbon's Lux, where he has a monthly Friday night residency or at Stereo Montreal, the club regarded by many as having the best sound system in the world.
In fact it was owner and Def Mix DJ David Morales who played a hand in selecting DJ Vibe as one of Stereo's resident DJs and this weekend, the two will be re-united when they play together at the fourth of the Def Mix parties at Pacha in Ibiza this summer.
Having just finished a remix of Portugal's biggest rock band and a techno number for Carl Cox's 23rd Century Records label, it would seem the underground sound of Lisbon and DJ Vibe's own sound have moved on from his previous tribal excursions on Portugal's Kaos Records, of which he used to be at the helm.
On the eve of his gig this Saturday at Def Mix in Ibiza, we took the underground sound to Lisbon to find out a little more about DJ Vibe's role within the dance music scene in Portugal and also what David Morales track he has especially placed in his record bag for the weekend.
"There are few Portuguese producers that have really followed in mine and Rui’s footsteps. Unfortunately the market isn’t so good and that has hurt the development of new producers."
You first came into international prominence as part of The Underground Sound of Lisbon and the track "So Get Up" with fellow Portuguese DJ and producer Rui da Silva. What does the underground sound of Lisbon sound like in the year 2005? Who are the current DJs and producers in Portugal trying to keep the scene fresh?
That’s a good question but I don’t know. It would probably be the marriage of the sound Rui is producing with mine. Maybe that will sound interesting.
There are few Portuguese producers that have really followed in mine and Rui’s footsteps. Unfortunately the market isn’t so good and that has hurt the development of new producers. There are a lot of DJs producing but they haven’t had any of their work released yet. However there are a few who have had better luck and have had international releases.
Do you still have both the record shop and label named Kaos? What’s happening at Kaos these days?
Actually, the shop closed in 1998 and I haven’t been to the label offices in two years. I still have shares in the company but since 2002 I’m not fully aware of what’s going on. I see the CDs after they are released and we haven’t had a release on vinyl since I don’t know when.
Tell us about your monthly residency at Lux in Lisbon. What's the set-up of the club like? What kind of music nights does it play host to? What are the crowds like?
It’s one of the best clubs in the country with two floors and a terrace on the third floor. The ground floor is the main room of the club with a capacity of around 800 people. It’s a dark room with visuals all everywhere.
I start at midnight or 1am and play until 8 in the morning; a seven or eight hour set where I play a bit of everything from progressive through to tribal, acid etc. It’s a mixed crowd of older clubbers, younger ones, black, white, gay, and straight people who essentially go there to dance.
You have a residency at the Stereo club in Montreal, which is now under the direction of Def Mix member David Morales. How have other Def Mix members played a role in your career? How has Def Mix in general influenced your sound as a DJ and producer?
Without a doubt David has certainly played a role in my career, also Satoshi Tomiie and Frankie Knuckles. I personally know each of them but it’s certainly David who I admire the most as a producer. Obviously he has influenced my production sound a lot.
What is one song you will definitely have in your record box when you play at the Def Mix party in Ibiza?
David Morales featuring Robert Owens’ ‘I’ll Be Your Friend”. That is one of my all time favourite classic records.
The Kremlin Club in Portugal, where you had one of your longest residencies, was known for its legendary after-hours and people waiting on the street for the club to re-open at 6am. Does the similar kind of atmosphere in Ibiza remind you of those days when the Kremlin was still open?
Yeah, back then the club had to shut at 4am because they didn’t have a licence to operate from 4am to 6am. Does that sound normal to you? So for about 2 hours people would stay on the street listening to music coming out of car stereos waiting for the club to open at six. The party would then go on until 10am. In Ibiza it’s different because there’s always a place open to go to and you don’t have to wait around much.
The countries of Spain and Portugal are located right next to each other. Are the Spanish and international crowds in Ibiza different from those in Portugal?
Yes, they are a lot different. You can’t compare the two. Ibiza is a unique spot where people love to get dressed up to go out at night. In Portugal, that doesn’t really happen all the time.
"Without a doubt David has certainly played a role in my career...I personally know each of them but it’s certainly David who I admire the most as a producer. Obviously he has influenced my production sound a lot."
You're one of the few lucky DJs to have played at both Space and Pacha in Ibiza. How are the two clubs different in terms of the crowds, staging and overall atmosphere?
Pacha is a club with a more commercial crowd. Not only the people who go there but the place itself. Space is more underground and crazier.
You have been personally invited by John Digweed to play the Bedrock Arena at the Global Gathering 2005 Festival in July, which is a great chance for you to play on the same stage as one of the great figures in dance music. Do you ever get nervous playing alongside such luminaries? Will you have the jitters when you play with David Morales at the Def Mix Ibiza party at Pacha Ibiza on June 25th?
I forget how many times I’ve played together with John but there have been a few. Since I’ve been a DJ for about 23 years I’ve played with most of the big names so I don’t get nervous anymore.
What have you been up to in the studio recently? Who have you been collaborating with? What forthcoming releases can we expect in the latter half of 2005?
I just finished a remix of Portugal’s biggest rock band Xutos e Pontapes. It was a great experience because it has got guitars together with electronic elements. I’m also collaborating with Victor Calderone and have got an original techno release coming out on Carl Cox’ 23rd Century Records label called ‘Moskito Pollen’.
Lastly, in the early days of your career you sometimes played Erik B and Rakim's "Paid In Full", one of the most influential rap records of all time. Do you still have time to hunt down and check out non-electronic music? If so, what do you like listening to?
Unfortunately not. Times are different now as I’m not only a DJ but also a producer. I travel a lot and I’ve got my weekly radio show every Saturday. I don’t have enough time to listen to other music as I usually spend my days listening to the music I work with.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Published / Tuesday, 21 June 2005
 24 Comments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Features
|
|
|
