LAMP Weekly Mix #184 Feat. Usmev

We are happy to welcome Barcelona native Usmev to our Weekly Mix series for installment #184. Over the last few years the Spanish producer has been one to watch with major releases spanning labels such as Traum Schallplaten, Bogota Records, Alma Soul and Pablo Bolivars Seven Villa's Music. He brings a very unique style of music that is supremely fun and up-lifting. Bringing those perfect vibes that seem to flow easily no matter what time of day you come across it. PZB got a chance to ask Usmev a few questions this week to help us get to know a bit more about him. Please check that out below along with a full track list from the mix.PZB: Hello and thank you for the incredible mix you made for us. I have been enjoyinglistening to it while putting this interview together. How about we start off and have youtell the rest of our listeners what to expect from your mix this week.Usmev: Hello, and thanks so much for taking your time to know my work. About the podcast, I'vetried to create the ambience I use to build in a three or four hours dj set but, at the sametime, trying to show most of the music styles I use to play during a longer set. This is anamazing chance for me and I'm so happy to show my music in your country andspecially in LA, one of my favorite cities, so I hope that you can get this podcast like andintroduction, 'cause I included some of the tracks I've released during this year on SevenVillas Music, the record label of Pablo Bolivar, and three more tracks that will be out in afew days on Alma Soul Music, the label that are running some good friends in Madrid.PZB: I read in your bio you are born and raised in the amazing city of Barcelona. It is one ofthe most culturally vibrant cities I have ever visited and hope to return to one day soon.What was the music scene like for you growing up there?Usmev: Barcelona was a huge music lab during the 60s and 70s with lots of local pop and rockbands. So the city was ready to receive something to work with from the 80s, when I wasborn. The first electronic song I can remember is the Disco Connection version of "RockYour Baby" (the original song is from George McCrae), Jean Michel Jarre, Mike Oldfield,Kraftwerk, Pet Shop Boys or Depeche Mode, with my family at home, but after studyingpiano and guitar for ten years I met my friend Victor, who showed me how to play vinyls'cause his father was owning night clubs in Vilanova i la Geltrú, where I was living beforemoving to Barcelona with my family. I started mixing house, new wave and electro: fromFrankie Knuckles, Joe Smoth and Ralphi Rosario to The KLF, Peter Schilling andwhatever.PZB: Who were some of your musical inspirations growing up?Usmev: Once in Barcelona, I was looking for bars and clubs to start djing while studying in aprofessional school and working in a Hi-Fi store. But everything changed when I startedto go to Nitsa, Moog, Woman Caballero, Discothèque, Salsitas or FonFone, and someother clubs and bars where I danced a lot and discovered artists like Danny Tennaglia,Zombie Nation, Maurizio and Jeff Mills, among many others. Then I finally discoveredwhat I wanted to do with my life: I wanted to compose and produce my own music andmake the people dance in all those venues.PZB: How did you first get involved in electronic music and producing?Usmev: I've been in touch with computers at home since I was six or seven years old, and Iexperimented with a lot of rudimentary music softwares like Fast Tracker or Fruity Loopswhile studying classical music. I got my own computer and a professional software whenI was fifteen years old, so I started to compose my first songs white buying my firstrecords in stores like Verdes, Belletta os Sci-Fi, where I was meeting artists like AngelMolina, Sideral or An Der Beat. I finally got a residency in a small bar in Poblenou,named T-Xaco, where I played every thursday during one year while getting in touchwith some other djs and promoters that invited me to play in private parties and raves.When the building was shot down I started to launch my own parties and inviting friendsand local djs to play with. It was between 2000 and 2005. And finally on 2005 I created aband with a friend, Usmev Uns Siza. We had no gigs 'cause it was very hard to focus(but we had lots of fun). I actually use Usmev 'cause of that, I was too lazy to find aname to perform as a dj by my own jajjajjaaPZB: Crate digging is such an rewarding experience and if you’re patient and look in someunlikely places you’ll find some real gems. I noticed some pics of you doing some vinyldigging on your Facebook page. What are some labels and artists that have got youbuzzing right now?Usmev: I use to visit two shops in Barcelona every two or three months (Subwax in Barcelonetaand Discos Paradiso in Raval) and I have some friends that are real experienced diggersthat usually suggest some magic as well as the people working in theese vinyl stores. Ican buy both classic and new records, no matter the label or the artist or the year orwhatever, I take it if it makes me move my feet and I feel thad would fit in my sets. Thatshow I discovered artists like Awanto3, Massimiano Pagliara or Robag Wruhme, that areactually three great influences in my music. About labels, I'm really into Barcelona basedlabels like Cymawax, Galaktika Records, Seven Villas, Lapsus or Hivern, but I love toosome more "disco" (and less "tech") labels like Toy Tonics, Multi Culti, Bons Records orApersonal Music.PZB: It is just really hard to not feel completely uplifted after listening to your music. You havehad some stellar EP’s come out on Traum Schallplatten, Reposal Schallware, amongothers and most recently on Pablo Bolivars Seven Villas, and Alma Soul Records. Whatcan we expect from you in the near future in terms of releases?Usmev: I've recently finished a new release including two original tracks with the voice of mypartner in crime Camilla Luna. We've been working together during the last years and it'salways a pleasure. There is no label for now, but there is no stress on it. This one will bethe 30th release where I take part of, including singles, EPs and remixes, so it has to bedifferent and special. Now I'm working too in a new live act, practically reinterpreting myown music and including all the collaborations I've had during the last five years. It willtake a lot of time but I'm really excited. And I'm afraid there wont be a moment tocompose new music till next year.PZB: Tell us about your studio set up please. Which DAW do you prefer and what are someplug-ins you can’t live with out?Usmev: I have no doubt: Ableton is the DAW for me since their third version, even I was workingwith Logic Audio before. It's not about sounding, them all are fine. It's about ergonomicsand versatility to bring your music to the live act. I am an enthusiast of software andsimplicity: I work with a computer running Ableton Live, a MIDI controler including a twooctave keyboard and my iPad as an external MIDI instrument: I build my drums with AkaiiMPC Pro, play all the keyboards with Arturia iProphet, Sunrizer and Propellerhead Thor,and usually have some fun with Propellerhead Figure and Moog Filtatron. A simple setupto use both in studio with my monitors and on a stage. I don't use plugins but the onesincluded in the Ableton pack, basically EQs and Compression needs while mixing.PZB: Some producers have a specific way that they start to work on tracks; like building adrum rack and starting out with a basic groove. Are there certain things you like to workon first to get your ideas flowing in the studio?Usmev: I usually imagine a song, it just appear, and I compose a melody in my head during twoor three weeks. After that, I finally sit in my studio to build the whole idea with the tools Ihave. Once done, I think about the lyrics, if needed. And that's all.PZB: There has been a lot of talk lately of Digital versus Analog in synths these days. What isyour take on the subject and do you have any soft synths you would recommend forproducers who are just getting started?Usmev: I really appreciate an instrument as I play piano and guitar since my childhood. But I'mpretty sure you can get a well defined and qualified sounding production with digitalresources. It will always deserve an analog touch, for sure, but you can do it all withplugins while composing, mixing or mastering. But, of course, if you are a millionaire witha huge empty room, go for it! If not, like me, you can find great drums and synths fromdevelopers like Akai, Korg, Arturia and Propellerhead, or you can just fill a sampler withHQ samples from the best instruments.PZB: On the same subject do you have any Analog synths you can’t live without or dream ofhaving in your studio one day?Usmev: I'd love to get a Juno 106 and a Minimoog Voyager in the future, and maybe a tailor-made valve compressor. But It would be a whim.PZB: Ok last one, What are your top 3 places to play in Barcelona?Usmev: First of all Switch Pocket Club, in Gràcia, a micro spot owned by a good friend of mine,Sergi, focusing on local artists and pure vinyl djs. Hot as hell, the people is dancing soclose to you and you can really feel the vibe. The second one, my favorite club in town,Nitsa: the best club in Barcelona since 1994, managed by another good friend, Fra. Anfinally a festival, of course Sónar. I've never played there but I'd like to do it in the future,better by day and on saturday, amazing communion and happiness.

Track List

01 Jose Vizcaino "Sure I Can" (Seven Villas Music)02 In2Deep & Artphorm "Space" (L'Enfant Terrible Records)03 Timelapse & Fathers "Veiled" (Moodmusic)04 Usmev "My Time With You" (Alma Soul Music)05 Between Ourselves "Tunnel Vision" (Melokolektiv remix) Galaktika Records06 Usmev "Back In Your Heart" (Alma Soul Music)07 Usmev "From Deep Inside Of Me" (Seven Villas Music)08 Usmev "Fire Groove" (Seven Villas Music)09 Usmev "You Brought The Light" (Alma Soul Music)