We’ve been waiting very anxiously for this interview. Xinobi is one of our all time favourite producers and DJs. We tried to bring out relevant information, not just about his latest release “Pirates”, but also about his vision of the music we listen to nowadays. Besides being an honour, we feel it’s a privilege to talk with Bruno. He’s one of the most talented producers we have already blogged about here and has already travelled all over the world, which has made him very rich, intellectually and musically speaking. I’m not going to bother you anymore with this intro. I just hope you read this expecting that you will learn something from someone that has done a lot for the music that we listen to today….
GS: How does it feel to be such an influential figure for young producers?
Xinobi: I’m probably too humble to believe I’m such an influence. But I might understand that im in a small niche I might have influenced some artists. And if that’s true, I almost believe I reached the best thing someone can reach in life – influence people to the point that some kid starts to do something creative because he or she got into your work. That’s life perfection. Better is if I can be influenced by them in return. And I’m sure it has happened and it’s happening.
GS: After releasing BMX. Did you ever think of the impact it would cause?
Xinobi: BMX never got a proper release because, well… because someone did not believe enough in the potential that song could have. Funny that a super lo-fi song based on a Break Machine sample and that was never released could be the kick-start for me. All hail myspace and blogs for such a blessing consequence. I mean, my parents could not believe I was getting paid requests for playing around the world just because I was making some tunes in my bedroom. Anyways, once more I think BMX biggest impact was, alongside with Moullinex’s “Break Chops”, part of a blueprint for the first spreading boost of Discotexas.
GS: After so many years producing music, what inspires you to make your tracks? Do you work at home, or do you have a studio space somewhere where you get into a creative mindset?
Xinobi: Inspiration comes from the same places it has ever come. Other’s music, movies, travelling and friends. I normally go to clubs not only to dance and have a good time – being in a club listening to a good artist is for me a privileged place to get ideas. Movies had always a strong impact on me as I really pay close attention to their soundtracks. Travelling gives you the chance to get along with infinite new information all the time and that sense-constant-stimulation ends up being a really important part on your motivation to work. Also, there are specific places that inspired me and changed, maybe forever, the way I look and make music. Melbourne and Berlin on the top. And then friends, because they constantly are around you and most of the times they are your first listeners. Moullinex is other major influence. I work with him several times it’s impossible not to be influenced by him. Kris Menace’s another guy that I really admire. Girlfriends are inspiring too. Ahah.
GS: When you produce a track, do you think about anything specific, or do you make what feels right at the moment?
Xinobi: I first do what I feel like, and then I’m sure I add (even if unconsciously) an audience-should-like-this edge. But I’m not sure about that.
GS: Your latest single “Pirates” takes a completely different approach to everything you’ve done in the last few years. What can you tell us about this release?
Xinobi: First I must disagree a little. I don’t think it is totally different. Mostly It’s me with my always-trying-to-add-something-new feeling. I can’t stay doing exactly the same kind of tracks every time. And also, as more you assimilate from new music and all the inspiration sources I talked before, the most you will incorporate those influences on your music. You just have to do it in a personal way.
Pirates was in the first place a freaky-trip, an eternal crescendo, with strange tropicalish vibe (a little like I start making with my Hawaii track). It was (and still is) a dissimulated big room track. Then I showed it to Smile Recordings and Dirk that runs it sent it to a few singers just to see if something cool would drop in. Princess Superstar, with some friends, inspired on the tittle got this nasty lyrics about Pirates and glued them on the track in a way that gave it a pop touch. The funny thing, and I think Princess Superstar might agree with this, is that this vocals are atypic on this more weird music. We normally get this rap-ish way of singing either on Hip Hop numbers or on more regular electro-tracks so this came as a surprise for me. I just asked her to give it some Soul backing vocals so it could be even better. And it got super. I know that although its kind of Pop oriented is not an easy track because it’s base is not an average pop song.
GS: Is there a specific show, venue or city you have enjoyed playing the most in your time as a DJ?
Xinobi: Sure. Some come to mind: Barbarella in Chisinau, W Hotel in Seoul, Candy’s Apartment in Sydney, and off course Lux in Lisbon in our Discotexas night. And then unforgettable places like Las Vegas on small improvised club with not that many people but with the best mood you can get; that mood that goes home with you making you feel the happiest man on earth.
GS: As a Dj, your’re also respected for the amount of music genres and unknown tracks you play in one set. How do you do that? What do you feel when ur playing? Do you prepare your mixes at home?
Xinobi: I get easily bored to play the same style in a dj set more than 30 minutes, so I try to go trippy and travel through different decades aesthetics. You can mix them so damn perfectly. I don’t like to be super coherent. I spend several hours looking for music. Blogs, promos, online stores, record shops, shazaming… Chasing music is my favorite thing ever. And no, I don’t prepare dj sets. I think it’s a dishonest way to play the Dj game.
GS: About Disco Texas where you’re the boss, friend and slave, how and why did it come into being?
Xinobi: It started as a really undefined artist collective and struggling against all kinds of bad-luck we built the label as it is now and we are happy with how it has turned out. We wanted the label to release our music and artists we liked. That’s it. It’s an I-Love-This time consuming thing. Now it’s runned with buds Moullinex, Mr. Mitsuhirato and Lazydisco when he is less lazy.
GS: With managing Disco Texas you probably get tons of submissions every day, from people hoping you’ll license their stuff and as a label head, what’s likely to appeal to you?
Xinobi: We get a good amount of demos and finished tracks. There’s some really high quality music being done out there. Unfortunately it’s impossible for us to release all we would like too. We also chase for artists ourselves – and this is a really healthy thing for a label in my opinion, going hunt.
There’s a lot of think that may appeal to us as a label. The music, of course but also the way we are approached and the way that artists handle and love themselves to the point that they the first and the most important promoters of their own work.
GS: What do you think of the music scene at the moment? What do you think the future holds?
Xinobi: Music at the moment can be simultaneously exciting and frustrating. With all this new paradigms of the music industry artists, labels and everyone else are sailing on the sea of randomness. Everyone is trying the right shot at the right time. I hardly can imagine what future holds more than becoming a Random-Full Entropy. More and more this will become a chaotic field with no space for long-term ideas. But I don’t know shit.
A thing that really makes me sad is that the mediocrity has been getting more and more credit and becoming the norm for audience applause. I think it was always like this, but now it’s actually accepted and fomented with all this reality tv shows with defunct music stars judging possible future popular singers or any other similar crap.
GS: Who are you feeling at the moment within the scene? Is there an artist or group or band that you recommend we look out for?
Xinobi: This is so hard to answer. Lets go via Labels. Some of my favorite labels nowadays, new and old. Future Classic, Jag Jaguawar, SST, Diynamic, Gomma, Kompakt, Swami, White Drugs, Soul Jazz Records, DFA, Crosstown Rebels, Boys Noize… Infinite bla bla bla and name dropping.
GS: What does the future hold for you in regards to music? Any chance of a full album release in the near future?
Xinobi: Two more Eps, and I will run for a solo Album. I have 309482390841092384209384219 sketched songs to choose to work, but I will probably end doing all brand new ones. Meanwhile I will do a collaboration album with Moullinex in the same vein of our “X Marks the Spot” ep. Plans are to do it in one week. Be the most organic and brutally honest possible. There will be an advance single first.
Also, of course, growing the Discotexas label and this fresh project The Discotexas Band.
GS: Anything else you would like to say to your fans and our readers?
Xinobi: Do I really have fans? Live fast, die old.
Useful Information:
Website: http://www.xinobimusic.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/xinobimusic
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/xinobimusic
Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/xinobi
Discogs: http://discogs.com/artist/Xinobi
